“It is impossible to look past the fact that the festival could serve as a diversion from the human rights violations being committed by the state of Israel” A South African film director has pulled out of the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival, citing Israel’s human rights violations as his reason. John Trengove is a […]

Emigrating from one country to another is a huge life changing decision upon which many people have pondered. Everyone has their reasons… whether it’s temporary or permanent – for a better life, to advance their career, to travel more or simply just to experience something new… Today’s topic is something I’ve been wanting to write about […]

Africa is not the cradle of humankind: that’s the claim by a group of scientists who’ve just published what they describe as evidence of pre-human remains found in Eastern Europe (Greece and Bulgaria). The fossils in question belong to Graecopithecus freybergi, and are a little more than seven million years old. This would make them […]

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – British police on Tuesday identified the suicide bomber who killed 22 people, including children, in an attack on a crowded concert hall in Manchester, and said they were trying to establish whether he had acted alone or with help from others. The man suspected of carrying out Britain’s deadliest bombing in […]

In a male-dominated profession, a former Walter Sisulu University graduate – Dr Ncumisa Jilata – has defied the odds to become the youngest qualified neurosurgeon in Africa! And it all started with passion and intrigue… Mthatha-born Jilata, 29, is among the new batch of fellows for the Council of Neurosurgeons of South Africa, following their graduation […]

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – At least 22 people were killed and 59 wounded in an explosion at the end of a concert by U.S. singer Ariana Grande in the English city of Manchester on Monday, in what two U.S. officials said was a suspected suicide bombing. Prime Minister Theresa May said the incident was being treated […]

Dear Ms Madikane, Thank you for putting your story in writing to me, through an open letter published in GroundUp. We have indeed met and spoken on several occasions, about the growing demand for housing and access to land in Cape Town, and about your personal struggles in particular. Let me deal with the broader […]

They lost the London battle in the season-ending leg, but the Blitzboks won the Sevens World Series war on Sunday. Neil Powell’s brave men went down 12-17 to host nation England, with home town hero Dan Norton breaking the deadlock after the final hooter in the quarter-final clash. But whatever disappointment felt by captain Philip […]

(Reuters) – Pippa Middleton, younger sister of Kate, Britain’s Duchess of Cambridge, was married in a small English country church on Saturday surrounded by royals and celebrities but those hoping for a dash of Hollywood were left in the cold. The event had been at risk of being overshadowed by the most high-profile appearance yet […]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A speeding car plowed into pedestrians on a sidewalk in New York City’s busy Times Square on Thursday, killing one person and injuring a dozen, according to witnesses, and police said the incident did not appear to be an act of terrorism. A Reuters witness said one person was covered with […]

Before I had kids, I watched a friend clear their newborn baby’s nose by sucking out the mucous, as the infant simply could not breathe. With a mixture of incredulousness and admiration, I wondered how on earth he did that, without even thinking twice. Then I became a parent. And with every fibre in my body, […]

It’s domestic workers’ struggle for housing, not a hidden agenda, that is behind the campaign for Tafelberg… Dear Premier Zille My name is Sheila Madikane. I am a domestic worker, a housing activist, and one of the leaders of Reclaim the City. We have met a number of times over the last few weeks at […]

Kariega Game Reserve is a paradise for African elephants and their safari guests and rangers experience many memorable moments with these gentle giants – as is depicted in this series of five fascinating facts and photographs…  1.  A newborn human baby weighs around three kilograms (7 lbs) and takes 12-18 months to learn to walk. A newborn elephant […]

The perilous state of Cape Town’s water supply is starkly visible… [This is part one of a GroundUp special series on Cape Town’s water crisis.] There are six major dams in Cape Town: Berg River, Steenbras Lower, Steenbras Upper, Theewaterskloof, Voëvlei, and Wemmershoek. These hold 99.6% of the city’s water capacity, with eight smaller dams, mostly […]

Poultry farmer Josephine Mbithe used to get up three times a night to add charcoal to her stove just to keep her newborn chicks warm. But since she started using fuel briquettes made with human waste, the stove burns all night, leaving her to sleep in peace. Mbithe is one of many Nakuru residents who […]

SINGAPORE/TORONTO (Reuters) – Technical staff scrambled on Sunday to patch computers and restore infected ones, amid fears that the ransomware worm that stopped car factories, hospitals, shops and schools could wreak fresh havoc on Monday when employees log back on. The spread of the virus dubbed WannaCry – “ransomware” which locked up more than 100,000 […]

The Blitzboks bounced back from a shock setback against Scotland to beat Japan in Day One action of the Paris Sevens tournament on Saturday… writes MARK ETHERIDGE. They beat Japan 35-5 in their second Pool A clash of the day. Tries by Cecil Afrika and Shakes Soyizwapi saw them lead 14-0 at the break. The […]

LONDON/MADRID (Reuters) – A global cyber attack leveraging hacking tools believed to have been developed by the U.S. National Security Agency has infected tens of thousands of computers in nearly 100 countries including South Africa, disrupting Britain’s health system and global shipper FedEx. Cyber extortionists tricked victims into opening malicious malware attachments to spam emails […]

South Africa’s Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has “apologised” for his actions in the run up the Marikana massacre when police killed 34 striking mineworkers on August 16, 2012. His supposed apology during a speech at Rhodes University on May 7, 2017 – reportedly followed advice by struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela that he make amends and […]

Many would like to consign the polarising debate about “white monopoly capitalism” (WMC) in South Africa to the margins. They argue that its proponents are nothing more than Marxist ideologues or mischievous political manipulators But, even if we query the integrity of the term WMC, its introduction into South Africa’s contemporary discourse is indisputably good […]

Solomonic wisdom needed to settle tiff over God in South Africa’s public schools The place of religion in South Africa’s public schools is set to come under scrutiny when two groups battle it out in court later this month. From 15 to 17 May the Gauteng High Court will hear the long awaited case, Organisasie […]

The People’s Health Movement (PHM) has called for better psychiatric assessment of prisoners before their release, following the murder near Port St Johns of four-year old Kamvelihle Ngala by a former prisoner. The child’s uncle, Mandisi Gwanya, 30, appeared in Port St Johns Magistrates Court on 2 May where he admitted having killed the child. […]

Service delivery protests engulfing the townships to the south of Johannesburg are continuing. Residents of Finetown which is located next to Ennerdale took to the streets blocking all entrances and exits out of the township with rocks and burning tyres. A man brandishes a toy gun towards police as protesting residents block the main road […]

Residents of Willowfountain in Pietermaritzburg are still fetching dirty water from the river in spite of the installation of a new reservoir in March. Communal taps in KwaPhupha in Willowfountain ran dry in February last year and in spite of the construction of a new reservoir, the water supply has not resumed. Water is supplied […]

Residents from Eldorado Park and Freedom Park (south of Johannesburg in South Africa) protested over the lack of housing and jobs on Monday. The protest turned violent; residents and police had running battles along the Golden Highway which runs through both suburbs. “There is no future for the youth here” Shaun Jacobs a young protester explained […]