News

Amidst acrimony, Somerset West soup kitchen to be replaced by transport hub

The Helderberg Street People’s Centre (HSPC), a soup kitchen for the poor in Somerset West, has been given notice by the City to quit its premises by 31 January 2015.

Katy Scott

News | 24 November 2014

Court orders City to conduct census of Marikana

On Thursday, residents of Marikana informal settlement’s Rolihlahla Park section welcomed a Western Cape High Court postponement of an eviction hearing. The court ordered that the City of Cape Town compile an audit of the households living on the erf in question to determine who will need emergency temporary accommodation if an eviction order is granted.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 21 November 2014

Zimbabweans can now stay longer for the festive season

On Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced that Zimbabweans intending to travel home for the festive season will be able to do so even if their permits have not been issued.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 21 November 2014

Urban initiates: are the teachings still relevant?

In many African cultures, boys from age 14 must go through the process of initiation, where they are circumcised in order to be recognized as men by the community. But how relevant is the ceremony for today’s urban youth and are the traditions being upheld in the cities?

Pharie Sefali

News | 20 November 2014

Prevention strategies the key to curbing violence against children

“South Africa has no national statistics on violence against children,” says Shanaaz Mathews, director of the Children's Institute at the University of Cape Town. In the absence of statistics, the South African Child Gauge looks at community-based studies. The 9th issue was launched in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 20 November 2014

Fines, firings and written warnings thanks to Metrorail delays

While Metrorail guards demand train tickets, a poor service leaves many commuters to face the consequences of being late.

Tariro Washinyira and Zintle Swana

News | 20 November 2014

Dancing to a better future

Dance is fast becoming a tool used for building confidence and self-expression among kids. Zethu Gqola looks at some of the top township-based dance schools that have for years provided a supportive space for children.

Zethu Gqola

News | 20 November 2014

Link between poor housing, traffic deaths and education outcomes

The 7th annual Irene Grootboom Memorial Dialogues, which explore the continuation of Cape Town’s “spatial apartheid”, are underway. On Tuesday night, the focus was on the spate of shack evictions around the city this year, and the correlation between poor, densely populated areas and traffic deaths and education outcomes.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 19 November 2014

Study shows how HIV+ women can reduce risk to their babies

Pregnant women with HIV can take three anti-HIV medicines instead of one to reduce the risk of their infants contracting the virus, according to results of a study released yesterday.

GroundUp staff

News | 18 November 2014

Making a go of graphics in Gugulethu

Bheki Kunene started his own business, Mind Trix Media, in 2009 with just R600 and a computer. Today he has eight employees and clients across the globe.

Siyabonga Kalipa

News | 18 November 2014

Scrum over quotas to transform rugby

South African rugby represents the “rainbow failure”, says rugby writer Mark Fredericks, and quotas will not help.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 18 November 2014

Small Claims court opens its doors in Khayelitsha

The Khayelitsha Community has been urged to use the small claims court to resolve financial disputes for amounts of up to R15,000. The court was relaunched on Friday. It was established in 2010, but never functioned.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 17 November 2014

Games that township kids play

Three cans, an old pantihose or rope and a handful of stones. These are the ingredients you need to have a whole day of outdoor fun, no matter what age.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 14 November 2014

Phiyega reveals delays in firearms system investigation

Police commissioner Riah Phiyega commits to completing the criminal investigation into the botched SAPS Firearms Control System (FCS) by February next year. Yet, the slow pace of the investigation to date is evidenced by several details.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 14 November 2014

Provincial government accuses taxi association of invading routes of legal operators

Following the beating up of a member of the Vrygrond Taxi Association (VTA) earlier this week, GroundUp asked the Western Cape Ministry of Transport and Public Works its views on the VTA.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 14 November 2014