Police have arrested a teen and three others after four men were wounded in several shootings in Manenberg.

Cape Town - Police have arrested a teenager and three men after they were caught in possession of illegal firearms with filed-away serial numbers and one with ammunition, after four men were wounded in several shootings in Manenberg on Thursday.

Manenberg police launched an impromptu search operation soon after the shootings, in which three men were wounded, and found the firearms in an area around Swartkop Street where, they say, residents are often unco-operative and act in support of the local gangs.

The first shooting happened at 10.30am on Thursday when a 21-year-old man was shot in Thames Avenue by an unknown man, who fled the scene.

At 5pm, two men aged 27 and 37 were shot in the same street, also by an unknown man.

Then, at 5.45pm, a 22-year-old man was shot in Swartkop Street, not far from the scenes of the previous two shootings.

Police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut said police had reason to believe that the incidents were linked.

Investigators had not ruled out the possibility that the shootings were gang related, he said.

The wounded men had been admitted to hospital.

When police arrived at the scene, there was a brief stand-off between them and local residents, some of who might have been gang members, a witness at the scene said.

Police then launched a search operation and found the firearms and ammunition. One firearm was found on a 17-year-old in First Avenue, Sherwood Park.

Then, police arrested two men, both aged 20, for being in possession of another firearm, in Thames Avenue, where the first shooting took place.

Continuing their search of the street, officers arrested a 27-year-old man in possession of a firearm, before finding a man in possession of illegal ammunition in a nearby block of flats, Audrey Court.

The weapons and the arrested men have not yet been linked to the shootings.

Cape Argus

A 63-year-old Cape Town woman has a criminal record dating back 26 years for theft and has escaped jail three times.

Cape Town - A 63-year-old Cape Town woman has a criminal record dating back 26 years for theft and has escaped jail three times.

Despite this, Joan Fredericks again escaped a custodial sentence on Thursday when she appeared before the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court.

She was in the dock after the Daily Voice exposed how she stole R2 800 from Shaheeda Jacobs’ bag while she was shopping in Mitchells Plain Town Centre.

Fredericks escaped with a warning after pleading guilty to a charge of theft.

But the grandmother was given a stern warning by Magistrate Siya Ngaxale as she stepped into the dock.

“If you don’t admit that you have previous convictions then you will face a fine of R40 000 or two years in prison,” the judge warned her.

When he asked her if she pleaded guilty or not guilty, Fredericks sheepishly answered: “Skuldig [guilty].”

She was told she was being let off with a warning until her case comes before the court again on February 28.

Court documents seen by the Daily Voice reveal that Fredericks has a history of theft dating back to 1987.

And relatives – who do not want to be identified – claim Fredericks began her “stealing” stint when she stole a woman’s purse in broad daylight.

She also allegedly made “easy money” when she pickpocketed drunk sailors at a pub called the “Traintjie” in Cape Town.

“She stole a white lady’s purse in a shop in the 1980s,” the relative said.

“Then, when her son worked at OK Bazaar at Kenilworth Centre, she filled her coat with chickens at the store – she was bust and he lost his job.”

And Fredericks proved she was unable to kick her “habit” when she was again caught on Wednesday.

The granny thief’s latest victim was in court on Thursday to see her face justice.

Unemployed Jacobs, 42, was outraged after the granny dipped into her handbag and stole R2 800 from her.

But on Thursday she admitted she felt sorry for the pensioner’s family for the humiliation she has put them through.

“I’ve got nothing against the family,” Jacobs said.

“I feel sorry for her grandchildren because they will now forever be left with the memory of their thief grandma.

“I am glad she admitted to what she did, but I just want my money back as soon as possible.”

Daily Voice

A man was killed and 11 people left homeless in a shack fire in Phillipi, a City of Cape Town official said.

Cape Town - A man was killed and 11 people left homeless in a shack fire in Phillipi, a City of Cape Town official said on Friday.

Disaster risk centre spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said the fire broke out on Thursday at 5.40pm in the Brown's Farm informal settlement, gutting a shack.

Khawceza Nontsele, 63, was trapped and died on the scene.

The cause of the fire was being investigated and an inquest docket had been opened.

Sapa

The DA and Cosatu will take part in marches against rape in Bredasdorp following the gang rape and murder of a teenager there.

Johannesburg - The DA and Cosatu will take part in marches against rape in Bredasdorp following the gang rape and murder of a teenager there, they said on Friday.

“Members of the community... will be marching (on Friday) to the construction site where Anene Booysen, 17, was brutally gang raped and murdered in the early hours of Saturday morning,” DA spokeswoman Liza Albrecht said in a statement.

She said the Democratic Alliance would support local residents and use its constitutional powers to make sure police and the courts achieved a speedy and appropriate prosecution of the perpetrators.

A wreath would be laid at the scene of the crime.

Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said a rally against rape would take place in Bredasdorp after Booysen's memorial service on Sunday.

“Cosatu believes that this event is bigger than party politics and all organisations and individuals are welcome to attend.”

He said the rally would begin at the Nelson Mandela Hall and end at the Bredasdorp police station, where a memorandum would be handed over.

“We need to pour out our grief and pain at this event in a matter that ensures that there is no repeat of this abuse of women,” Ehrenreich said.

Also on Friday, United Democratic Front Woman's Organisation secretary general Thandi Nontenja condemned the attack.

The violent nature of Booysen's ordeal had brought sexual violence to the public's attention.

“But there are thousands of victims who we never hear about and, far too often, slip between the cracks of the justice system,” she said in a statement.

“One would think that with a female police commissioner sexual offences would be higher on the South African Police Service's list of priorities,” Nontenja said.

Three men have been arrested in connection with Booysen's attack and murder. - Sapa

Those responsible for the gang rape and murder of teenager Anene Booysen must rot in jail, the department of women, children, and people with disabilities said.

Johannesburg - Those responsible for the gang rape and murder of teenager Anene Booysen must rot in jail, the department of women, children, and people with disabilities said on Friday.

“The department... has urged the courts to ensure that those responsible for the brutal rape 1/8and 3/8 murder of Anene Booysen rot in jail,” spokesman Cornelius Tanana Monama said in a statement.

He urged people to work with law enforcement to stop gender-based violence.

“The high levels of women and children abuse in our country is a matter of grave concern and a painful reminder of the disregard for human life and human dignity.”

Booysen, 17, was found gang raped and mutilated at a construction site in Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape, on Saturday morning. She died in hospital that night.

Three men have been arrested in connection with the crime.

“When we know that someone is being abused in our own home or in our neighbour’s house, we have a duty to report it... Don't look away. Act against abuse,” Monama said.

Earlier, the DA and Cosatu said they would take part in marches against rape in Bredasdorp.

Democratic Alliance spokeswoman Liza Albrecht said in a statement the party would join a march by local residents on Friday afternoon. She said the DA would make sure police and the courts prosecuted the perpetrators speedily.

Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said a rally against rape would take place in Bredasdorp after Booysen's memorial service on Sunday.

“Cosatu believes that this event is bigger than party politics and all organisations and individuals are welcome to attend.”

The rally would begin at the Nelson Mandela Hall and end at the Bredasdorp police station, where a memorandum would be handed over.

“We need to pour out our grief and pain at this event in a matter that ensures that there is no repeat of this abuse of women,” Ehrenreich said.

Also on Friday, United Democratic Front Women's Organisation secretary general Thandi Nontenja condemned the attack.

The violent nature of Booysen's ordeal had brought sexual violence to the public's attention.

“But there are thousands of victims who we never hear about and, far too often, slip between the cracks of the justice system,” she said in a statement.

“One would think that with a female police commissioner sexual offences would be higher on the South African Police Service's list of priorities,” Nontenja said. - Sapa

Condemnation of the gang rape and murder of a Western Cape teenager in Bredasdorp continues to pour in.

Bredasdorp - Condemnation of the gang rape and murder of a Western Cape teenager in Bredasdorp, in the Western Cape, continued to pour in on Friday.

The Anglican Church of SA said rape was killing the aspirations of South Africa.

“The hope of our rainbow nation dies, agonising cry by agonising cry, every time a woman is raped - approximately 3500 times a day,” Bishop Rubin Phillip said in a statement.

Booysen, 17, was found raped and mutilated at a construction site on Saturday morning and died in hospital that night.

“But it is not only Anene who has died brutally this week,” Phillip said.

“How is it that the dream nation has become the rape capital of the world?”

The ACSA called on church members to reflect on the impact of rape during Lent and the importance of reporting sexual abuse.

The Young Communist League in Overberg expressed its shock at the crime in a statement on Friday.

“...This is a pure hate crime, a crime against humanity,” spokesman Mzwakhe Magadla said.

“We call upon the justice system to also make sure that the perpetrators are brought to book so that the community can have faith... that the justice system of this country is there to stand up for the plight of victims.”

The YCLSA extended its condolences to Booysen's family.

“No parent, relative, sibling, or even friend should go through what they are going through.”

The YCLSA Overberg district would picket outside the Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court when the three men arrested in connection with Booysen's murder appeared on Tuesday.

Earlier, the department of women, children, and people with disabilities said the men responsible should “rot in jail”.

“The department... has urged the courts to ensure that those responsible for the brutal rape (and) murder of Anene Booysen rot in jail,” spokesman Cornelius Tanana Monama said in a statement.

He urged people to work with law enforcement to stop gender-based violence.

The DA and Cosatu said they would take part in marches against rape in Bredasdorp.

Democratic Alliance spokeswoman Liza Albrecht said in a statement the party would join a march by local residents on Friday afternoon. She said the DA would make sure police and the courts prosecuted the perpetrators speedily.

Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said a rally against rape would take place in Bredasdorp after Booysen's memorial service on Sunday.

“Cosatu believes that this event is bigger than party politics and all organisations and individuals are welcome to attend.”

Also on Friday, United Democratic Front Women's Organisation secretary general Thandi Nontenja condemned the attack and called on South Africans to stand together to fight rape.

“One would think that with a female police commissioner, sexual offences would be higher on the South African Police Service's list of priorities,” Nontenja said. - Sapa

A DA councillor in the Western Cape who received a municipal transport allowance despite not having a valid driver's licence will be investigated.

Cape Town - A DA councillor in the Western Cape who received a municipal transport allowance despite not having a valid driver's licence will be investigated, the party said on Friday.

“The Speaker of Eden Municipality will launch an investigation into the allegations against councillor (Tertius) Simmers,” Democratic Alliance Western Cape spokeswoman Liza Albrecht said in a statement.

“If Mr Simmers is found guilty, the DA in the Western Cape will take the necessary steps.”

The Times reported on Friday that it emerged that Simmers did not have a licence after he was arrested outside the council's offices in George for failing to produce a licence when stopped by traffic officers.

Albrecht said Simmers admitted to not having a valid driver's licence at the time.

“However, the travelling and subsistence policy for councillors in the Eden Municipality makes no mention of a valid driver’s licence as a prerequisite for a travel allowance,” she said.

Council speaker Doris Nayler told the newspaper the councillors - even those without a driver's licence - were getting a monthly transport allowance.

The African National Congress alleged that it was illegal for councillors to receive transport allowances when they did not have a valid driver's licence.

Simmers told The Times he was being targeted by people within the council's administration because he had “exposed corruption”, even within his own party. - Sapa

People should stay clear of an elephant seal that came ashore at Blouberg Beach in Cape Town, the City said.

Cape Town - People should stay clear of an elephant seal that came ashore at Blouberg Beach in Cape Town, the City said on Friday.

“An appeal is made to the general public not to interfere with the mammal, as the sea animal can cause harm to a person,” spokesman Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said in a statement.

He said the seal came ashore at Table View on Thursday morning.

“Accordingly to the city's officials, the mammal did not sustain any injuries and is resting,” Solomons-Johannes said.

“The city wishes to advise the general public that this behaviour is normal for seals to come ashore to rest.”

He said the animal had moved along the shoreline between Table View and Blouberg since Thursday.

The oceans and coasts branch of the department of environmental affairs had placed poles and rope in front of the animal to restrict people.

However, several people had managed to cross the barrier.

“The city's law enforcement, as well as nature conservation, is monitoring the site,” Solomons-Johannes said.

“The Cape of Good Hope SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has been alerted to be on standby should the marine mammal suffer any injuries.” - Sapa

Newspapers and websites, Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry profiles reflect outrage over the rape and murder of Anele Booysen.

Johannesburg - The public outcry about the rape and murder of Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen shows that people are “sick and tired of this”, Commission for Gender Equality spokesman Javu Baloyi said on Friday.

“For once people are united behind this. We are not trying to outwit each other,” Baloyi said of editorials and social media commentary about the crime.

Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry profiles were changed to logos advocating a stand against rape, and a cartoon by Jerm (Jeremy Nell) of a bloodied hand with the words “please stop raping me” was shared and tweeted.

Booysen, 17, was found raped and severely injured at a construction site on Saturday morning and died in hospital that night.

Three people have been arrested. One has already appeared in court. The other two are due to appear on Tuesday.

The Star joined LeadSA with a front page promotion headlined “Stand up Against Rape”, and Talk Radio 702 played a sonar beep every four minutes on Friday to raise awareness about rape.

This followed a BBC website article titled: “Will South Africans Ever Be Shocked by Rape?”

“In recent days commentators and campaigners here have looked, almost enviously, towards India, wondering what it might take to provoke a similar sense of outrage Ä and angrily debating whether outrage itself is enough, and who, or what, to blame,” wrote BBC News Africa correspondent Andrew Harding.

There were protests and international media coverage of the gang rape of a girl on a bus in India in December.

By Friday afternoon, the hashtag #StopRape was trending on Twitter, and anti-rape marches were being organised around South Africa.

Cartoonist Jonathan “Zapiro” Shapiro published a cartoon featuring Booysen in the Mail & Guardian on Friday. It resembled the First National Bank advert which caused controversy earlier this year.

The cartoon shows Booysen as a ghost standing on a stage reading: “... There will be a day, a day when the gang rape, disembowelment and murder of a 17-year-old girl would actually result in more than 15 minutes of public outrage and the usual lip service from the authorities. That day should be today. Inkosi Sikelele iAfrica...”

On the brick wall behind Booysen is a school emblem which reads “Bredasdorp... or any place. Rape for all”.

Written under the Constitutional Court's logo on the right-hand side is “The Constitution. How the hell can it help you?”

Baloyi said a quick statement of condemnation released by President Jacob Zuma “the highest office in the land”, had increased the amount of media coverage and heightened awareness of the crime.

Zuma described it as “shocking”, “cruel”, and “inhumane”.

Baloyi said: “The messaging is not contradictory. Everyone is saying the same thing. There is no trying to be political in this issue.”

Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand, said an aspect of the media coverage of Booysen's rape was that it was a non-political matter.

“So it meant all sorts of different people could speak out about it without venturing into party politics,” he said.

“The president spoke more strongly about this than about Marikana,” said Harber, referring to a police shooting in which 34

striking workers at Lonmin Platinum's mine in Marikana died in August.

Social media also allowed ordinary people to be more vocal.

However, “a bit of caution” was still required, he said.

“We will want to deal with the issue, and not start a kind of bloodlust for alleged perpetrators.”

Media studies consultant Desiray Viney wondered whether there would be a greater focus on crime in the Western Cape, instead of other places like Limpopo, given the political rivalries in the Western Cape.

“That's what struck me this morning, that for the more mainstream media there is going to be a lot more coverage of rape and violence in the Western Cape.”

At the same time, social media also meant people were able to express themselves more than they used to be able to, she said.

Friday's mainstream media coverage included an editorial in The Citizen, which called on South Africans to take collective responsibility in the fight against sexual crimes, and a full page poster on page 11 of The New Age, reading “Enough is enough!” - Sapa

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay expressed shock at the rape and murder of a teenage girl, calling on the authorities to do more to tackle a “pandemic of sexual violence.”

Geneva - UN human rights chief Navi Pillay expressed shock Friday at the rape and murder of a South African teenage girl, calling on the authorities to do more to tackle a “pandemic of sexual violence.”

“There is a need for very strong signals to be sent to all rapists that sexual violence is absolutely unacceptable and that they will have to face the consequences of their terrible acts,” Pillay said.

“The entrenched culture of sexual violence which prevails in South Africa must end.”

She was reacting to the rape and mutilation of 17-year-old Anene Booysen, who was found disembowelled at a construction site in South Africa at the weekend and later died in hospital.

It is suspected she was gang-raped, but police said Thursday they were still investigating.

The case has shocked South Africa, which has one of the world's highest rates of reported rape.

While welcoming strong reactions from President Jacob Zuma and others, Pillay said: “It should not have taken this particularly atrocious case ... to underline the urgent need for a more thorough response across the whole spectrum of South African society to tackle the root causes of this pandemic of sexual violence.”

“The fact that tens of thousands of rapes continue to take place every year in South Africa is a clear indication that the problem must be addressed in a much more robust manner,” the High Commissioner for Human Rights said.

Official statistics show that around 65 000 sexual offences were committed in South Africa last year alone.

But police estimate that only one in 36 rape cases gets reported, and recent studies have found that more than one quarter of South African men admit to raping a woman or girl.

Pillay expressed outrage that arrest and conviction rates of rapists “remain extremely low” in South Africa.

“This is not only a shocking denial of justice for the thousands of victims, but also a factor that has contributed to the normalisation of rape and violence against women in South African society,” she said. - Sapa-AFP

The net is closing on the gang responsible for the brutal gang-rape, mutilation and murder of teen Anene Booysen.

 Cape Town - The net is closing on the gang responsible for the brutal gang-rape, mutilation and murder of Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen, with a third arrest on Friday and a top police source predicting further arrests.

As the attack sparked increasing outrage, even drawing major international TV news stations such as the BBC and CNN to Bredasdorp on Friday, a relative of the first accused, Jonathan Davids, 23, has revealed that he and the dead teenager had been friends for years.

Davids’s aunt Amelia Claasen said the attack “just makes no sense”, but Bredasdorp police commander Lieutenant Colonel Maree Louw revealed that Davids had been arrested in 2011 in connection with a previous assault charge. The charge was withdrawn last year.

In addition, Louw said one of the other two suspects, 21 and 22, who can be named only once they appear in court, had also had run-ins with the law over drug-related charges.

Anene, 17, is to be buried in the town on Saturday, a day after about 1 000 men, women and children filled the streets of the Overberg town, demanding strong action against violent crime.

Anene was left for dead at a housing construction site near her home in the early hours of last Saturday.

She had been at a local sports bar and pub just a few hundred metres from her home.

The march culminated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the spot where her body was found.

On Friday the girl’s heartbroken mother Corlia Olivier said she could still hear her daughter’s footsteps in the house.

“It’s like she is still here with me,” she said.

But the family of the first accused say while they’re shocked at the incident, they cannot believe Davids is responsible, and think the police have the wrong man.

His aunt, Claasen, said outside the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court that her nephew knew Anene well.

His aunt suggested another local man, with the same nickname Zwaai, may in fact be responsible for the attack on the girl.

“All we know is that she said his name and the police came and took him,” Claasen said.

Her story that her nephew left the pub in the early hours of that morning with the owner of the house where he was staying was repeated by the homeowner.

The homeowner did not want to be named, but said he had taken Davids in last December.

The homeowner described Davids as an “upstanding, quiet young man who needed a job and a place to stay”.

He told Weekend Argus that he and Davids walked home together that night.

“The last I saw, he went to his room and I went into mine. The next day police were banging on my door,” he said.

The man has been questioned by police and had his cellphone confiscated “This is not easy for me. I’ve never been in trouble with the police, but my good deed of taking this young man into my home has now led to me being drawn into the mix,” he said, adding that although he did not know exactly what happened that night, he had not noticed any blood on Davids the next day.

“I still cannot believe that this quiet young man was involved in this terrible crime.”

Anene’s death has provoked outrage across the spectrum, with President Jacob Zuma on Thursday describing the crime as “shocking”, “cruel” and “inhumane”.

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay also expressed shock on Friday. “The entrenched culture of sexual violence which prevails in South Africa must end,” she said.

The department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities urged the courts to let the culprits “rot in jail”.

“The high levels of women and children abuse in our country is a matter of grave concern, and a painful reminder of the disregard for human life and human dignity,” it said.

Cosatu announced that it planned to deliver a memorandum to the Bredasdorp police station after Booysen’s memorial service on Sunday.

Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said they would also picket outside the magistrate’s court on Tuesday to support Booysen’s family and “display our disgust at this cowardly act”.

The Young Communist League of SA described the crimes as “stomach churning”.

“We call… for a police officer in every police station nationwide to receive extra training around rape and sexual violence,” spokesman Khaya Xaba said.

Anene’s devastated brother Ryno Booysen 22, told Weekend Argus on Friday he could not believe the news.

“The last time I saw her was over the holidays. This is a very bad thing. Nobody should die like this,” the tearful youngster said, adding of the first accused, “We were like brothers. We grew up together.”

Anene’s close friend, Alfonso Windvogel, 25, said he last saw her last Friday evening when she nagged him to go out with her.

The other two accused are to appear in court on Monday, police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk confirmed.

Weekend Argus

A funeral service was underway for Anene Booysen who was gang raped and badly mutilated in an act of violence that sparked outrage.

Cape Town - A funeral service was underway on Saturday for Bredasdorp teenager Anene Booysen who was gang raped and badly mutilated in an act of violence that sparked outrage.

A brass band played hymns while hundreds of people turned out for the emotional church service in Bredasdorp.

She was to be buried later in the day, broadcaster eNCA reported.

President Jacob Zuma has expressed outrage over the brutal attack, which has drawn comparisons to the rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in India.

Three men, all in their early 20s, have been arrested in connection with the rape and murder of Booysen. One of the men was reportedly her ex-boyfriend. - Sapa-dpa

Four men have been arrested in connection with burglaries committed after a Gumtree advertisement featured some of the stolen property.

Cape Town - Four men have been arrested in connection with burglaries committed as far afield as Stellenbosch and Muizenberg, after a Gumtree advertisement featured some of the stolen property.

Police spokesman Captain Frederick van Wyk said the Bothasig police arrested the two men, aged 27 and 43, on Friday last week.

On Sunday, they followed up on the information, and searched a Bellville guesthouse where a further two suspects were arrested for possession of stolen property.

The first two men were held at the Parow police station, and the other two at the Bellville police station.

All four appeared in court on Tuesday, and were denied bail.

Items seized during the operation included three plasma TVs, cellphones, a camera, expensive perfumes, a laptop, computer box and jewellery.

The burglaries, according to Van Wyk, occurred in Stellenbosch, Muizenberg and Burgundy Estate, near Durbanville. He said the investigation was continuing to establish whether more suspects were involved.

l

In Mitchells Plain, the police are searching for two robbery suspects who robbed a 33-year-old man driving in Spine Road in Rocklands last month.

The two suspects, in a green Datsun, drove past the man, then stopped in front of him, jumped out and held him up at gunpoint.

They escaped with his wallet containing an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone with information should call investigating officer Warrant Officer Trevor Nash on 083 226 2004, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

soyiso.maliti@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus

Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral service for Anene Booysen who was gang raped and badly mutilated.

Cape Town - Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral service on Saturday for Anene Booysen whose gruesome gang-rape and murder has shocked the nation, according to reports.

The mother, grandmother and brother of 17-year-old victim Anene Booysen broke down in tears during the service in a packed church in Bredasdorp, according to SABC Radio.

The girl was found disembowelled at a construction site last weekend and later died in hospital.

Pictures posted on social media showed the girl's white coffin being carried out onto a dusty street before being buried. A single bouquet of pink flowers adorned the casket.

The brutal murder has triggered much soul-searching in a country that often appears numb to sexual violence and is known as the world's rape capital.

Politicians and journalists flocked to the sleepy Western Cape town for the funeral, while a tent was set up for mourners who couldn't fit inside the church.

The girl's attackers reportedly slit open her stomach, took out her intestines and broke her legs.

Police have so far arrested three people in the case, including one of her friends.

The victim's brother said he felt betrayed as he had been close to one of the suspects.

“He was a friend of mine, we went to school together, stayed in one house, we were like brothers,” Ryno Booysen told the SABC.

Around 65 000 sexual offences were committed in South Africa last year alone, according to official figures. - Sapa-AFP

She goes to work at the Western Cape High Court every day, where she works as a stenographer, but litigant Nilfha Veldman has been waiting years for justice.

Cape Town - She goes to work at the Western Cape High Court every day, where she works as a stenographer, but litigant Nilfha Veldman has been waiting years for justice.

She is suing Metrorail for R1.5 million in damages after her husband Lindley was killed when he fell from a moving train about four years ago. She brought the action shortly after his death, but, in papers, Metrorail alleges that he was at fault, claiming that he was train surfing.

Train surfing sometimes refers to train hopping, when commuters jump from a moving train, run alongside it, then try to jump back on.

Shortly before the trial was due to start last year, Metrorail’s lawyers applied to amend their defence so that the allegation that the man attempted to disembark from the moving train was deleted. The move led to the case being postponed, and prompted Judge Lee Bozalek to grant a costs order against Metrorail.

It also meant that Veldman had to join the back of the queue of litigants waiting for allocation of a trial date. Such a date has not yet been obtained.

In the interim, Veldman is appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward to help her.

The accident occurred at Nyanga station at around 8am on January 19, 2009.

Veldman’s claim is for loss of support for her and her six-year-old son Fawaaz, damages for emotional shock and trauma, and loss of earning capacity as a result of the trauma she suffered.

“Witnesses who saw (what happened to my husband) must please come forward.

“I can’t rest. It’s affecting my whole life and that of my family,” she told Weekend Argus this week.

Veldman added that every time she took a train, she thought of what happened to her husband.

“The one that I love will never ever come back. Without him I am lost,” she said.

The couple married in March 2006, and their son was born a month later.

“We were a perfect family,” she said, adding that they had planned to buy a house in 2010.

Since then, Veldman said she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

* Anyone who witnessed the incident should call Veldman’s attorney Tzvi Brivik on 021 425 5570.

Weekend Argus

He kept R850 000 ‘from cattle trading’ in a garage in Fish Hoek for two years, then the cops pounced.

Cape Town - For nearly two years his former sister-in-law stored his money – R850 000 in cash – in a box in the garage of her Fish Hoek home, after he told her he didn’t trust the South African banking system, and assured her there was nothing illegal about the money.

Then, in June last year, Zimbabwean businessman Hendrik O’Neill asked his close friend Alfred Chabalala to take the money to Joburg for him.

With the cash in a suitcase, Chabalala boarded an SA Roadlink bus and made it as far as Beaufort West, where the police stopped the bus and seized the cash.

Chabalala has been charged with possession of stolen property and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, and has yet to be tried.

But O’Neill is adamant the cash was lawfully obtained, and has instituted a legal process in the Western Cape High Court against the Minister of Safety and Security, police and the National Director of Public Prosecutions, to have it returned to him.

In a statement after Chabalala’s arrest, O’Neill said the cash was “realised from cattle sales which I conducted after the expropriation of my ranches during the Zimbabwe Government Land Reform Programme between 2002 and 2010”.

“I could not use the international banking system for my transactions as most suppliers in South Africa at that time were not accepting bank drafts originating from Zimbabwe, due to the instability of the financial services sector, as well as the volatile exchange rates prevailing then,” he said.

O’Neill added that he brought the money to South Africa over a period of time.

“I did not declare the money to Sars upon entry and have never attempted to bank the money there. It was always my intention that whatever I purchased with the money would be legally exported out of South Africa again, and that I was complying with all statutory regulations of the Republic of South Africa.”

In an affidavit forming part of his High Court application, he said he could not provide details of the people from whom he had received the money because he did not keep a record of who bought his cattle.

His former sister-in-law, Kerrie-Jane O’Neill, confirmed in a separate affidavit that she agreed to store the money for him. She said Chabalala collected the money from her in June last year.

Chabalala is due to appear in court again next month.

“I still cannot understand what I was arrested and charged for because, to the best of my knowledge and belief, I was not in possession of stolen property and nor am I (or have ever been) involved in any activity which can be described as ‘organised crime’,” he said.

In responding papers, investigating officer Trevor Engel said: “Nothing prevented the applicant from depositing the money in a bank account in South Africa. South Africa has one of the most sophisticated and safe banking systems in the world. For the applicant to have advised Kerrie-Jane O’Neill, who suggested to him that the money should be banked and the applicant’s reply thereto that he did not trust the South African bank system, is laughable.”

He said the police were investigating whether the money was linked to a crime.

Engel added that an armed robbery had been committed in Bonnievale the day before Chabalala was arrested, and that an amount of between R800 000 and R1 million in cash was stolen.

A strand of hair found in between the cash seized from Chabalala was sent for DNA testing to see whether it was linked to any of the victims of the Bonnievale robbery.

Engel added that he conducted a Google search for O’Neill and found two articles suggesting that someone with the same name as O’Neill was linked to the Marange diamond trade. Interpol had been asked to investigate further.

He submitted that it would not be in the interests of the administration of justice that the money be returned to O’Neill, particularly because he was a Zimbabwean citizen and could dispose of it with little effort.

The minister has lodged an application for O’Neill to provide R200 000 security for legal costs, and on Friday Acting Judge Stephen Koen postponed this application to May 21.

O’Neill’s main application for the return of the money is set down for June 4.

Weekend Argus

Brigette Benson-Muller is among those who have accused Caryn Boswell of being responsible for dashing their travel dreams.

Cape Town - Plenty of newlyweds have learned the hard way that a dream honeymoon doesn’t always go according to plan – none more so than Brigette Benson-Muller, of Table View, whose problems started three months before she was even scheduled to leave.

Benson-Muller is among five people who have accused Parklands travel agent Caryn Boswell of being responsible for dashing their travel dreams, allegedly taking their money in exchange for fake bookings.

Boswell, who is in Dubai, failed to respond to an e-mail request for comment at the time of going to press, but Table View detective Desmon November confirmed that he was investigating two charges against Boswell.

“I do believe that more charges will follow,” he said.

Benson-Muller said that she booked tickets for her honeymoon trip to Bali through Boswell, who ran Studio Travel in Parklands, last August. She paid R36 540 for airfare and Boswell delivered her tickets and itinerary.

But in December, she said, she got a call from the operator with whom Boswell made the booking, who told her the funds were never transferred, and asked whether she was still interested in going on the trip.

That’s when Benson-Muller learnt that the tickets were fake, and that it was going to be a very difficult job to find Boswell.

“I couldn’t get a hold of her phone number or address, but she would haphazardly contact me via remote means, like an e-mail or Skype message or BBM message.”

When Benson-Muller began digging deeper, she found there were others who had fallen victim to the same scam.

The Weekend Argus spoke to five people who also alleged that Boswell took their money in exchange for fake bookings.

Benson-Muller is trying to rebook her honeymoon and she acknowledges that it could have been worse.

“I was fortunate in that the operator picked up on it and called me so that I didn’t arrive at the counter ready to go on honeymoon. What a disaster that would have been,” she said.

Others, like Gardens resident Annika Ziehen, were not so lucky. Ziehen was on her way back from Morocco in August last year on a round-trip ticket that Boswell had booked when she was told at two different airports that her seats – from Marrakesh to Casablanca and from Casablanca to Cape Town via Istanbul – had been reserved but not confirmed or paid for. To get home, she was forced to buy one-way tickets, which set her back R17 000.

Ziehen said that Boswell blamed the problem on Turkish Airlines.

“I didn’t really question it at the time,” Ziehen said. “Quite frankly, I was quite happy that she was sorting it out.”

But after Boswell made several excuses about lost transfers and system errors that dragged on for longer than a month, Ziehen found that she could no longer get hold of her.

That’s when Ziehen finally called the airline herself: “Someone looked at my flight and said: ‘You only had a one-way flight to Morocco’.”

“They said: ‘You must speak to your travel agent in Durban.’ When I said my travel agent wasn’t in Durban, I was given a number for an agency in that city through which my flight had been booked.”

They told her Boswell was not a registered member of the Association of South African Travel Agents, so she had subcontracted her business to their agency – with specific instructions to book a one-way ticket.

“I thought (at first that) she was just not very good at her job. That she was defrauding me did not occur to me until it sort of hit me right in the face.”

Other alleged victims made contact with one another through mutual acquaintances and via hellopeter.com, according to

Benson-Muller.

“Somebody else wanted to take an around-the-world trip with their life savings. The stories are really, really sad. It’s a lot bigger than just me,” she said.

Natanya Israel, who alleges that Boswell conned her out of R32 000 over her New York trip, said Boswell had “shattered so many people’s dreams”.

“She’s left a lot of people in situations they have to recover from not just financially, but emotionally as well.”

In November last year, the group of affected people learnt that Boswell had taken a job at a travel agency in Dubai.

A criminal case was filed immediately against her there by Ashley Bahceci, another alleged victim.

Bahceci said she went to Boswell’s workplace and demanded a copy of her passport.

Boswell had signed a letter acknowledging she owed Bahceci money.

“She won’t be able to leave the UAE until she pays me, but I would rather see her in jail than paying me off with someone else’s money,” Bahceci said. “I think it will be the only way she is ever stopped from doing this to others.”

Weekend Argus

The Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court was packed ahead of the appearance of a man accused of raping and killing Anene Booysen.

Bredasdorp, Western Cape - The Bredasdorp Magistrate's Court was packed on Monday morning ahead of the appearance of a man accused of raping and killing Anene Booysen.

The 17-year-old was found seriously injured at a construction site last week Saturday and later died from her injuries. She was buried in the rural town at the weekend.

The crimes sparked outrage from all sectors of society, including President Jacob Zuma.

On Monday morning reporters and cameramen jostled for a space and took up half of the court room.

Magistrate Graham Cupido would first deal with other cases on the court roll.

Booysen's case was likely to be called later in the morning. - Sapa

Sactwu has pledged R1million to the Food and Allied Workers Union to recruit farmworkers.

Cape Town - The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu) has pledged R1million to the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) to recruit farmworkers.

Factory workers and organisers are to help unionise thousands of farmworkers in De Doorns and other towns hit by strikes.

It is the first time Sactwu has taken action outside its industry, the union’s national organising secretary, Bonita Loubser, says.

The union is to begin by sending 30 members to De Doorns to help its sister union, Fawu, recruit members.

Both are affiliates of Cosatu.

“It will be different from our usual recruitment in factories, because access to farms and workers can be controlled, but we will go door-to-door to recruit,” said Loubser.

She said Sactwu would help Fawu set up an office in De Doorns.

Loubser said Sactwu would disburse the money to Fawu within weeks.

“We just had the discussion this weekend to help unionise farmworkers, but we want to go to the farms as soon as possible,” she said.

Loubser said the recruitment drive in the Western Cape was a test case for their union members on how to recruit farmworkers across the country.

Department of Labour spokesman Musa Zondi said only 5 percent of farmworkers were unionised. Loubser said 85 percent of textile and clothing workers were members of a union.

Hex Valley Table Grape chairman Michael Laubscher said farmers were not opposed to workers being organised.

“It will be better for farmers and farmworkers to have one contact point, but we still feel that wage negotiations should happen from farm to farm because no (two farms are) the same,” he said.

The Hex River Valley has been a hotbed of protests since farmworkers took to the streets against low wages in November.

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant is increasing the minimum wage for agriculture by more than 50 percent, from R69 a day to R105, with effect from March 1.

Agri SA has since warned of layoffs in the agriculture sector, with farmers in Limpopo issuing retrenchment notices to 2 000 workers.

Laubscher also warned that farmers would look at shorter employment periods for seasonal workers and plant less labour intensive cultivars of grapes to deal with the higher wage bill.

Fawu general secretary Katishi Masemola says farmers should not be party to knee-jerk reactions and unduly retrench or victimise their workers.

Masemola said the union would try to negotiate with farmers to reach an agreement to avoid retrenchments.

“We hope that those farm owners who are truly experiencing cash-flow challenges will take advantage of… minister of (labour’s offer) of a reprieve based on financial information provided.”

Zondi said some farmers had approached the minister for an exemption to the minimum, but he couldn’t say how many.

cobus.coetzee@inl.co.za

Cape Times

Rapes are becoming increasingly brutal, often ending in mutilation and murder, but academics are at a loss to explain it.

Cape Town - Rapes are becoming increasingly brutal, often ending in mutilation and murder, but academics are at a loss to explain it.

Amanda Gouws, a professor in political science at Stellenbosch University and a gender issues expert, said the increasing brutality of rape cases was worrying.

She was in Bredasdorp on Sunday for the protest march following the rape, mutilation and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen.

“What is really worrying is the brutality of rape. It is not just rape, it is the maiming. And it’s not just young women. It is the gogos, babies and lesbians. Any woman is fair game.”

She suggested a reason could be that men felt emasculated because they could not fulfil the traditional role of breadwinner due to extreme poverty.

“Men are very angry about the empowerment of women. They’re angry that their jobs are being taken by women.”

She said there was also the suggestion that young men did not have role models as they had been raised by single-parent families, headed by women.

She referred to SA Police Service statistics which indicated that more than 64 500 cases of sexual assault had been reported to police in 2011/12 - and that was just a fraction of the cases.

Rachel Jewkes, director of the Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, said violent rape could suggest substance abuse.

She said drugs or alcohol wouldn’t make a man rape a woman but might make him more violent.

There was also the possibility they had been abused themselves during childhood.

“It is appalling. They think that what they’re doing is all right,” she said.

Jewkes said rape statistics showed it was “terribly common” among men to have raped, which showed it was seen as being acceptable.

“This… is what we need to challenge. We do need to address childhood socialisation.”

Kathleen Dey, director of NGO Rape Crisis, said violence against women was on the increase. But, she said, NGOs were closing down due to a lack of funding.

“The need in communities is growing greater and greater. There is just this feeling that the level of violence is increasing. It talks to the underlying feeling of desperation that communities are feeling.”

Dey said Anene’s case had struck a chord with South Africans because of the level of violence which had been inflicted.

“It is just such a bad case. It is a shocking thing to imagine.”

michelle.jones@inl.co.za

Cape Times