GroundUp News: Travelling 10 hours for lifesaving treatments a harsh reality for Beaufort West patients

Khayelitsha marches against rampant gun violence; travelling 10 hours for lifesaving treatments a harsh reality for Beaufort West patients; mothers win case against “cultural” adoption guidelines. Africa Melane (in for Lester Kiewit) speaks to Barbara October of GroundUp News about these stories. …

GroundUp News: 14 adult nappies a month not enough say activists

Disability activists in the Western Cape are calling for clear policies on the provision of free adult nappies at clinics to disabled people who need them; protesters marched to Parliament to demand the government take urgent action to mitigate the impact of the climate crisis and El Niño condition…

GroundUp News: Police officer promoted to station commander despite being on trial for torture

A police officer who is awaiting trial for committing torture on a man has been appointed as a police station commander; Western Cape schools to teach maths in isiXhosa from next year; meet two Khayelitsha brothers who are turning invasive water hyacinth into biochar for farmers. Lester Kiewit spea…

GroundUp News: Urgent action needed so that dental technicians can finish their training

Parliament has recommended urgent mediation to end a seven-year standoff between the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC), which has left dental technology students unable to complete their training; residents of Covid informal sett…

GroundUp News: Calls for SIU to investigate farmworker equity schemes

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been asked to investigate farm worker equity schemes after millions of rands have gone missing; nearly 200 protesters who live along the N2 in Cape Town held a protest march to voice their concerns over the City of Cape Town’s planned “safety wall”; and meet…

GroundUp News: Police and NPA found liable for murder by man released on bail

Lester Kiewit speaks to Barbara October, deputy editor of GroundUp News, about the latest local stories.  This includes the Gqeberha High Court's ruling that the Minister of Police and National Director of Public Prosecutions are liable to pay damages for negligence to the family of a man who was …

GroundUp News: Farmers and state clash over handling of foot and mouth disease

Lester Kiewit speaks to Nathan Geffen, director of GroundUp News, about the latest local stories.  This includes concerns by South African cattle farmers that the Agricultural Research Council veterinary research campus in Onderstepoort has not sent any new Foot and Mouth Disease samples to the Pi…

GroundUp News: Thousands kept behind bars due because they cannot make bail

Lester Kiewit speaks to Barbara October, deputy editor of GroundUp News, about the latest local stories.  This includes the nearly 3300 people stuck in prison because they cannot afford bail of R1000 or less; the SAHRC going back to Bloekombos a year after service delivery findings, and the Silent…

GroundUp News: Cape Town’s water programme beset by further delays

Lester Kiewit speaks to Barbara October, deputy editor of GroundUp News, about the latest local stories.  This includes the City of Cape Town’s New Water Programme, including its desalination plant, which is now only expected to be operational by 2036; a Zimbabwean community among those arrested i…

GroundUp News: World’s largest funder of medical research lifts ban on South Africa

Lester Kiewit speaks to Barbara October, deputy editor of GroundUp News, about the latest local stories.  This includes the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) lifting its ban of nearly 18 months after an order to stop working with South Africa, Cape Town parentings closing a school …