News

Uneasy calm shattered in Masiphumelele

A temporary respite from violence in Masiphumelele ended today, as police and over a thousand residents clashed. Residents blocked the road to Kommetjie with burning tyres. Police used teargas, rubber bullets and arrests to disperse the protest.

Bernard Chiguvare, Masixole Feni & GroundUp staff

News | 29 September 2015

How can South Africa redesign its annual national assessments?

South Africa’s major teacher unions and the Department of Basic Education agree: standardized testing can be a useful tool to measure the progress and gaps in a country’s education. But they don't agree on the current format of the tests.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 29 September 2015

Minister wants meeting to break ANA deadlock

Minister of Education, Angie Motshegka, will meet on Friday with stakeholder groups in a bid to resolve the deadlock over the annual national assessment tests (ANAs), scheduled for December.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 29 September 2015

Bringing rugby to the Cape Flats

Controversy over the demographic composition of the Springbok team once again shows the need to invest in rugby in black schools. A non-profit organisation is trying to do just that.

Scott Sloan

News | 28 September 2015

We shouldn’t have to apply to protest, say activists

Right2Know campaign members and other civil organisation leaders held a picket outside the Civic Centre today calling for the City of Cape Town to respect their right to protest.

Barbara Maregele

News | 28 September 2015

I’ve been raped. What do I do now?

“There are so many things that rapists and communities do that feed myths and false notions about rape,” says Rape Crisis director Kathleen Dey.

Barbara Maregele

News | 28 September 2015

Art in a Khayelitsha fruit & veg shack

Mpho Mathebula rents a small space in a fruit and vegetable shop in Khayelitsha to sell his paintings and beadwork.

Pharie Sefali

News | 25 September 2015

Teaching drama in Ndevana

Mbulelo Nkwali and Zolani Seyisi had one idea when they founded Suppermix in 2008 in King William’s Town’s Ndevana settlement: to take young people off the streets. Today the film and drama company performs at weddings, church events, and the Buffalo City carnival.

Siphesihle Matyila

News | 25 September 2015

Strike at West Coast sand mine turns nasty

Workers at Australian-owned Tormin mine on the west coast are still on strike after a protest two weeks ago in which a police officer and a worker were injured, and 27 people were arrested.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 September 2015

Jet customer sold insurance he didn’t want

GroundUp photographer Masixole Feni tried to open an account at Jet stores last month - and found himself signed up for a handful of insurance policies he didn’t want.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 23 September 2015

‘One day, people will watch me dance’

“When I finish school, I want to be in a ballet skirt and do ballet for a big crowd,” says six-year-old Anathi Dakuse from Imizamo Yethu.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 23 September 2015

Challenges of playing ‘white music’ in Gugs

Masixole Dunjana aka Dida Dunjana is a name most hadn’t heard of until he was announced as part of the Rocking the Daisies 2015 lineup, set to perform on the Bridges for Music stage. The 20-year-old DJ now faces the challenge of learning to calm his nerves ahead of what he calls his ‘biggest performance to date’. The time has come for him to step out of his comfort zone and take his music beyond his small bedroom in Gugulethu.

Zethu Gqola

News | 22 September 2015

From Flavier to Flavina: a refugee’s story of courage and survival

When Flavina walks the streets of Delft, with her long earrings, nose piercing and colourful clothes, people turn around to stare. Tall, elegant and feminine, Flavina used to be Flavier. Born as a male in Burundi 33 years ago, she came to South Africa to live openly as a woman.

Juliette Garms

News | 22 September 2015

Top dancers show Gugulethu kids their moves

A group of 11 dancers from the Zama Dance School in Gugulethu had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in a workshop with members of the critically-acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre on Saturday.

Barbara Maregele

News | 21 September 2015

We’re all scared, say Blikkiesdorp residents

Blikkiesdorp residents are calling for better policing after a spike in crime in the area. Seven families have already been moved to Wolwerivier at their request by the City of Cape Town.

Barbara Maregele

News | 21 September 2015

More cops for Masiphumelele

Seven new constables will be joining Ocean View police station, which serves Ocean View, Kommetjie and Masiphumelele. This news follows a week of violence in Masiphumelele, and months of community dissatisfaction with insufficient policing in the township.

Pasqua Heard

News | 18 September 2015