GroundUp Newsletter 29 April - 02 May 2014: Porta potties hit Bishopscourt and other stories

Featured Stories

Porta potties hit Bishopscourt

Following a campaign in Constantia earlier this week, the Ses\xe2\x80\x99khona People\xe2\x80\x99s Rights Movement took their protest against portable toilets to Bishopscourt today.

Johnnie Isaac and Nathan Geffen

Deploying the army to the Cape Flats won\xe2\x80\x99t work

The call to deploy the army was heard in response to recent gang violence in Manenberg. But that\xe2\x80\x99s not the solution, argues Adam Armstrong.

Adam Armstrong

Reports

Nyanga residents angry after power cuts

Residents of Crossroads and Nyanga have slammed Eskom for not giving them any notice of power cuts which lasted several hours yesterday. But Eskom says the cuts were unplanned and residents could not be notified in advance.

Pharie Sefali

SAPS officer grilled in Angy Peter trial

The trial of Social Justice Coalition leader Angy Peter and her husband Isaac Mbadu is continuing in the Cape High Court. Peter and Mbadu are on trial, with Azola Dayimani and Christopher Dina, for the murder by \xe2\x80\x98necklacing\xe2\x80\x99 of Rowan du Preez (also known as Siphiwo Mbevu) in October 2012.

Simone Haysom

Jail in Canada for \xe2\x80\x9cDr Shock\xe2\x80\x9d

Aubrey \xe2\x80\x94 \xe2\x80\x9cDr Shock\xe2\x80\x9d \xe2\x80\x94 Levin, the South African army psychiatrist accused of torturing gays and dissidents in the apartheid military, has started a five-year jail term in Canada.

Terry Bell

Opinion

A brief history of May Day

The basic demand of May Day was for an eight-hour working day \xe2\x80\x94eight for work, eight for leisure and eight for sleep. It is something we still have to achieve, not just in South Africa, but in many other countries.

Terry Bell

Democracy the winner: a response to Rhoda Kadalie

Never one to disguise her spleen Rhoda Kadalie takes issue with what she alleges is \xe2\x80\x9cmy temerity to lead the electorate astray\xe2\x80\x9d. What Kadalie is taking issue with, but conceals, is I am no lone voice but in partnership with numerous others, of note, in a campaign which calls on all registered voters not to abstain but use their vote on 7 May.

Ronnie Kasrils

Celebrate Freedom Day? No thanks, I\xe2\x80\x99d rather drink

While celebrations took place all over the country this week, some young people in Cape Town\xe2\x80\x99s townships chose to spend Freedom Day another way.

Pharie Sefali

\xe2\x80\x98Nothing About Us, Without Us!\xe2\x80\x99 - keeping the Constitution alive

The stories told by the mothers of three children with disabilities at a series of workshops at the Consitutional Court underline the contrast between constitutional rights and the grim reality.

Muhammad Zakaria Suleman and Tim Fish Hodgson

Labour\xe2\x80\x99s blind loyalty a democratic failure

The ongoing and increasingly bitter row within Cosatu boils down, basically, to a constitutional clash.

Terry Bell

Arts

Township art gallery for Mount Nelson Hotel

The work of five township artists can now be seen in the swanky Mount Nelson Hotel, with the opening of the Nkanyezi Gallery earlier this month.

Dumisani Dabadini

Foreign African artists struggle in SA - but local art scene is still attractive

How do African artists who have moved to South Africa make it in the competitive art scene over here? This was a question discussed at a meeting at the African Arts Institute (AFAI) last week.

Dumisani Dabadini

Cartoon

Parliamentary Nkandla Committee Fly-Swatter

Roberto Millan

Job Vacancies

Wanted: two experienced journalists