We are publishing irregularly, if at all, until 14 January 2025. Have a safe holiday season.

Corruption and inhumanity at Maitland Home Affairs

Everyday about a thousand asylum seekers queue outside the Maitland Refugee Reception Centre off Voortrekker Road. They try to get the papers they need to stay in the country legally so that they can avoid prison, fines and deportation.

GroundUp Reporters

News | 29 May 2012

How the asylum seeking process can be improved

How can the intolerable situations at the Home Affairs refugees centres be improved? We make some suggestions.

GroundUp Editor

News | 29 May 2012

Why we paid a bribe

GroundUp is a tiny and new news organisation. Less than two months into our existence, before we have even officially launched, we have faced our first tough ethical dilemna: whether or not to pay a bribe.

GroundUp Editor

News | 29 May 2012

How immigrants are scammed at Maitland Home Affairs

GroundUp received several allegations that bribes are commonplace at Maitland Refugee Reception Centre. We decided to investigate.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 29 May 2012

Corruption at home affairs - phone transcript

The transcript of the phone conversation between a GroundUp journalist and "George", a man offering to help people to get into Home Affairs for a fee.

GroundUp Journalist

News | 29 May 2012

Gugulethu man arrested in possession of R1.8 million worth of dagga

A Gugulethu man will appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s court on Monday after he was arrested in possession of dagga worth R1.8 million.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 May 2012

Spending on school infrastructure does matter

It is wrong to say that school funding is not crucial to learner outcomes, argue Rosalind Gater and Doron Isaacs of Equal Education.

Rosalind Gater and Doron Isaacs

News | 25 May 2012

Drug house burns down - landlord accuses former tenants

Last week Monday, a house at 28 Van Eyssen Street burned down. The residents of the house had recently been evicted when evidence was presented in court that they were manufacturing illegal drugs on the property.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 May 2012

GroundUp Launch!

GroundUp will launch on 1 June 2012. Join us at 2pm at the Site B Library in Khayelitsha.

GroundUp Staff

News | 24 May 2012

Police minister visits Gugulethu to address increasing gang problem

Tension and frustration ran high yesterday, when hundreds of Gugulethu residents packed the township’s Civic Hall to vent at Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa about the gangster problem.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 May 2012

Simphiwe, celebrating for his new job.

Simphiwe Mahlanyana held a party to celebrate his new job at the Economic Policy Research Institute. He got 95% for a project managenent assignment and just after that got a new job.
Well done Simphiwe and good luck with your new job.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 22 May 2012

Dignity, free speech and art

President Zuma and the ANC are very upset by Brett Murray's painting. The painting is on display in the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg. It depicts the President as Lenin, which has not caused much controversy. But it also depicts the President's genitals, and this has caused a furore. The SACP has called it sadistic. The president is trying to get the South Gauteng High Court to compel the gallery to remove the artwork.

GroundUp Editor

Opinion | 21 May 2012

Xolile’s Birthday party

Xolile Dunga and his friends celebrated his birthday in Makhaza on Saturday night.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 21 May 2012

Weekly Roundup 14-20 May 2012

This is a list of the main events of 14 to 20 May with links to news articles describing them.

GroundUp Staff

News | 21 May 2012

Protest against xenophobia and homophobia

Gay rights groups and PASSOP commemorated International Day Against Homophobia and International Xenophobia Day at Observatory Hall.

Veronica Washaya

News | 17 May 2012

City starts janitorial service in informal settlements

About 200 Social Justice Coalition (SJC) representatives in more than 10 taxis descended outside Cape Town’s Civic Centre on Wednesday afternoon to listen to the long awaited announcement of the launch of the janitorial service.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 17 May 2012