News

A week in activism

This week in political activism we look at Sonke Gender Justice’s call for government to take urgent action on hate crime, charges laid by TAC against senior health officials in Bloemfontein, and the launch of an urgent intervention on behalf of Marikana residents.

Thembela Ntongana

News | 4 September 2014

US judge rules against apartheid claim

A US court has ruled against the Khulumani Support Group in its 12-year legal battle to bring US corporations to book for aiding the apartheid government. But Khulumani will appeal against this ruling, says national director Marjorie Jobson.

Shandana Mufti

News | 4 September 2014

The Warongx of Khayelitsha

Despite the positive role Khayelitsha band Warongx and their Khayelitsha Music Academy play in the community, official and formal support for them is largely absent.

Nicholas Ashby

News | 4 September 2014

Taxi owners distance themselves from strike

As all Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) returned to normal, taxi associations Cata and Codeta say they are happy with the outcome of the meeting they had on Tuesday, and that calm has been restored among taxi drivers.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 3 September 2014

Police clearance is needed for Zimbabwean Special Dispensation Permit says Home Affairs

Following the Minister of Home Affairs remarks on 12 August 2014 that a clear criminal record was a condition to qualify for the Zimbabwean Special Dispensation Permit, the Zimbabwe Community South Africa (ZCSA) said they have noted people flocking to police stations for police clearance. The ZCSA told GroundUp that in fact there was no need for anyone to get police clearance. Subsequent to GroundUp quoting ZCSA yesterday, Home Affairs has confirmed that a certificate is needed. GroundUp deeply regrets adding to the confusion.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 3 September 2014

Angy Peter: state probe was biased, says defence

The police investigation into the murder of Rowan du Preez was biased, the defence advocate in the Angy Peter trial has argued.

Johnnie Isaac and Barbara Maregele

News | 3 September 2014

Taxi drivers vow to continue protest

Taxi drivers angry at an increase in traffic fines have vowed to continue their protest if the authorities do not reduce fines.

Mary-Anne Gontsana and Katy Scott

News | 3 September 2014

Zimbabweans form local study group

Zimbabwean teachers and students sometimes find it hard to integrate to South African schools. Established in January 2014, Par excellence is a study group with teachers and 20 Zimbabwean students located in Salt River. They are mainly high school repeaters and a few primary school children whose parents could not get places for them in major South African schools.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 2 September 2014

Shortage of drug that prevents babies from getting HIV

The National Department of Health (NDoH) has sent out a circular nationally to all doctors, nurses and pharmacists informing them of a shortage of a paediatric anti-AIDS drug called nevirapine, used to prevent HIV infection in the newborn children of mothers with HIV.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 2 September 2014

Healthcare workers worry injecting heroin on increase

Sunday 31 August was International Overdose Awareness Day. Health workers in Cape Town have warned of a possible increase in drug overdoses and the spread of infectious diseases, including HIV, if the use of needles to inject drugs increases.

Ian Broughton

News | 2 September 2014

Circumcision just got easier

In a bid to get thousands of men in the Western Cape circumcised, the national department of health (NDoH) officially cut the ribbon to launch the new mobile theatres which will be going around the Cape’s remote areas, to get males circumcised.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 1 September 2014

What the law has to say about evictions

The law on evictions has changed since the landmark Grootboom judgment in the Constitutional Court in 2000. But the recent spate of evictions and demolitions of shelters in informal settlements in the Western Cape – Lwandle, Philippi East, and Khayelitsha – must make the right to housing ring hollow for those left homeless, writes Sandra Liebenberg.

Sandra Liebenberg

News | 1 September 2014

Khayelitsha commission: rift between police and community “not irretrievable”

The commission into policing in Khayelitsha has recommended that in order to restore a good working relationship with the community, the South African Police Services should promise to be respectful, transparent, and perform their duties in a professional manner.

Barbara Maregele

News | 29 August 2014

Police hammered on Lwandle eviction violence

At the Lwandle Commission of Inquiry today, the police were hammered for failing to engage community leaders in an attempt to prevent the escalation of violence during evictions at Lwandle informal settlement in June. Such a failure falls foul of the legal requirements for public order policing.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 28 August 2014

In the footsteps of Dudley Lee: prisoners to sue government

Several prisoners intend suing the Department of Correctional Services because they contracted tuberculosis (TB) in prison.

GroundUp Staff

News | 28 August 2014

Angy Peter trial: judge wants police to explain mistakes

Police statements to the media after the arrest of Social Justice Coalition activists came under the spotlight in the Angy Peter trial today.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 28 August 2014