Civil Society

Metrorail warns commuters in attempt to stop deaths on its network

Following two deaths in April, Metrorail security services have been told to take strong action against any commuter found riding outside the trains.

Fergus Turner

News | 10 April 2014

Official threatens to withhold disability grant

Nyanga resident Violet Mkhape, 45, has been waiting for eight months for her monthly disability grant - and one official told her she wouldn’t get it because she told her story to GroundUp.

Pharie Sefali

News | 9 April 2014

Should you spoil your ballot?

The campaign now underway to encourage a protest against government by spoiling ballots has been left far too late, especially if the object is to build a coherent and mass, grassroots campaign to promote some kind of alternative.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 27 March 2014

Police operating with 33% less than they need

On March 25, Brigadier Leon Rabie told the Commission of Inquiry into Policing that if the proposed second station in Harare, Khayelitsha, went ahead, the SAPS would be “robbing Peter to pay Paul”.

Adam Armstrong

News | 25 March 2014

SAPS brigadier withdraws ‘offensive’ statement at Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry

Testimony at the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into policing continued on Monday 24 March with Brigadier Mlenga and General Goss. Mlenga wrote in his affidavit to the commission “people are living as animals”.

Adam Armstrong

News | 25 March 2014

Mthethwa attends politically coloured crime summit in Khayelitsha

Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa was in Khayelitsha on Friday 14 March for a Crime Summit arranged by the Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF).

Adam Armstrong

News | 17 March 2014

How I narrowly avoided being conned

As an investigative journalist I’ve come face-to-face with grifters. I’ve interviewed fraudsters and studied sociopathy extensively. I’m fascinated by psychopaths and the peculiarities of the brain that make them different to the rest of us. Trying to understand the mental workings of good and evil is a hobby of mine.

Mandy de Waal

News | 21 February 2014

Gay rights doctor narrowly avoids deportation to Uganda - Home Affairs accused of contempt of court

Release Paul Nsubuga Semugoma. That was the essence of a court order against the Minister of Home Affairs yesterday. Yet, Home Affairs proceeded to attempt to deport him after the court order was made. As of last night he was reportedly still in custody.

GroundUp Staff

News | 20 February 2014

The week in activism

This week we have reports on Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Phillipi settlement named after Marikana, a new book by SERI, Greenpeace and fracking and facts and fibs in the President’s state of the nation speech as explained by Africa Check. Also, the SJC and others have published a report on the Khayelitsha Inquiry into policing.

Compiled by Brent Meersman

News | 19 February 2014

City committed to promoting small businesses

It is with disappointment that I read your piece ‘Red tape blocks Khayelitsha small businesses’.

Garreth Bloor

Opinion | 18 February 2014

Khayelitsha police overburdened says “honest cop”

Brigadier Zithulele Moses Dladla dealt with only three murders the last year he was stationed at Wynberg Police Station. When he was subsequently transferred to Khayelitsha Police Station, he saw four murders in his first weekend.

Adam Armstrong

News | 18 February 2014

Station Commander’s job comes under fire at the Khayelitsha Commission

Advocate Peter Hathorn has said his clients will recommend that Colonel Michael Reitz be removed from his post as the Lingelethu West Station Commander in Khayelitsha.

Adam Armstrong

News | 17 February 2014

The week in political activism

This week we have reports on COSATU's allegations against Sun City, an Equal Education seminar on Marikana and a new digital application from Corruption Watch.

Compiled by Brent Meersman

News | 13 February 2014

Achmat calls for ceremony for police to apologise

The police should hold a formal ceremony to apologise to some of the victims of poor policing in Khayelitsha, Zackie Achmat has suggested.

Adam Armstrong

News | 13 February 2014

City project, VPUU, criticises SAPS

The SA Police Service is one of the least approachable of the partners working with the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU) service in Khayelitsha, the commission into Khayelitsha policing heard this week.

Adam Armstrong

News | 13 February 2014

Khayelitsha gangs can get worse warns researcher

Dr Kelly Gillespie, a social anthropology researcher based at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), warned the Khayelitsha commission of inquiry into policing that the township’s gangs can change into something worse.

Adam Armstrong

News | 12 February 2014