Violence

Violence against women mural unveiled in Khayelitsha

A mural has been unveiled in Khayelitsha to highlight the need for the state and communities to improve their response to violence against women.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 5 June 2013

Gang killers suspected of targeting another boy

Last week, 17-year old Glenrico Martin was shot dead at his high school in Athlone. Natheer Abrahams is 16-years old and is being bullied and threatened by gangsters. He suspects they are the same ones that killed Glenrico.

Margo Fortune

News | 22 May 2013

Inflammatory language makes platinum belt even more volatile

At the best of times, grassroots democracy, without sound communications infrastructure and the distribution of accurate information, can be a messy business. Add to this, dollops of rumour, some perceptions bordering on paranoia, various interest groups promoting different agendas, a history of distrust and memories of recent bloodshed and you have Marikana and much of the platinum belt today.

Terry Bell

Opinion | 20 May 2013

Recent survey reveals youth hardships

South Africa devotes significant resources to youth development, with 20% of the national government's budget going towards education alone. However, a recent survey reveals that the youth are being increasingly forced to deal with a range of issues such as substance abuse, exposure to crime and violence, inequality and poverty. As a consequence, mental and behavioural issues are becoming more and more evident among learners.

Craig Oosthuizen

Opinion | 15 May 2013

Andile Mngxitama: we need to draw a line in the sand

On the 15th of March Jared Sacks, a journalist and activist, published an article in the Mail & Guardian asking whether or not Steve Biko, the Steve Biko of 1977, would have supported Mamphele Ramphele’s recent political initiative. Some people, including people who had been close to Biko, really liked the piece. Others, including the well-known public commentator Andile Mngxitama, didn’t like it at all.

Zackie Achmat and Richard Pithouse

Opinion | 27 March 2013

Gangs, a brotherhood-in-arms

Youth gangs have become a normal occurrence in Khayelitsha.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 27 February 2013

“I am not a woman abuser. I just have a short temper!”

Cynthia is beaten up frequently by her husband. She is 34 and has been married for eight years. She lives in Khayelitsha with her husband.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 27 February 2013

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

Brief | 19 December 2012

My Mother’s Black Eye

There is only one thing in this world that infuriates me and that is the abuse of women. I can't stand it. The thought of it unleashes this rage within that makes me want to scream and destroy every man that has ever laid a hand on a woman.

Baldi Lox

Opinion | 28 November 2012

Dance teacher gets three life sentences for rape

On 28 October the Khayelitsha Magistrates' Court handed spiritual dance teacher Mlulami Lawrence Gagu three life sentences for the rape of seven children over a period of two years.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 7 November 2012

Dance teacher who raped students faces the music

Lulamile Gagu was found guilty on twelve counts of rape at the Khayelitsha Magistrate's Court on 10 October. He will be sentenced on 29 October.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

News | 17 October 2012

The mining industry strike wave: what are the causes and what are the solutions?

In this important paper, Gavin Hartford analyses the root causes of the mining industry strikes and proposes solutions.

Gavin Hartford

Opinion | 10 October 2012

Marinovich on Marikana and journalism

GroundUp interviewed investigative journalist Greg Marinovich, who has published shocking findings about the deaths of miners at Marikana.

Mara Kardas-Nelson

News | 4 September 2012

Helping Khayelitsha’s children escape gang violence

The youth of Khayelitsha have been infected with a terrible "disease of gang violence"--as ‘Big Guy’, a radio presenter from Radio Zibonele called it--that is destroying tomorrow’s leaders. It is not hardened gangsters who are involved but children, some as young as 13.

Axolile Notywala

Opinion | 1 August 2012

Khayelitsha’s kid gangsters

“We are fighting for our freedom, our freedom to go anywhere we want to go in Khayelitsha,” says Latinyo, an 18-year-old grade 12 learner from Khayelitsha's H-section. He has been involved in gangs since the age of 12 and says he has lost count of how many murders he has committed.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 18 April 2012