In 1951, Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She had an aggressive tumour that quickly took over her body. Less than a year after being diagnosed, she died; leaving behind a devastated husband and 6 children. She was 31 years old. But even in her death, some of her cells lived on; dividing and growing, making trillions more cells than ever existed in her body. The combined weight of these cells is now over 400 times what Henrietta Lacks weighed when she was alive.
Kerry Gordon
News | 24 April 2013
Nearly a year since we told the story of the state of toilets at Joe Slovo High School in Khayelitsha, the toilets remain broken.
Nokubonga Yawa
News | 24 April 2013
The Bayhill soccer tournament took place over Easter weekend lasting from 28 March to 1 April 2013. The under 19 tournament was played at Erica Park by teams from different provinces. The overall tournament winners were Ajax Cape Town.
Margo Fortune
News | 24 April 2013
Today GroundUp received this short message from Palesa Faith, a high school learner in the Eastern Cape.
Palesa Faith
Opinion | 17 April 2013
In 2006, to tackle crime in Khayelitsha, the City of Cape Town launched the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) project.
Fergus Turner and GroundUp Staff
News | 17 April 2013
Can the Internet and its endless opportunities for communication, debate, information, and knowledge give a voice to those who go un-heard in regards to social and political change? and how can its beneficial resources be used by those who do not have access to the Internet?
Andiswa Hala, Jonathan Dockney, Mary Fawzi, Nkosikhona Swartbooi
Opinion | 17 April 2013
Two Mozambican sisters living in a Child and Youth Care Centre (care centre) since 2007 were deported to their home country in January despite nine years of growing up in South Africa.
Amanda Purtell
News | 17 April 2013
From a trade union viewpoint, Margaret Thatcher will never be mourned. But her impact on global politics and economics cannot be denied. She rode the crest of a wave of liberal economic policies that swamped the consensual balance of the post World War Two years. In the process, she highlighted as few have done before or since, the inherently hostile relationship between labour and capital.
Terry Bell
Opinion | 12 April 2013
We interviewed Bloemfontein Celtic defender and Captain, Twenty-eight-year-old Thabo Nthethe. He also plays for Bafana Bafana.
Margo Fortune
News | 10 April 2013
Following several reports published on GroundUp on the broken street light problem in Khayelitsha, particularly along Lansdowne Road, several social justice organisations protested and the City repaired the lights. In the last two weeks we have checked the street lights. While most remain on, there are signs that the situation is getting worse.
Nokubonga Yawa and GroundUp Staff
News | 10 April 2013
Stories about science in the media are often misleading and over-hyped. In today's science column, Kerry Gordon discusses why.
Kerry Gordon
News | 10 April 2013
Patients with HIV in South African public clinics have to take at least three separate pills once and maybe twice daily. But in the private sector, as well as in the United States and Europe patients have for years been able to take their HIV treatment as one pill once a day.
Mary-Jane Matsolo
News | 10 April 2013
A treaty that has the potential to change the lives of millions of blind people is at risk of being hijacked by publishers who show no sympathy for the difficulties faced by blind people across the world
Marcus Low
Opinion | 10 April 2013
Paul Kasonkomona, a Zambian human rights activist with many years’ experience, was arrested in Lusaka on Sunday for publically supporting the rights of Zambia’s sexual minorities. He was arrested shortly after appearing on an independent television channel, Muvi TV, where he spoke in favour of access to health care for sex workers, prisoners, and sexual minorities.
Jacques van Heerden
News | 10 April 2013
Telkom is being accused of dismissing 23 learner interns without pay. The matter is going to the CCMA.
Mary-Jane Matsolo
News | 3 April 2013
Please protect local and foreign visitors to our natural treasures. We cannot afford to lose touris… Read more
It sounds as if there is a massive cover-up on the go here. Only one question from me: who was the … Read more
Projects of this nature are complex and it is easier to write horror stories about them than to exp… Read more
I work for an NGO in the HIV unit. It would be impossible for the DSD to reach their targets. They … Read more
The city should not entertain the notion of fixing providing water, sanitation and electricity to b… Read more