Political abuse & arrogant dogma

Deputy defence minister Kebby Maphatsoe this week withdrew his claim that public protector Thuli Madonsela was a “CIA spy” and apologised for the statement. But the issue continues to reverberate throughout the body politic.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 15 September 2014

Salt River “improvement” deprives car guards of income

Car guards outside the Old Biscuit Mill have been left without an income after the newly operational Salt River Business Improvement District (SRBID) told them to leave.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 12 September 2014

Disabled and living in a shack

Regina Mahlombe is 64. She has become bed-ridden as a result of being stabbed by muggers in Gugulethu when she was 21. She yearns to leave her shack for a proper home.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 September 2014

Young dancer gets scholarship but has no funds to stay in US

Local dancer Aviwe November will soon be heading to the United States where he has been awarded a two-year scholarship with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco.

Barbara Maregele

News | 12 September 2014

Bafana Bafana - start of a winning streak?

On Wednesday, Bafana Bafana’s new intake of youngsters played their second game, this time against African champions Nigeria at Cape Town stadium, leaving over 30,000 supporters with huge smiles. The game ended in a goalless draw, but with Bafana on second spot with six points in Group A of the African Nations Cup Qualifiers.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 12 September 2014

Six-year-old and siblings survive by begging for food

A kid known as Didi, who is six, walks the Nyanga streets asking people for bread and for money to buy sweets and chips. Didi says that sometimes he sleeps without eating; when he wakes up, he and his siblings have to go and look for food.

Pharie Sefali

News | 12 September 2014

City of Cape Town plan to acquire drones

Shortly after referring to its CCTV system as "Big Brother" and expressing support for public video surveillance, the City of Cape Town has revealed that it is in the “planning phase” of a camera drone project.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 11 September 2014

The Greatmore Long Walk Project empowers young artists

Established in 1998, and located in Woodstock, Greatmore Studios is a dynamic environment in which South African artists and international visitors co-exist. The studios have played an essential role in the career development of many highly successful South African artists.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 11 September 2014

Week in activism

This week in activism we cover the symposium on torture hosted by the Wits Justice Project, the march by Equal Education for better sanitation for schools in Gauteng, and the ‘What if Women’ challenge by WHEAT.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 11 September 2014

Mannenberg duo teach more than music

In a classroom at Phoenix Secondary School in Mannenberg, GroundUp spoke to Zakie Johnson and Aziza Davids. They are skilled participants working for the Community Work Programme, a poverty relief government initiative that provides a job safety net for the unemployed. The average daily rate is R63,18.

Katy Scott

News | 10 September 2014

From Steve Biko to Thuli Madonsela

This week the Public Protector was called a CIA agent. The ruling party’s tactic of labeling its critics foreign agents is counterproductive, has a bloody history and is damaging the country, writes Ayanda Kota.

Ayanda Kota

Opinion | 10 September 2014

18 years documentation struggle with Home Affairs

After 18 years of legal struggles, Mathijs van Hillegondsberg will meet the Department of Home Affairs in the Western Cape High Court on Wednesday. Van Hillegondsberg claims that he and his family have been victims of maladministration and abuse of power.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 9 September 2014

SA activists and writers join worldwide reading in support of Edward Snowden

The Berlin Literary Festival's (BLF) “Liberty and Recognition for Edward Snowden” worldwide reading was supported by two events in South Africa at the AVA Gallery and Kalk Bay Bookshop (under the auspices of SA PEN) on Monday.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 9 September 2014

City goes to court to stop Ses’Khona protests

Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement supporters came in their numbers to protest outside the Western Cape High Court about an interdict the City of Cape Town seeks to stop them protesting.

Johnnie Isaac

Brief | 9 September 2014

What is UCT’s new admissions policy?

The University of Cape Town is changing its admissions policy to take into account disadvantage as well as race. The new policy is complex. We have tried here to explain it accurately and simply.

Katy Scott and GroundUp staff

Feature | 8 September 2014