GroundUp 5 September is published

5 September 2012

This week's GroundUp begins our examination of Cape Town's ward councillors. This will be an ongoing series. We also interview Greg Marinovich and AMCU treasurer, Jimmy Gama, about Marikana. Our lead story is about a dispute on a grape farm in De Doorns, between farm workers and a farming company.

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TOP STORY

De Doorns farm workers strike after wages dropped

An ongoing wage dispute that led to an unprotected strike by farm workers highlights the complex relationship between farmers and workers in the De Doorns area.

Tariro Washinyira

NEWS

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

AMCU gives its side of the story

We spoke to Jimmy Gama, Treasurer of the Association of Mine Workers and Construction Union (AMCU), about the Lonmin strike, the killings at Marikana, the status of negotiations and what needs to happen next.

Mara Kardas-Nelson

Making sense of local government

To help us and our readers better understand local government service delivery, GroundUp has been interviewing ward councillors and residents.

GroundUp Editor

Khayelitsha Councillor: City ignores my community

The councillor for a major ward in Khayelitsha says the city is ignoring the real needs of his community.

Mary-Jane Matsolo

Athlone councillor finds ways to counter violence and drug use

Some parts of Athlone have serious violence and drug problems. We interviewed the ward councillor for these areas to find out what's being done about it.

Margo Fortune

Montevideo: Finding ways to stop burglaries

Montevideo is a small suburb just outside of Gugulethu, nestled in Montana. With mostly a coloured population, it faces the N2 freeway and is in between a bus depot and a school for the physically disabled.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Nyanga book club encourages people to read

The High School Book Club, is based in Nyanga township at Oscar Mpetha High School. This is a new project started by Madoda Soko who is originally from Tembisa in Johannesburg.

Nokubonga Yawa

Equal Education launches exhibition in lead-up to court case

Equal Education (EE), officially launched their Fix Our Schools exhibition at the Central Methodist Mission Church on Thursday.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

SPORT

“Soccer is the only reason I am where I am today”

Nineteen-year-old Shane Petersen talks about growing up in a community surrounded by drugs and how soccer gave him a chance.

Margo Fortune

Immigrants soccer players aim for PSL

Professional soccer players who are refugees in South Africa have found comfort in establishing an informal soccer club, with the objective of being recognized and playing professionally again, like they did in their birth countries.

Tariro Washinyira

OPINION

Injury, bleeding, delayed healing and mangled penises by design

Dalli Weyers looks at the design problems with the Tara KLamp circumcision device.

Dalli Weyers

A union key to a really democratic future

The bloodbath at Lonmin\xe2\x80\x99s Marikana mine served to alert more of the public to aspects of feuding and tension that have been ongoing for years and not only at Lonmin and in the mining industry generally. In particular it has highlighted the stresses, strains and battles for power and position within the trade union movement and opened up a number of debates about the way forward.

Terry Bell

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