GroundUp Dec 19 is Published!

Dear Subscribers

Thank you for supporting GroundUp in our first year. We are pleased to report that our project is secure until July 2013.

Our next edition will be published on 16 January 2013. However, between now and then we will have staff on standby to report any very important local or national stories that break.

Featured Story - News

New law to control civil society?

National government is taking steps to exert more control over civil society. In July, the Department of Social Development published a policy document for discussion titled “Policy Framework on Nonprofit Organisations Law”.

GroundUp Staff

News

Civil society helps resolve Mthatha antiretroviral shortage

Civil society organisations have stepped in to help resolve a massive medicine supply shortage in the Eastern Cape.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Zimbabwean bystander sues cops for lost eye

A Zimbabwean man who lost an eye when police fired a rubber bullet towards him during the De Doorns farm worker protests is suing the South African Police Service (SAPS) for damages. 25 year old Passmore Mandhlaami, a Good Hope farm employee, said he was caught in the crossfire. He was not participating in the strike.

Tariro Washinyira

Nyanga woman is fighting to get her Eastern Cape family home back

52 year old Portia Mahlatshana from Nyanga is fighting to get her home back.

Tessa Gooding

Radio presenter calls for Jews to be labelled with “mark of shame”

Ivor Blumenthal, the former station master and presenter of Chai FM, has written a tirade against Jews who are critical of Israel.

Nathan Geffen and Mary-Anne Gontsana

SASSA wants single mother to pay back R25k

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) wants 38 year old Janice (not her real name) from Kewtown to pay back R25,760 in grants she received.

Margo Fortune

Bring on the Valahalla Park minstrels!

Valhalla Park Entertainers was started in 2002 by Gertrude Square, a community worker from the area. She has been helping youth and seniors in her community for over thirty years.

Margo Fortune

Khayelitsha police hold event for rape survivors

The Khayelitsha police stations held an event on 13 December to give Christmas presents to Soyisiso Nofemele's rape victims. He is currently serving eleven life sentences for raping twelve children, murdering one of them and abducting another. The victims are between two and nine years of age.

Mihle Pike

SJC hold commission outside Cape High Court in protest against minister's court application

About 500 people gathered outside the Cape High Court last week Thursday opposing Minister of Police Nathi Mthetwa\xe2\x80\x99s application to stop a Commission of Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha from continuing.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

Sport

GroundUp speaks to FC Cape Town's Jason Dickson

19 year old Jason Dickson speaks to GroundUp about life as a football player.

Margo Fortune

Opinion

A tribute to Arthur Chaskalson

This is a tribute by Advocate Geoff Budlender to the late Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson at a memorial service in Johannesburg City Hall on 5 December.

Geoff Budlender

An alternative to more chaos and destruction?

The promises and the policies, the personalities elected, even the potential political punch-ups at Mangaung are basically irrelevant.

Terry Bell

Holocaust denial is hateful, immoral and factually wrong

Holocaust denialism is hateful, immoral and factually wrong. It legitimises the taking of measures by individuals, organisations and governments that lead to the destruction of human dignity and life. This destruction of dignity and life is based on ideologies of hate and profit.

Zackie Achmat

What the UK could learn from Cape Town's civil society

Before I came to South Africa, I was warned how dangerous the place was. I was asked, ''Why do you think so many South Africans are emigrating to Australia'' and, ''Are you sure you really want to go there?'' I'm relieved this negativity didn't stop me. If you don't come to South Africa because of fear, you are missing out.

Tessa Gooding