Twenty children who fell prey to a serial rapist have been "adopted" by police officers who will act as "big brothers".

Cape Town - Twenty child rape survivors who fell prey to Khayelitsha’s serial rapist Soyiso Nofemele have been “adopted” by police officers who will act as “big brothers” to the children over a period of time.

Police officers based at stations in Khayelitsha have each “adopted” five children. Officers will each support a child with school uniforms, supplies and groceries, among other things.

On Wednesday, they met the children and their parents for the first time at the Thusong Centre in Khayelitsha.

The occasion, dubbed “Abantwana Bethu – Caring for our Own”, was also part of SAPS’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.

SAPS, with the help of various non-profit organisations that work with abused children and Rape Crisis centres – such as Simelela, Patch, Mosaic, Free Gender and the Social Justice Coalition, among others – treated the children and their parents to Christmas gifts and care hampers filled with groceries and toiletries.

Nofemele, 27, was convicted last year in the Western Cape High Court. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts of rape, 12 counts of abduction and one of murder.

His victims were between the ages of two and eight.

Inspector Paul Moss, a member of the provincial task team that brought Nofemele’s reign of terror to an abrupt end, described the case as the “biggest single perpetrator case in the country”.

In a profile the task team compiled of Nofemele, they established that he was well-known in the community. He also blended in quite well and didn’t do anything to arouse suspicion.

Moss said all Nofemele’s victims had to spend at least a week in the hospital, undergoing reconstructive surgery to their private parts.

He said the one thing that stood out was that Nofemele liked the sight of blood. Moss explained that Nofemele would ask each victim “Are you bleeding?” while raping them.

Moss said they were looking at other unsolved cases against children which they suspected might be linked to Nofemele.

Member of Men for Change forum and police officer Nkosiphendule Nkowili, of Lingelethu-West Police station, said the children were randomly selected and placed within the organisation.

Men for Change is an SAPS initiative that aims to promote a community of proud men playing a positive role in their personal lives and communities.

“We will be providing a support system for both the child and parents. The family will be able to come to us for help,” Nkowili said.

A mother of one of the rape survivors, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her child, said she was “excited” about the programme.

“We need all the help we can get,” said the 33-year-old unemployed mother.

Her daughter, now 10, was raped while walking home from preschool early last year. She said her daughter first told her teacher about the ordeal.

“The teacher took her to a social worker. She was taken to the hospital immediately… it was a nightmare. She is fine now, but she is a child… I don’t know what she is thinking.”

Captain Anita van der Vyver said at the event on Wednesday: “These children lost a lot in their short lives. What happened to them was horrific and indescribable. Today, they can forget, play and enjoy the Christmas spirit.”

Cape Argus

At 12.12pm on 12/12/12, a baby girl at the Melomed Hospital in Mitchells Plain took a deep breath and let out a wail.

Cape Town

At 12.12pm on 12/12/12, a baby girl at the Melomed Hospital in Mitchells Plain took a deep breath and let out a wail.

On Wednesday, the Cape Argus visited mother and child. Samantha Manikivana, an MTN consultant from Nyanga, was cradling her newborn in her arms. She sang softly into her baby’s ear, and smiled widely as nurses took cellphone photos of the pair.

“I haven’t named her yet, but my feeling is that her name should be Lihle. It means ‘beauty’ in Xhosa, and that is exactly how I feel about her. She came into this life at a magical moment and I am sure her life will be blessed and full of happiness as a result,” Manikivana said.

The date that doctors had predicted for the birth had been December 10.

“But, my manager at work said that my baby was going to be born on that special day,” she said. “I wasn’t sure whether to agree with him or not, but it came true. The fact that the exact time played out like that as well is just amazing.”

Staff at the hospital were still chattering with excitement late on Wednesday afternoon. Lynette Smith, the nurse who helped deliver Manikivana’s child, said: “Look at my watch, it’s 6.25pm. It’s exactly 12 hours since I came on shift!”

“When we started approaching that magical figure I kept thinking ‘is this really going to happen?’ By noon, I thought we were going to miss it, but then the baby’s little head popped out and I knew we were on the money.

“At exactly 12 minutes past 12 the birth was registered. We all celebrated, clapped and hugged each other.”

Across the country, it turned out to be a very lucky day for another mother. Baby Chidozie was also born at 12 minutes past 12 at McCord Hospital in Durban.

The significance of the number 12 becomes apparent when one considers that each day is divided into two 12-hour parts (am and pm), each year has 12 months, there are 12 signs of the Zodiac, 12 days of Christmas, 12 Apostles, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 Old Testament prophets.

For the last time this century, the day, the month and the year are all the same number 12/12/12.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus, The Mercury

Owners of expensive bicycles have been urged to take care after a string of thefts in Cape Town.

Cape Town - Owners of expensive bicycles have been urged to take care after a string of thefts in the city.

Matt Eagar, founder of the cycling website The Hub, reported a number of incidents by online visitors reporting their bikes stolen.

He said: “I’ve noticed a definite spike in reported bicycle thefts in the Cape Town area since the beginning of December. Based on reports submitted in the ‘stolen bikes’ section of our discussion forums.”

This section allows cyclists to report stolen, recovered or suspected stolen bikes.

One Capetonian, Enver Kuun, reported his Specialised Epic Carbon 29er stolen off a rack on the back of his car parked at the V&A Waterfront on December 4.

“It was within the view of two surveillance cameras and within 10m of two security guards,” he said. “I reported it on The Hub and within 10 minutes I was contacted.”

A local photographer had spotted “an expensive-looking” bicycle being ridden by someone who did not resemble the type of rider who would own an R84 000 bike, and he photographed the suspect. The bike has still not been recovered. Kuun has offered a R10 000 reward.

Other bikes reported stolen on The Hub are:

* Specialised S-Works and Raleigh Team road bikes stolen off a bike rack in the parking area at Die Burger Cycle Tour at Stellenbosch High School on December 2. The S-Works is worth between R60 000 and R80 000 while the Raleigh between R15 000 and R20 000.

* A Pyga OneTen 29er from Parow on December 6 worth between R30 000 and R40 000.

* A Giant Anthem X29 stolen from a shed in Harfield Village valued between R20 000 and R30 000.

Eagar said: “It would be difficult for these stolen bicycles to be sold through the known local channels such as second-hand traders or online classifieds like The Hub.

“With access to social platforms like The Hub, Twitter and Facebook, news of these stolen bikes spreads fast.

“There are simply too many eagle-eyed individuals online and in stores who’d quickly identify and report these bikes should they come up for sale.

“Most of the bikes reported stolen are high-end specialist bikes which are easily identifiable. Certainly many bikes are likely to have been stolen by ‘opportunist’ thieves who unknowingly happen upon a high value prize, often selling them off for mere fractions of their true worth.”

But despite the spate of thefts, Eagar said he had no evidence to suggest any sort of syndicate in operation.

Cape Argus

Siblings of convicted killer Najwa Petersen want to enter into a plea and sentence agreement with the State.

Cape Town - Siblings of convicted killer Najwa Petersen want to enter into a plea and sentence agreement with the State in connection with their alleged involvement in fraudulently exporting fruit.

Brothers Waleed Dirk, 36, Yusuf Dirk, 50, and their sister Fairuz Arendse, 48, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The trio’s lawyer, Pete Mihalik, was due to argue about the jurisdiction in which the siblings were charged but instead said they wanted to strike a deal with the State.

The charge sheet stipulates that the crimes were allegedly committed in the Northern Cape and that the trio should, by law, be tried in the area where the crime was allegedly committed. If the defence was successful, the presiding officer would strike the case from the court roll.

But that application did not go ahead because the defence submitted a proposal to the State in terms of section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Act.

State advocate Tillette Berry said the State needed time to consult Sars and consider whether they would agree to the plea deal.

The State has charged the trio and Dirk Fruit Supply Okshakati CC, which is represented by Waleed Dirk, with fraud and forgery.

It is alleged that the trio, Najwa Petersen and Shamil Dirk were members of the company.

Petersen was sentenced in February 2009 to 28 years for orchestrating the contract killing of her husband, music icon Taliep Petersen.

The siblings have been charged with 127 counts of fraud for allegedly defrauding a customs export officer and Sars at the Vioolsdrift border post in the Northern Cape when fruit was exported.

The brothers had allegedly also known that documentation supplied to the officials had been forged.

They have been charged with 52 counts of forgery. The trial continues on January 25.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Western Cape farmworkers received food and other aid after calls made by Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, her office said.

Cape Town - Western Cape farmworkers received food and other aid after calls made by Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson, her office said on Wednesday.

Farmworkers in the province were without food as they had not been paid due to the strike, Joemat-Pettersson’s spokeswoman Palesa Mokomele said.

“There has been an awakening by retailers, including Tiger Brands, Food Bank SA and Hortgro to bring hope to the thousands of farmworkers,” Mokomele said.

“We sourced R10 million from the Food Relief Fund. We have gone this route because farmworkers… face numerous challenges, including poverty and a lack of basic services. South Africa faces household food insecurity, and farmworkers have, over the past couple of weeks, elevated their plight. Farmworkers went without their wages for the duration of the protests and many of them are facing a bleak Christmas.”

Table grape harvesters started protesting in De Doorns at the start of November, asking for R150 a day in wages and improved living conditions. Most earned between R69 and R75 a day. The protests spread to 15 other towns, leading to violence and two deaths, before the strike ended on December 4.

The bulk of the aid will be handed out in De Doorns.

“This is great news. There was a time when hunger and starvation was of huge concern in De Doorns, as shops were looted and workers were forfeiting their wages due to strike action,” said activist Braam Hanekom, who has been involved with assisting striking farmworkers in De Doorns since September.

“The workers of De Doorns made large sacrifices to bring attention to the plight of farmworkers in the Western Cape and throughout South Africa. I am very happy and relieved that they are receiving some food so close to the festive season.”

Farmworker Monwabisi Kondile said the community welcomed the aid: “But we are still struggling. We cannot live off aid, we need our living wage. The workers and the farmers are still trying to negotiate, but the process is taking long and many of the people are frustrated.”

The department made money available for basic food and the services of a logistics company to manage the delivery of food and aid.

Families receiving donations would be allocated a coupon with an identification number, which allowed the logistics company to keep track of who had received which aid package.

“Each package includes basic foodstuffs like maize meal, rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, and other goods,” said Mokomele.

The department called on the public to extend themselves this Christmas by donating food, aid and back-to-school goods, such as books and stationery. Goods can be dropped off at the Food Bank SA warehouse in Epping, Cape Town, between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday.

Cape Argus

A memorial service for four 35 Squadron members who died in a KZN plane crash was held at Ysterplaat Air Force Base.

Cape Town - A memorial service for four 35 Squadron members who died in a KwaZulu-Natal plane crash last week was held at Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Brooklyn on Wednesday.

All 11 crew members and passengers on a flight en route to Mthatha last Wednesday died after the C-47 Dakota aircraft of 35 Squadron they were travelling in crashed at Castle Rock in the Drakensberg. An inquiry into the accident is under way, but it is believed that severe thunderstorms in the area played a role in the accident.

Among the dead are Cape Town servicemen Major Kurt Misrole, Captain Zack Smith, Sergeant Eric Boes and Corporal Letshela Mofokeng.

Warrant Officer Jan Wilson, a close friend of Boes and spokesman for his family, said that a lot of bottled-up emotions found expression at the memorial service.

“Eric was a great man and a great airman. He was a man of God and fully dedicated to his work in the force. We were all looking forward to him returning from his trip. Eric was due to turn 40 on Friday, and we had been planning a big surprise party for him. It’s so sad. We still sang happy birthday for him, and held a candlelight ceremony for him on Friday,” said Wilson.

Boes is survived by his wife, Desiré, his son, Ebert-Lee, 16, and his daughter, Dezné, 15. Ebert-Lee has said that he wants to join the air force in honour of his father.

Misrole’s father, Wensley Misrole, also said that the last week has been “surreal - almost like a bad dream”.

“My son was such an easy-going, gentle and optimistic person. He was always pleasant and was loved by all the people in his life. We would like to know what caused the accident, but right now that is not our main concern. We understand that the investigation is under way, but that it may take some time. For now we have to look to arranging the funeral,” he said.

Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said: “This tragedy has taken away a group of young soldiers at a time when we are encouraging the rejuvenation of our force with younger members, particularly in the area of scarce skills such as the South African Air Force (SAAF).

“We are particularly saddened by the fact that, for the families gathered here, the reality of this loss will be even more stark at the time when families gather to celebrate the festive season this month.”

The service ended with a wreath-laying ceremony by Mapisa-Nqakula, other dignitaries, members of 35 Squadron and family members.

The remains of the 11 deceased are still to be handed over to the families.

Mapisa-Nqakula said that she intended to arrange for all the families to visit the crash site in KwaZulu-Natal, “to allow them to pay their last respects”.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Readers have opened their hearts and offered to help a Cape Town family living in their car near Kenilworth Centre.

Cape Argus - Readers have opened their hearts and offered to help a Cape Town family living in their car near the Kenilworth Centre.

Things have been looking up for the Minnaar family since the Cape Argus reported details of their plight last week. The family have been living in their car since falling on hard times.

Droves of e-mails and phone calls from Cape Town, Durban and Joburg readers have been received, offering all kinds of assistance - from groceries to new places to live.

Amanda and Dennis Minnaar have been living in their dilapidated Datsun Pulsar for more than a year since being evicted from a rented house in Ottery. They have managed to send their two children, aged nine and 16, to school despite their circumstances.

Amanda was proud to report that her children did well at school and were progressing to Grades 4 and 9.

She said that with the gifts there had been offers of help with school uniforms for next year.

They had received a lot of help from many “kind strangers” and companies and the family appreciated all the help given.

“Some people come by and give money and some just leave groceries, and we got a R500 food voucher from Pick n Pay,” Amanda said.

“We would like to thank all those who have helped us in any way, no matter how big or small.”

Pick n Pay has been discussing helping the family with a place to stay. Its marketing manager in the Western Cape, Mark Jennings, said meetings were being held to try to help the family out permanently.

Tacoma Foods is also planning to assist. Its chief officer, Greg Balfour, said the family’s situation touched him deeply.

“Tacoma Foods has been really touched and affected by the family’s situation, especially the education of the children,” Balfour said. The company was hoping to get involved in the long-term plans to help the family, such as with accommodation.

Amanda said her husband had received temporary and permanent job offers for the new year. They hoped this Christmas would be a good one. “We will make the most of the day.”

Cape Argus

The theft charges J Arthur Brown faced in the regional court would be incorporated into the indictment he faces in the high court.

Cape Town - Former Fidentia boss J Arthur Brown will no longer stand trial in the Cape Town Regional Court.

Judge Anton Veldhuizen agreed on Thursday that the theft charges he faced in that court would be incorporated into the indictment he faced in the high court.

Brown was arrested in 2007 and charged with four counts of fraud, two of corruption, two of theft, and one of money-laundering.

The State alleges he ran a pyramid scheme and used investor funds for his personal gain, including the acquisition of luxury cars and beach houses.

The case was postponed until January 28.

Veldhuizen said: “Come the 28th, this matter will run. Everything must be tip-top and there must be no further delays.”

Sapa

The establishment of a commission of inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha was an unlawful intrusion on the powers of the SAPS, the Western Cape High Court heard.

Cape Town -

The establishment of a commission of inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha was an unlawful intrusion on the powers of the SAPS, the Western Cape High Court heard on Thursday.

Advocate Norman Arendse, for Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, asked a full bench of the court to declare the inquiry unlawful and unconstitutional.

Arendse said Western Cape premier Helen Zille overstepped her powers by appointing retired judge Katherine O'Regan and advocate Vusi Pikoli to probe allegations of police inefficiency in the area.

He said the Constitution conferred certain entitlements to provinces to monitor police conduct and effectiveness. The premier and her cabinet were however not entitled to issue summons or search warrants on police.

“Provincial commissioners are accountable to the national commissioner, and not accountable to provincial cabinet and premier,” Arendse said.

As proceedings continued in court, a group of protesters from NGO, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), gathered outside.

The SJC led the call for the commission to be established following a string of vigilante killings in Khayelitsha. Local residents complained police inaction had led to residents taking the law into their own hands.

The O'Regan/Pikoli commission was meant to hold public hearings from November 12 to December 14.

The commission was since suspended pending the outcome of Mthethwa's application. - Sapa

A policeman put his life on the line when a man opened fire on him and his partner while they were on patrol.

Cape Town - It was the gruesome scene after a policeman shot and killed an armed attacker.

The officer put his life on the line when the unidentified man opened fire on him and his partner while they were on patrol.

The cop, who cannot be identified for safety reasons, rushed to his partner’s aid, taking a bullet in the process. The 33-year-old, who is stationed at Bishop Lavis Police Station, was shot in his neck by the 35-year-old suspect.

The man was hit in the face and shoulder and died at the scene. Officers say the tattooed man is thought to be a gangster.

After the shootout, the suspect’s loyal dog gave police and paramedics a tough time when he refused to move away from his dead owner.

The dog sat on the bloodied man’s corpse and officers at the scene were forced to call in the dog unit to remove the animal.

By late Wednesday, the man had still not been identified.

Meanwhile, police carried out a door-to-door search for the family of the dead man.

The drama unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday morning when police were doing routine patrols.

“Police were patrolling Bonteheuwel and Bishop Lavis when on the corner of Vlamboom and Kiaat Road they conducted stop searches and asked the man’s permission to search him,” police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk tells the Daily Voice.

“He refused and then pulled out a firearm and opened fire on [police] members.”

One of the cops, also a 30-year-old, hurt his leg as he ran back to the vehicle for cover as his partner was shot by the suspect.

Sources close to the investigation have revealed that the fatal shots were allegedly from the wounded policeman who saved himself and his colleague by shooting the gunman.

Police would not release the name of the hero officer who escaped death saying both members are still in hospital.

“We have opened a case of murder and attempted murder,” Van Wyk says.

“The matter is under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.”

This is the second time in less than a week where police in the area have come under attack.

On Monday, a Kreefgat man was killed after community members clashed with police.

It’s alleged 36-year-old Jerome Brown was shot in the head by a police officer.

Cops, however, claim they were attacked by a “riotous group” who smashed their windows and assaulted officers who were trapped inside their vehicle.

Daily Voice

Road deaths in the Western Cape have increased in the first 10 days of December compared to the same period last year.

Cape Town - Road deaths in the Western Cape have increased in the first 10 days of December compared to the same period last year, transport MEC Robin Carlisle said on Thursday.

“The first 10 days of December have seen 62 people being killed on the Western Cape roads, compared to 43 in 2011 - an increase of 31 percent,” he said in a statement.

Of the 62 people killed, 28 were passengers and 20 pedestrians.

“This has been a very grim start to the festive season, with lives being lost at a rate of six per day.”

He said the high proportion of passenger deaths indicated people were not wearing seat belts.

“(Therefore) in addition to the continuing measures in respect of drunk driving, speeding and fatigue management, the enforcement of buckling up amongst back seat passengers will be intensified.”

Between August 2011 and June 2012, Cape Town traffic officers issued a total of 13 621 fines for seatbelts not being used, 415 fines for seatbelts not meeting required specifications, and 56 for children not being effectively restrained. - Sapa

Proceedings to sentence Johannes Kleinhans for a string of sex crimes were postponed to January.

Cape Town -

Proceedings to sentence Johannes Kleinhans for a string of sex crimes were postponed to January in the Parow Regional Court in Cape Town on Thursday.

Magistrate Amanda van Leeve postponed the sentencing of the 74-year-old director of companies to January 17.

He has been convicted on 95 charges, including assault and possession of child pornography.

The trial was previously postponed as State prosecutor Herculine Swart and defence attorney Johannes Grobbelaar awaited a State psychiatric report to be placed before the court for sentencing purposes.

On Thursday, Swart said she had received the report but that Grobbelaar needed to pursue and discuss it with Kleinhans.

Grobbelaar said the defence would also need to consult a private psychiatrist for a second opinion to counter any suggestions made by the State psychiatrist.

At the time of his arrest, Kleinhans held directorships in several companies, and was also the chief executive of one of them.

His arrest compelled him to resign his posts, and his convictions bar him from ever holding company directorships again.

Prior to his arrest, Kleinhans had befriended the parents of three pubescent girls, and showered the families with gifts and money over a protracted period to gain their confidence.

Apart from the house where he lives with his wife and family, he had a second secret property which he had rigged out as a gym of sorts for the sole use of the three girls.

In the “gym”, he had provided the girls with liquor to ostensibly to teach them “sensible and responsible drinking”.

Although, according to his own testimony, he had discouraged the girls from being sexually active at their age, he had provided them with condoms in the house for safe sex.

The girls and their parents had referred to Kleinhans as Uncle Ian and had regarded him as a fatherly figure.

The magistrate requested Swart and Grobbelaar to complete their sentencing testimony on January 17, so that the court could use the next day to focus entirely on the sentence to be imposed. - Sapa

Sentencing proceedings of a Western Cape bus driver convicted of culpable homicide after a crash that left 23 people dead were postponed.

Cape Town -

Sentencing proceedings of a Western Cape bus driver convicted of culpable homicide after a crash that left 23 people dead were postponed by the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday.

Siza Nonama, 41, was told to return to court on January 30 for sentencing.

The court, presided by Western Cape Regional Court President Bruce Langa, heard that the delay was due to a communication problem between Nonama and his attorney.

Defence attorney Thabo Nogemane said Nonama had recently been treated for tuberculosis in hospital and was unable to “properly communicate instructions”.

The defence needed time to consult with him properly.

In October, Nonama was found guilty of 23 culpable homicide counts, as well as driving without a proper licence, and driving an unroadworthy bus.

Similar charges against Nonama's brother, Malinga, who is the owner of the bus, were recently withdrawn by prosecuting counsel Willem Tarantal.

The accident took place near De Doorns in May 2010 when Nonama lost control of the bus and it overturned. - Sapa

Judgment was reserved in the application by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa against a commission of inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha.

Cape Town -

Judgment was reserved in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday in the application by Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa against a commission of inquiry into policing in Khayelitsha.

Mthethwa's advocate Norman Arendse said an interdict was urgent as Western Cape premier Helen Zille's decision to appoint the commission would have an impact on the independence of the SA Police Service (SAPS).

“Appointing a commission of inquiry with coercive powers is an intrusion on the separation of powers,” Arendse said.

He was responding to arguments by lawyers representing Zille, the Social Justice Coalition (SJC), and the commission itself.

Peter Hawthorne, for the SJC, told the court Mthethwa's legal team had failed to prove the commission would cause irreparable harm to the SAPS.

Hawthorne agreed the premier's setting up of the commission was an intrusion of the powers of the SAPS.

“It's a constitutionally mandated intrusion the applicants have to live with,” he argued.

Francois van Zyl, acting for the commission, said the aim was not to interfere in police functions.

“The work of the commission would be forward looking...it would focus on systemic issues,” Van Zyl told the court.

The court was packed with SJC activists who led the call for the commission to be established following a string of vigilante killings in Khayelitsha.

Community members complained police inaction had led to residents taking the law into their own hands.

The O'Regan/Pikoli commission was meant to hold public hearings from November 12 to December 14.

The commission has since suspended pending the outcome of Mthethwa's application. - Sapa

An average of six people a day have died on Cape roads in the first 10 days of December.

The holiday death toll has risen to 62 on the Western Cape’s roads.

An average of six people a day have died on the province’s roads during the first 10 days of December, bringing the number of fatalities during that period to 62, according to Western Cape MEC for transport and public works Robin Carlisle.

He said that the number of road deaths in the province rose by 31 percent when compared to the same period in 2011when 43 people died.

Carlisle said that of the 62 people who died, 28 (45 percent) had been passengers, while 20 (32 percent) were pedestrians.

“This has been a very grim start to the festive season with lives being lost at a rate of six per day. The uncharacteristically high proportion of passenger deaths immediately identifies a lack of seat belt compliance, particularly in respect of back seat passengers.

“Therefore, in addition to the continuing measures in respect of drunk driving, speeding and fatigue management, the enforcement of “buckling up” among back seat passengers will be intensified,” said Carlisle.

CONCERNING TREND

He said that between August 2011 and June 2012, a total of 13 621 fines were issued for seatbelts not being in use, while 415 fines were issued for seatbelts not meeting the required specifications, and 56 for children not being effectively restrained.

“Our fatality statistics and engagement with our partners in the City of Cape Town have revealed this very concerning trend with regard to the use of seatbelts, particularly among passengers in the back seat of a vehicle.

“With a high number of the fatalities coming from the Metro (35 percent), not wearing your seatbelt is a gamble with your own life, and that of your passengers. Injuries sustained in crashes are intensified when seatbelts are not used, especially by rear-seat passengers. A decision to buckle up is almost always the difference between life and death,” said Carlisle.

Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said fatigue was also on of the biggest killers on our the roads and that they had extended their “fatigue management programme” aimed at taxi drivers to also include car drivers. - Cape Argus

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Three people were killed and 21 injured in an accident involving a bus and taxi in De Doorns, paramedics said.

Cape Town -

Three people were killed in an accident involving a bus and taxi in De Doorns, Western Cape paramedics said on Friday.

Twenty-one others were injured, among them seven children and a baby, said Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman Keri Davids.

She said the accident took place on the N1 on Thursday evening, and the cause was unknown.

“Emergency workers removed three deceased persons from the taxi and medically assessed and treated 21 patients travelling in the bus...”

The injured were taked to Worcester Hospital. - Sapa

A row has broken out between the City of Cape Town and some minstrel organisations.

Cape Town - A row has broken out between the City of Cape Town and some minstrel organisations over the contract allocation process for an events organiser for the Tweede Nuwejaar Minstrel Carnival.

Mayor Patricia de Lille and several minstrel organisations met at the City Hall on Thursday to sign an agreement in support of the event. But the Cape Minstrel Carnival group and Cape Town Minstrel Association voiced their disapproval that an events organiser had not been chosen from their community.

Sedick Soeker, vice-chairman of the Cape Town Minstrel Association, said the whole process was fraudulent: “We want the process that we first agreed upon. A white company which doesn’t care about our community was appointed. We don’t make money from the carnival, it’s a free show. It costs around R150 000 just for a small team to show at the carnival.”

De Lille said: “We have been through months of negotiation and it is regrettable that a minority of minstrels has decided not to participate due to dissatisfaction with the tender process. The appointment… was conducted in a fair manner.”

The city had tried to strengthen its relationship with the minstrel community as part of efforts to revive the historic and cultural significance of the Cape Minstrels’ annual carnival.

“Last year, the city appointed retired Constitutional Court Justice Kate O’Regan as an independent mediator to lead negotiations between the city and the minstrels’ organisations,” De Lille said. “Our constructive engagements resulted in the return of the event to its original date on January 2 every year and its traditional route through Bo-Kaap.”

Igshaan Higgins, an attorney for the Cape Minstrel Carnival group, said: “My clients understood that someone from the community would be given an opportunity (in the tender process) and they were not given an opportunity due to public process. We want an audience with the mayor to get to the bottom of this.”

Higgins added that the group would still participate in the carnival on January 2.

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

Ellen Pakkies, who killed her tik addict son, is now having to deal with his older brother, who is also a drug addict.

Cape Town - The tik nightmare for Ellen Pakkies is far from over.

The Lavender Hill mother killed her abusive tik-addicted son Adam in 2007 and is now having to deal with his older sibling, who has also become a tik addict.

Pakkies strangled Adam to death, after suffering abuse at his hands for many years.

She was arrested and given a three-year suspended sentence and community service during which time she become a community worker, leading the fight against the tik scourge.

Earlier this year, she lost her eldest grandson, Otniel Tamboer, to tik and gangsterism. She said Tamboer had been using tik for many years.

He was shot in the head in April in a gang-related shooting.

On Thursday, Pakkies revealed how tik was again destroying her family.

She said her eldest son was not working and often came home – high on tik – in search of money. She said he started taking drugs when Adam, her youngest, was still alive. She knew her son was using tik and Mandrax.

“But it’s getting worse. He wants to work but he needs an ID but when I give him money for the ID he uses it to buy tik,” she said.

Pakkies has been practising tough love.

“I’m not going to give him money. Life isn’t easy for me also,” she said, adding that she often struggled to make ends meet.

She wants him to get help but says she wants to talk to him first.

Pakkies says she has had to chase her son away from her house, and that he has decided to “stay away.”

She said that it was best not having him around.

“But I don’t really see him anymore – I don’t like him in that way,” she said.

When Adam died, there were many offers to help her, but many of the offers had since disappeared, Pakkies said.

“People reaching out – the one’s who said they would help – didn’t come back,” she said.

She is grateful for the “spiritual help” she gets.

“There are a lot of mothers praying for me at other churches and I want to thank them,” she said.

“Also there are other mothers going through this and who are still living with the threat and the help they really need is not really there.”

She said she often met young people on tik who wanted help, but who did not know where to go.

“I can do what I can for those who want help,” she said.

Regarding her sons’ addiction she said: “They shouldn’t have started with it.

“I’m sure he is tired of this drug, but I can’t go out and support him all the time.

“I know it’s tough, I know it’s not easy,” she said.

“If there’s anyone who can help me, or if there are people who want to make a difference in our communities, please come forward,” she said.

natasha.prince@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The City of Cape Town will be launching a crime comic booklet that will include a crime-fighting superhero.

Cape Town - The City of Cape Town is launching a crime comic booklet that will feature a crime-fighting superhero called Vision.

The comic will been named City of Cape Town VISION, or CCTV, and will have a superhero called Vision who “never sleeps” and watches for crimes in the city.

The project is a joint initiative between the city, various NGOs, communities and The Safety Lab, a company that designs and conceptualises programmes that enhance safety and security. The company’s director Noah Maltz said he was confident the project would be a success.

Strategically placed around the city are 350 CCTV cameras. The project will use still images from the cameras, block out the identities of alleged perpetrators and the images will be published as an informational comic booklet and distributed at intersections, malls and train stations and can also be downloaded online.

yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

The police minister’s lawyer has attacked the constitutionality of Zille’s decision to appoint an inquiry into alleged police inefficiency.

Cape Town - The lawyer for Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has attacked the constitutionality of Premier Helen Zille’s decision to appoint a commission of inquiry into alleged police inefficiency in Khayelitsha.

Advocate Norman Arendse, who represented Mthethwa, the national and provincial commissioner of police and other police officers, approached the Western Cape High Court to seek an interdict to suspend the inquiry.

Zille set up the commission in August to probe allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha and the alleged “breakdown in relations” between the community and the police.

The commission, which is headed by retired Judge Catherine O’Regan and advocate Vusi Pikoli, was to hold public hearings from November 12 to December 14. A full report was due on February 24, 2013.

But the commission has since been suspended pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

Arendse said Zille did not apply her mind when she established the commission, claiming that she was driven by media reports instead of community complaints to launch the inquiry.

He said eight complaints were lodged and dealt with. “These complaints have all been dealt with by the police,” Arendse said.

He argued further that the Women’s Legal Centre said the criminal justice system including the police, metro police, prosecutors and the courts were responsible for the community’s lack of faith in the system.

Arendse said people were upset when suspects walked the streets shortly after their arrest and cases took four to five years before they were finalised.

“What purpose is a commission of inquiry, only into the police, going to serve?” Arendse asked. He said the commission recognised their limitations which included that they could not summons National Prosecuting Authority head Rodney de Kock and Justice Department regional head Hishaam Mohamed.

“So what do they do? They write letters urging them to co-operate. But in this case they summons the police. That constitutes an intrusion of a separation of powers,” Arendse said.

Advocate Sean Rosenberg for Zille argued that pressure had mounted on Zille to do something about the increasing number of vigilante attacks in Khayelitsha this year.

The spate of vigilante attacks was “symptomatic” of the complaints calling for the commission, Rosenberg said. “By mid-2012 there was increasing pressure on the premier from the affected pressure groups that were mobilising support,” he said. These groups included the Social Justice Coalition, the Women’s Legal Centre and the Triangle Project.

On Thursday, about 100 people protested outside court, singing and dancing in support of the inquiry.

A full Bench including Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso, Judge James Yekiso and Judge Vincent Saldanha have reserved judgment.

jade.otto@inl.co.za

Cape Argus