Iqbal Survè, whose company Sekunjalo now owns Independent Newspapers, is not merely a profoundly disingenuous man. He has shown that he's willing to use his newly acquired media empire to support his disingenuity.
Nathan Geffen, GroundUp Editor
Opinion | 11 December 2013
Leaders, former leaders and the main cheerleaders of the Democratic Alliance have publicly debated these last weeks about whether or not the party has betrayed its liberal tradition with its stance on black economic empowerment.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 November 2013
Receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis in your early 50s is frightening. It is difficult to imagine what Mario Ambrosini is going through. That he wishes to beat cancer and that he is disappointed with medical science because it offers him so little hope is entirely understandable.
Nathan Geffen, GroundUp Editor
Opinion | 4 November 2013
Oscar Pistorius’ bail application apparently showed how the justice system works when someone is arrested. But actually his hearing and release on bail were exceptional.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 5 September 2013
Shaul and Yuli Novak are two Israeli Defence Force veterans with the organisation Breaking the Silence. They are currently visiting South Africa, giving talks and promoting a book. Breaking the Silence publishes testimonies by Israeli soldiers of their actions, many of them human rights violations, in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 22 August 2013
I enjoy lawyer jokes, but in my time with the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) the lawyers I worked with didn't fit the stereotype. They often represented TAC pro bono or at reduced fees. They put money aside to fight for justice, especially for poor people. They were also modest. In our high profile cases, the TAC's lawyers were not the centre of attention. Nevertheless, TAC won most of its cases and all the key ones. We were very ably represented.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 21 August 2013
This is the last in a three-part series on the United States government's PRISM programme.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 June 2013
This is the second in a three-part series on the United States government's PRISM programme.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 June 2013
This is the first in a three-part series on the United States government's PRISM programme.
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 18 June 2013
The Democratic Alliance markets itself as an efficient and un-corrupt alternative to the ANC. It never hesitates to point out serious service delivery failures by the ANC. So it is interesting to see its responses to the Social Justice Coalition's criticisms of the City of Cape Town's handling of a major toilet supply contract in Khayelitsha.
Nathan Geffen
News | 30 April 2013
"[W]henever we see that little white bastard called Jared Sacks we must beat the shit out of him ... " This was written by well-known journalist and black-consciousness writer, Andile Mngxitama, on his Facebook page.
Nathan Geffen
News | 25 March 2013
Do you want to buy a firearm for protection? Many people do because of the high rate of violent crime in South Africa. But is it sensible? Will a gun make you more secure or will it put you and your loved ones in greater danger?
Nathan Geffen
Opinion | 27 February 2013
Night-time and Khayelitsha looks a different place to a few weeks ago. The City has repaired most of the street lights in the township's major roads; it is noticeably brighter now. Last night Mayor Patricia De Lille joined a march organised by organisations who have been demanding that the lights be repaired.
Nokubonga Yawa and Nathan Geffen
News | 12 February 2013
Charred ruins of beds, microwaves, washing machines, fridges, corrugated iron, asbestos and other shack building materials are strewn across the BM section of Khayelitsha.
Nathan Geffen
News | 3 January 2013
Ivor Blumenthal, the former station master and presenter of Chai FM, has written a tirade against Jews who are critical of Israel.
Nathan Geffen and Mary-Anne Gontsana
News | 19 December 2012
Madiba is in hospital. Spokespeople assure us he is doing well. That he is old, sick and likely to die soon are avoided or dealt with euphemistically.
Nathan Geffen, Editor GroundUp
Opinion | 12 December 2012