Groundup 13 - 19 November is published!

Featured Story

Dozens of unpaid asbestosis claims leave sick workers unsupported for years

Cassiem Mahommed is a 70-year-old retired boiler cleaner from the now-closed Athlone Power Station (APS). He was diagnosed with asbestosis (fibrosis of the lung) in the mid-1990s from exposure to asbestos while he was working at the APS.

Jonathan Dockney

News

Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha starts

News: Yesterday marked the official start of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Police Inefficiency in Khayelitsha. It took place at Lookout Hill in the township. Dozens of members of the community, civil society organisations, and the media gathered to witness the first proceedings.

Delphine Pedeboy

The week in political activism

Activist Beat: This week we have reports from WITS Justice Project, SECTION27 and Greenpeace Africa.

Delphine Pedeboy

A man who is not a man

Book extract: It is not every day that a book like A man who is not a man comes along. Thando Mgqolozana's debut novel is a courageous book. It is a sensitive but merciless interrogation of the Xhosa custom of male circumcision today. What happens to the boys—emotionally, spiritually and socially—when things go wrong, the fault of which is not of their own making?

Thando Mgqolozana

Lingua Franca poets celebrate first anniversary

News: On 9 November, Lingua Franca, a spoken word and music movement, celebrated their first anniversary. At a sold out show at the Baxter Theatre, more than 15 poets graced the stage to recite their work.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

Parents take out loans for matric dances

News: Parents every year complain about the demands grade 12 learners have for their end of the year matric dances.

Pharie Sefali

Occult crime unit is offensive to common sense and morality

Opinion: Decades after its formation, the Occult-Related Crime Unit (ORCU, founded by Kobus \xe2\x80\x9cDonker\xe2\x80\x9dJonker in 1992) continues to waste public resources, misdirect police attention, and stigmatise young people who are by and large more misunderstood than malignant.

Jacques Rousseau

SJC launches 6th Irene Grootboom Dialogue Series

News: The Khayelitsha based Social Justice Coalition launched the 6th Irene Grootboom Dialogue Series last night with a seminar on the History of Insecurity in South Africa.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

Economic apartheid and the builders of the world city

Opinion: Christmas is clearly coming. The store decorations are in place and chocolate Santas jostle on the shelves with strings of lights on ornamental trees while bins of festive season toffees and biscuit specials vie to keep the tills ringing.

Terry Bell

Blowing fortunes on weddings

News: Weddings today have become more about flaunting status and wealth than tying the knot. Couples are left with financial debt and worse.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

Cartoon

Something fishy

Roberto Millan