Human Rights

Farmer accused of cutting electricity and food credit to break strike

Seventy employees at Leeuwenkuil Farm refused to work for five days until five of their colleagues were reinstated, according to the Commerical Stevedoring Agricultural and Allied Workers Union (CSAAWU).

Tessa Gooding

News | 21 November 2012

Ridiculous complexity of housing in South Africa

Millions of South Africans at the end of apartheid dreamed of living in a house one day. This was the hope offered by the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Eighteen years later there has been progress. The Department of Housing says that over 3 million houses have been built sheltering over 13 million people. But there is a terribly long way to go.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 21 November 2012

Understanding the two Commissions of Inquiry into the police

There are two Commissions of Inquiry underway in South Africa (SA) that involve the SA Police Service (SAPS), the Police Minister and Police Commissioner, that we should be interrogating, examining, monitoring, overseeing and following with equal vigour.

Fatima Hassan

Opinion | 14 November 2012

Groot Constantia workers complain of unfair treatment

Its fine wines are known around the world and the City Sightseeing bus takes regular journeys through its beautiful grounds beneath Table Mountain. But the community who live and work at Groot Constantia estate say that the charitable trust that owns the farm pays female vineyard workers less than their male counterparts. They also accuse management of reducing their benefits.

Tessa Gooding

News | 14 November 2012

Showdown over police inquiry

On 22 August, in response to a call made in November 2011 from several social justice organisations, Premier Helen Zille established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged police inefficiency and a breakdown in relations between police and communities in Khayelitsha. The commission is being chaired by former Constitutional Court judge, Kate O'Regan and Advocate Vusi Pikoli.

Tessa Gooding

News | 7 November 2012

Threats against Somali businesses must not be tolerated

Our lead story today is that local business organisations are mobilising against Somali shops in Khayelitsha.

GroundUp Editor

News | 7 November 2012

Protest for police presence in Khayelitsha’s crime hot spots

Over a hundred community members marched to Lingelethu Police Station in Khayelitsha on Friday demanding a greater police presence in high-crime areas in the township.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 5 November 2012

Khayelitsha’s homeless children

Baphumelele Children's Home is a home for children who are orphaned, abandoned, abused or neglected. It is located in Khayelitsha's Site B, Z section.

Nokubonga Yawa

News | 17 October 2012

Poor versus business in Somerset West

A soup kitchen serving poor people in Somerset West struggles to stay open following pressure for it to relocate from the ward councillor and a business woman.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 17 October 2012