Human Rights

Abahlali baseMjondolo relaunches in Western Cape

Abahlali baseMjondolo’s Western Cape branch relaunched at the Sweethome Farm informal settlement on Saturday. Re-elected chairperson Siyamboleka James spoke to GroundUp about the movement’s hopes to expand in the city, to renew negotiations with council for accountable service delivery, and about why there is no prospect of them working with Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement.

Daneel Knoetze

Brief | 29 September 2014

Adoption and race: we unpack the issues

Adoption of children across the the old apartheid categories is on the increase, according to the Department of Social Development. There were 936 such adoptions in the last three years. GroundUp unpacks some of the issues on what the department calls “trans-racial” adoption.

Thembela Ntongana and GroundUp staff

News | 29 September 2014

SANDF court ruling victory for rule of law

When the high court upheld an application by Andiswe Dwenga against the defence force last week, it wasn’t just a victory for HIV activists: it was also a victory for the rule of law.

Carmel Rickard

Analysis | 29 September 2014

How Nedbank took the Radebes’ house and how they won it back again

On Thursday in the Gauteng High Court, judgment was given in a matter dealing with reverse mortgage schemes. These schemes have proliferated over the last few years as people with poor credit records seek out companies that are willing to lend them money regardless of their blacklisted status.

Claire Martens

Analysis | 26 September 2014

Public invited to attend the final Lwandle hearing

The commission of inquiry into the Lwandle evictions has invited members of the public to attend its final hearing in Cape Town on Friday.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 25 September 2014

Will there be an investigation into police shooting?

The man shot by police during evictions in Philippi East a month ago is back at work -- and still waiting for police investigators to contact him.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 23 September 2014

Marikana evictees granted bail

Residents from Marikana informal settlement were jubilant outside Athlone Magistrates Court today when twelve of their neighbours were granted bail. The men had been in custody since 22 August for resisting evictions at the settlement in Philippi East.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 22 September 2014

Bail for arrested shackdwellers - residents toyi-toyi outside court

Around 50 residents from Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East descended on the Athlone Magistrates Court to support twelve of their neighbours who have been detained for almost a month.

Daneel Knoetze

Brief | 19 September 2014

Criminalising protest and dissent

A new report by SERI profiles a community protest in Lenasia, Gauteng, and concludes that the criminal justice system was "abused" in order to intimidate activists and protesters. A look at similar cases in Cape Town seem to support this finding.

Daneel Knoetze

Opinion | 18 September 2014

Global to local: the people’s rights to peace

Western Cape Network for Community Peace and Development (WCNCPD) will hold a Peace Day Event at the Gugulethu Sports Complex on Friday from 9am to 12pm.

Thembela Ntongana

Brief | 17 September 2014

People with HIV should be able to fight for their country

There is no reason people with HIV shouldn't be soldiers, says Tim Flack, who served in the navy and is the Western Cape representative for the South African National Defence Force Union.

Tim Flack

Opinion | 16 September 2014

SA activists and writers join worldwide reading in support of Edward Snowden

The Berlin Literary Festival's (BLF) “Liberty and Recognition for Edward Snowden” worldwide reading was supported by two events in South Africa at the AVA Gallery and Kalk Bay Bookshop (under the auspices of SA PEN) on Monday.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 9 September 2014

Protest against murder of sex workers

In the past two months, five sex workers have been murdered in Cape Town. Three of the victims were under 26. Advocacy organisations partly blame the continued criminalization of sex work.

Barbara Maregele

News | 8 September 2014

US judge rules against apartheid claim

A US court has ruled against the Khulumani Support Group in its 12-year legal battle to bring US corporations to book for aiding the apartheid government. But Khulumani will appeal against this ruling, says national director Marjorie Jobson.

Shandana Mufti

News | 4 September 2014

What the Khayelitsha commission of inquiry has recommended

The Khayelitsha commission of inquiry into policing has made many important recommendations to the National Minister of Police. Here is a summary.

Adam Armstrong

News | 26 August 2014

Highest crime areas have fewest cops - Khayelitsha commission

Police stations in the parts of Cape Town which bore the brunt of apartheid are the most seriously understaffed, the Commission of Inquiry into Policing in Khayelitsha found.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 26 August 2014