Civil Society

UCT students defy court order

Students at UCT, protesting at a planned 10.3% fee hike, marched on the university residences today and then on Rondebosch police station to demand the release of students arrested this morning.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 20 October 2015

Black Sash steps up ‘Hands off our grants’ campaign

On Thursday, over 1,000 people attended a silent protest held by the Black Sash at St George's Cathedral, Cape Town. A similar protest was held at Mopanye Mall, Soweto, in which 120 people attended. There was also a picket, held with the Right2Know, on Tuesday outside the Mitchells Plain Sassa Office. The protests are part of the Black Sash and partners’ 'Hands off our grants' (HOOG) campaign.

Pasqua Heard

News | 15 October 2015

Surfing helps youth at risk

A non-profit organization is using surfing to promote emotional wellbeing and mental health amongst youths who live in unstable and violent communities. Twice a week, children and teenagers from Khayelitsha, Lavender Hill and Masiphumelele head down to Muizenberg beach to surf. In the ocean, they find a safe space to have fun while building their self-confidence.

Juliette Garms

News | 5 October 2015

“Application dismissed” - a reflection on My Vote Counts, and losing

To hear those two words from a majority of the Constitutional Court after another wave of tireless campaigning on one of the oldest and most fundamental issues we face as a country was brutal.

Gregory Solik

Opinion | 1 October 2015

Understanding the Constitutional Court judgments on political party funding

In the wake of the Hitachi/Chancellor House investigation in the US and Hitachi Corporation’s agreement to pay a huge amount to settle the corruption allegations made against it, the Constitutional Court’s judgments in My Vote Counts NPC v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others, handed down on Wednesday, could hardly be more pertinent.

Shanelle van der Berg

Analysis | 1 October 2015

“You are responsible for creating a historical sadness” - Archbishop

Nearly 2,000 people braved the cold and rain to join the Unite Against Corruption march to Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people participated in the main march in Pretoria. Smaller marches also took place in other cities, including Durban and Grahamstown.

GroundUp Staff

News | 30 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

Media24’s failed attempt to stifle diversity

Last week the Competition Tribunal found Media24 guilty of predatory pricing after one of its Free State publications sank a competitor. Yet this is only one example of numerous cynical attempts by the country’s largest print media company to stifle media diversity in its quest for monopoly control, argue Micah Reddy and Carina Conradie.

Micah Reddy and Carina Conradie

Opinion | 16 September 2015

Open Streets comes to Bellville

The Open Streets concept, which originated in Colombia, is coming to Bellville. Open Streets Co-founder and Director Marcela Guerrero Casas explains why her organisation has chosen Bellville.

Marcela Guerrero Casas

News | 11 September 2015

Helping Andiswa

On 17 August we reported how a 43-year-old woman — who we called Andiswa — was left disabled after an especially brutal rape. Readers asked how they could help. We're pleased to report that Iliso Care Society is helping out.

GroundUp Staff

Brief | 10 September 2015

Loss of her child prompted Khayelitsha woman to launch soup kitchen

The loss of her 11 year old child to TB prompted Vivian Zilo to start a soup kitchen to feed TB patients. Within three months she was feeding 300 people, and the Iliso Care Society has grown from there.

Pharie Sefali

News | 7 September 2015

Coalition launched to decriminalise sex work

In the wake of Amnesty International’s vote to adopt a policy that supports sex work decriminalisation, the Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work was launched in Cape Town on 27 August. The coalition consists of sex workers, activists, advocates and defenders of human rights.

Ashleigh Furlong

News | 28 August 2015

Call for parliament’s HIV committee to be revived

Civil society groups have called for the revival of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on HIV & AIDS.

Bernard Chiguvare

News | 27 August 2015

We will not be silent on crime, say Khayelitsha organisations

Around 200 people from several social justice organisations took part in a march to parliament on Tuesday, for safety, equality and justice.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 25 August 2015

Phiyega must go, say activists

The Social Justice Coalition (SJC) and Ndifuna Ukwazi (NU) have called for the resignation or dismissal of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega, saying she has failed the people of Khayelitsha and poor people in South Africa as a whole.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 12 August 2015

Civil society comes out for Public Protector

About 100 people gathered in front of parliament today to say “enough is enough” to government corruption as the deadline is reached for the submission by the parliamentary ad hoc committee on Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko’s report which said that President Jacob Zuma does not have to pay back the money he used for security upgrades to his Nkandla home.

Siphesihle Matyila and Brady Nevins

News | 7 August 2015