Civil Society

Gay and lesbian activists call for “racist” Cape Town Pride to be more inclusive

For 25-year-old, Aphiwe Mikana from Gugulethu, raising awareness about what it means to be lesbian is more than brightly coloured floats or a day of dancing through city streets.

Barbara Maregele

News | 2 March 2015

Budget 2015: What leading activist organisations want to hear from Nene

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene will present the budget speech to Parliament today. GroundUp spoke to several social movements and leading civil society organisations to find out what they would like him to address.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 February 2015

Take back parliament for the people, declares R2K

Members and supporters of the Right2Know campaign rallied in the Cape Town CBD yesterday and vowed to take back Parliament for the South African public. This was in response to events at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) which had a "profoundly negative impact on our democracy" according to the organisation.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 20 February 2015

ANC calls for “deregistration of TAC”

The ANC Youth League Free State has called for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) to be deregistered. This follows TAC's "Fire Benny" campaign, which calls for the dismissal of the province's Health MEC Benny Malakoane.

Nathan Geffen and GroundUp Staff

News | 19 February 2015

Angy Peter trial: prosecution and defence spar over restorative justice process

The relatives of Rowan du Preez, who was kidnapped and necklaced more than two years ago, are “ready and willing” to participate in mediated talks with the four convicted of his murder, the Cape High Court heard this morning.

Barbara Maregele

News | 12 February 2015

Convicted activists vow to challenge gatherings law

A Cape Town magistrate has convicted ten activists from the Social Justice Coalition (SJC) for convening an illegal gathering. Although they were discharged with a caution, the group has vowed to appeal the conviction, and to have the Regulations of Gatherings Act declared unconstitutional by a higher court.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 11 February 2015

Curro schools and segregation: back to the future

Today, Equal Education is protesting outside the Public Investment Corporation because it is an investor in the Curro private school chain. DORON ISAACS, Equal Education's Deputy General Secretary, explains his organisation's concerns with Curro.

Doron Isaacs

Opinion | 10 February 2015

Lost court records delay judgment in activist court case

SJC activists and their supporters descended upon the Cape Town Magistrates' court this morning, anticipating judgment in a trial that has been ongoing, in stops and starts, since July last year. But there was to be no judgment, because part of the court record had been lost.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 6 February 2015

Struggle for justice receives financial boost

A new fund worth $25 million (R284 million) was announced at the District 6 Museum in Cape Town today. It will support organisations that are working to “advance constitutionalism”.

GroundUp Staff

News | 5 February 2015

Draft drone rules silent on privacy and weapon concerns

Draft regulations for drone usage in South Africa do not have safeguards against the use of the devices by the state as weapons or to invade people’s privacy, activists have warned. But the sub-committee in charge of compiling the regulations has said Constitutional rights will not be violated.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 27 January 2015

Organisation provides hope and skills to thousands of kids

At 22 years of age, Brightness Khumalo, has found a job that she describes as hard but which she clearly finds rewarding.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

Brief | 22 January 2015

Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance claim court victory

Steel Valley communities’ victory against ArcelorMittal is a victory for pollution-affected communities across the country, writes Melissa Fourie.

Melissa Fourie

Opinion | 3 December 2014

Militarisation and depoliticisation in South Africa today

One of the striking features of South African politics in recent years is its re-militarisation - a tendency for political issues to be addressed or resolved by force. This is part of a wider problem of violence suffusing South African society in general - that people, especially men, vent their anger with violence rather than discuss what has caused them to be annoyed in areas unrelated to politics, for example so-called “road rage”.

Raymond Suttner

Opinion | 2 December 2014

World Aids Day: TAC still needed

About 200 people gathered at The Orbit in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on World Aids Day in support of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). The TAC is trying to raise R30million for 2015 in order to continue doing its work.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 1 December 2014

Khayelitsha police, community and activists find ways to tackle crime

The police, civil society and Khayelitsha community activists are beginning to work together to give effect to the commission of inquiry into policing's recommendations. Here's an update on progress so far, and plans for next year.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 28 November 2014

Factions fuel violence at Durban hostel

Sitting on a worn-out green sofa outside Durban’s giant Glebelands hostel, Thulani Kati describes in graphic detail his alleged torture by a special police unit on 2 October this year.

Fatima Asmal and Barbara Maregele

Feature | 28 November 2014