Human Rights

“What is your business in Council?” - My experience trying to participate in the City of Cape Town’s budget

Every year the mayor calls for residents to participate in the budget process by making submissions on Cape Town's draft budget. Last year fewer than forty people wrote submissions and only 23 were from the public. This has been the trend for the last couple of years.

Axolile Notywala

Opinion | 14 May 2015

We want service delivery, say Marikana residents

Garbage is piling up in Marikana informal settlement. Residents, concerned about their health and the squalor in which they are living, are calling on the City of Cape Town to begin providing services.

Nombulelo Damba

News | 13 May 2015

Bangladeshi shop owners face xenophobic threats from Kimberley residents

The Bangladeshi owners of a shop were escorted out of Roodepan by heavily armed police officers last night. This happened after angry residents pelted the shop, Roodepan Mobile on Starling Street, with bricks and stones shortly after 7pm.

Douglas Mthukwane

News | 12 May 2015

No toilets and not enough water in struggle hero’s birthplace

Residents of Slangspruit in Pietermaritzburg say they are used to the smell of faeces, because they have no toilets.

Ntombi Mbomvu

News | 12 May 2015

WITHDRAWN: Sex workers and residents squabble in Durban suburbia

A quote in this story was fabricated by the reporter. We have withdrawn the story and will not be using the services of this reporter again. We apologise to our readers. - GroundUp Editor.

Chris Makhaye

News | 12 May 2015

Detainee tells of shocking conditions for awaiting trial prisoners

After numerous organisations wrote to the Department of Correctional Services, raising their concerns about the bad conditions in the awaiting trial section of Pollsmoor prison, GroundUp exclusively spoke to a detainee in that section, who says nothing has changed.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Feature | 7 May 2015

SANCO chairperson asks foreigners for protection money

Mthethwa Filita, chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation in Mayibuye, Makhaza, has been asking for protection money from shops owned by foreign nationals.

Pharie Sefali

News | 7 May 2015

Dying and the law: the Dignity SA case explained

Yesterday Judge Fabricius of the Pretoria High Court handed down an order in the case of Robin Stransham-Ford.

Timothy Fish Hodgson

News | 1 May 2015

May Day: a proud history

On Friday 1 May South Africa will celebrate Workers’ Day. In the first of three articles on the current state of the labour movement, Leonard Gentle explains the history of this holiday.

Leonard Gentle

Opinion | 29 April 2015

“You were supposed to become somebody, - the hopes of homeless people

In the winter of 2014 I interviewed six young men who lived on the streets of Cape Town’s Central Business District.

David Cowan

Opinion | 28 April 2015

Ashton residents outraged after farm murder

Rosina Cloete claims that her husband, 50 year old Colin Cloete, was killed by an Ashton farmer while picking tomatoes and is determined to make sure justice is done.

Barbara Maregele

News | 28 April 2015

Khayelitsha residents hand over 600 submissions on City’s draft budget

About 150 Social Justice Coalition (SJC) members, supported by Ndifuna Ukwazi, formed a queue behind a toilet outside the Civic Centre and chanted struggle songs on Thursday, as they waited for their individual submissions on the City of Cape Town's draft budget for the 2015/2016 financial year to be collected.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 23 April 2015

Thousands march against xenophobia in Johannesburg

Thousands of people marched against xenophobia in Johannesburg on Thursday 24 April. The march proceeded through Constitutional Hill, Hillbrow, the CBD and Newtown. Here is a selection of photos.

GroundUp Staff

News | 23 April 2015

“Sometimes I only manage to make R10 a day just to put bread on the table, - 17-year-old boy

When you’re 14 years old, your parents normally take care of you. But Sivuyile Sibhozo from Site C Taiwan Informal Settlement in Khayelitsha has been taking care of his brother and grandmother for the past three years.

Nombulelo Damba

Feature | 23 April 2015

Call for parliament to sign anti-xenophobia pledge

About 100 people marched against xenophobia in Cape Town yesterday. The protest was organised by several civil society organisation including PASSOP and Sonke Gender Justice.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 23 April 2015

“They just came to our home and slapped me”

Nowela Mukeyo, an 11-year-old Grade 5 pupil at an Isipingo primary school in Durban, calls a tent on the Isipingo football ground home.

Chris Makhaye

News | 22 April 2015