Crime

No one arrested for murder of young Musa Batyi

On 24 November, 17-year-old Musa Batyi was found at Better Life, Philippi, in a pool of blood. He had been stabbed once. He was in excruciating pain and losing blood. A short while later he died.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

News | 3 December 2013

Khayelitsha Development Forum boycotts policing inquiry

The Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) says there is no need for the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into policing.

Pharie Sefali

News | 20 November 2013

Can urban upgrading create safer communities?

The third lecture of this year’s Grootboom Memorial Dialogue Series took place at the Woodstock Town hall last night. Hosted by the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), the dialogue explored the impact of urban design interventions on the safety and security of people living in informal settlements.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

News | 20 November 2013

Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha starts

Yesterday marked the official start of the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Police Inefficiency in Khayelitsha. It took place at Lookout Hill in the township. Dozens of members of the community, civil society organisations, and the media gathered to witness the first proceedings.

Delphine Pedeboy

News | 14 November 2013

Occult crime unit is offensive to common sense and morality

Decades after its formation, the Occult-Related Crime Unit (ORCU, founded by Kobus “Donker” Jonker in 1992) continues to waste public resources, misdirect police attention, and stigmatise young people who are by and large more misunderstood than malignant.

Jacques Rousseau

Opinion | 13 November 2013

Alexander Court, Parow: tenants say their lives are in danger.

Property owners and tenants of Alexander Court in Parow say they are being terrorised by drug lords and sex workers who trespass on their balconies.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 15 October 2013

Too many bad apples: IPID report reveals unacceptable levels of criminality within the police

Over the past year, people filed 6 728 cases of criminal and professional misconduct against police officers with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). This number represents 4.3% of active police officers (officers employed in terms of the SAPS Act).

Craig Oosthuizen

News | 9 October 2013

Khayelitsha residents on the O’Regan/Pikoli Commission

The O'Regan/Pikoli Commision of Inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha is to go ahead after a Constitutional Court ruling last week. GroundUp went to the streets of Khayelitsha to gauge people’s reaction to the ruling.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

Opinion | 9 October 2013

The People versus the Minister of Police

Yesterday, the Constitutional Court dismissed a request by the Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa and others to hear a direct appeal against the appointment of the O’Regan/Pikoli Commission of Inquiry.

Jacques van Heerden

Opinion | 2 October 2013

Zimbabwean man dies in Langebaan police cells

A Zimbabwean family has accused the police of negligence and human rights abuses after 29-year-old Arthur Padzakashamba died in custody in the Langebaan police cells. The family alleges that he was arrested when reporting a domestic violence case against his estranged wife after she had allegedly stabbed him on 6 September 2013.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 25 September 2013

How to become a murderer in Nyanga

Sipho [name changed] is 18 years old and a hardened gangster. He has lived his whole life in Nyanga, the Cape Town township with the highest rate of murder in the country.

Pharie Sefali

News | 22 September 2013

SJC Civil Disobedience matter postponed

The matter against the twenty-one Social Justice Coalition (SJC) activists, who took part in a civil disobedience action last week, has been postponed to 23 October 2013. The 21 activists appeared before the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Sibusiso Tshabalala

Brief | 18 September 2013

Gang violence, not just Manenberg

Township residents are complaining that murders in the townships are not being taken seriously with media and political attention focusing on the Cape Flats.

Pharie Sefali

News | 18 September 2013

“I don’t see myself living anywhere but Manenberg”

Roegchanda Pascoe and her younger brother have watched through the window of their home as rival gangs fought with each other day in and day out. But Pascoe says she doesn’t see herself living anywhere but Manenberg.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 18 September 2013

Civil society organisations visit gang stricken Manenberg

Members of various civil society organisations led a solidarity visit to gang stricken Manenberg to monitor the situation and to lend a helping hand to the community.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 11 September 2013

Millions for Western Cape substance abuse programmes

The Department of Social Development in the Western Cape has increased this years annual budget for interventions to address substance abuse to R87-million.

Nwabisa Pondoyi

News | 11 September 2013