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A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS Volume 06, 13 October 2015, Week 42
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Human trafficking – “A NATIONAL SHAME”
During the month of October various awareness campaigns are endeavouring to highlight the epidemic of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. In a 2012 article Wanda Sylvester, in the Daily Voice, interviewed Barbara Ros of the Atlantis Women’s Movement and a shelter for trafficked women. In the interview Barbara said, “I think the reason for this spike is that no one is making a noise about it; our courts are too quiet.” She added: “Traffickers especially target women and children from rural areas, and often lure them away under the pretext of jobs in the big city. “These people are poor, there are no jobs, some parents are alcoholics and don’t take care of their children,” says Barbara. “These are innocent girls who go away to work because they think they can get a better life and escape the poverty cycle.” She says trafficking rings are more sophisticated than people think. “There’s a whole network of people involved – recruiters, taxi drivers, the person waiting in the city, etc. There are even women that help with the trafficking of children and other women,” she explains. “However, girls are also taken from malls, bus stops and taxi ranks.” Barbara says traffickers treat the girls well in order to gain their trust. “The girls are drugged – it’s placed in their food and drinks – so by the time they realise they are in trouble, it is far too late,” she says. “While they are drugged, they are raped and photos are taken of them, which is used to blackmail them. “Their clothes and shoes are taken away, so that they don’t escape. Some of these girls don’t even have breasts yet.” Barbara adds: “In other cases, they are taken to clubs and brothels where they are kept drugged, beaten and abused. “They are kept prisoner and are constantly watched. “Some girls are even sold from person to person – this problem is bigger than we realise and this came to light through the active work of the City’s Vice Squad.” Barbara says trafficking is done by both local and foreign perpetrators. “One of the biggest contributing factors to trafficking is that there is too much free access to our borders,” she says. “We need more border control and national government must make sure we get our specialised units back – we really need them.” Elmarie Pretorius, a Boksburg resident and founder of Touch of Hope, who is also a member for Gauteng Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition team, partner of the National Freedom Network Gauteng and private investigator (Woman and Child Abuse Unit), released the following statement: “Human trafficking is a worldwide epidemic, and a national shame. Experts put the number
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13 October 2015
OVERFLOWING Atlasville taxi rank concern for community solution, we propose that the Ekurhuleni Council immediately upgrade the ablution facilities and allow the commuters to make use of facilities which do not undermine their dignity.” ce of spa “A medium- to long-term solution rank due to lack park outside the – which should preferably Taxis forced to LACK OF SPACE: take place within the next privacy and which are to be used by both According to Ward 23 Councillor Andre du year or two – will be for men and women – the Ekurhuleni Council Plessis, “The Atlasville taxi rank, situated the taxi rank to be moved has been asked to upgrade these facilities on the corner of Finch and Reier Road, 500 metres up the road, since 2008; Atlasville, Boksburg, was built in the 1970s, where there is currently but more than 40 years later it has reached • Several drug dealers have been caught Council-owned space selling drugs on the premises; its capacity.” available and where Due to these capacity constraints, taxis have • Hawkers on the premises serve a purpose a fully functional as they provide food to the commuters, resorted to parking outside the premises taxi rank can be but there are no litter-pickers to clean and even make use of the parking bays at developed. up inside and around the taxi rank on the Summerfield and Atlasville Shopping “This would a daily basis; and Centres across the street. allow the This has led to shop-owners in Summerfield • There are no proper taxi-washing Council to facilities on the premises – Shopping Centre complaining about the daily build a taxi so when the taxi owners littering on their premises and community rank with wash their taxis the water members complaining about the littering in enough has nowhere to flow and the streets. therefore the premises There are also various issues which arise become filled with mud. due to the overflow of taxis and commuters As for solutions to the on the premises: NO PRIVACY: in unmaintained toilet • The current ablution facilities consist of concern, the councillor only two toilets in the same room with no said, “for a short-term
parking spaces for all the taxis, build separate ablution facilities for men and women and build a separate taxi-washing area with a proper water drainage system. The property is also within walking distance from the current taxi rank and next to a service road, so it will not have a negative impact on traffic, taxi owners or commuters.” For the current space, the Councillor suggests: “The current taxi rank premises can then be used as extra parking space for the public pool which currently does not have sufficient parking.” “Nearly 400 community members have already signed our petition calling on the Ekurhuleni Council to implement these solutions and the shop-owners in the Summerfield Shopping Centre will also write a letter to the Ekurhuleni Council requesting the Council to address this issue,” added the Councillor. Lastly, he said: “We do not begrudge the taxi owners the premises – the facility has just reached its capacity and therefore we need to address this issue to help the community, the commuters and taxi owners.” The Ekurhuleni council and the taxi association could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
Dark smoke cloud a major HEALTH RISK The following is an extract from a Reiger Park resident’s letter complaining about the thick black smoke cloud that can be seen over parts of Boksburg, near Delmore Park, Angelo and Reiger Park, on a daily basis, from 5pm onwards. “The squatters at East Rand Station near Angelo on a daily basis set the area alight in order to remove the stolen copper cable from the PVC covering as well as burning motorcar [tyres] to extract the wire and we are told of illegal mining taking place as well as [that] there is a disused shaft in that area. “The smoke billowing out of that area creates a very unpleasant odour as well as a dark cloud which causes poor visibility for motorists and is a definite health and safety hazard. “A similar style and type of fire was started
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of victims around the globe at 27 million people; their average age is only 12 years old. It is estimated that more people, especially children, are enslaved today than at any other time in history. Modern-day slavery is fuelled by a variety of circumstances: poverty, war, natural disasters, abductions, immigrant labour, and false adoptions. Human sex trafficking is big business — global profits are estimated at $32 billion and climbing. “Is there hope? Yes, thanks to you! • Touch of Hope and its partners are uniquely positioned to help rescue women and children from these predators. We ease the burden of poverty that allows children and families to become easy prey for slave traders. • Consider what Touch of Hope partners are making possible right now: • Touch of Hope S & R (Pty) Ltd and our Safe Houses Promise to meets the needs of vulnerable and at-risk children by taking
them from unsafe, unstable situations to places of safety that provide food, shelter, education, medical care, life-skills training and love. • Partnering with organisations that help women and children who have been rescued from sexual exploitation. • Partnering worldwide with organizations that prevent sexual exploitation of children “These are just a few of the things that Touch of Hope partners help make possible. “But, we must do more. Experts tell us that in South Africa 300 000 children are at risk for sexual exploitation each year. “Please pray for these precious souls who have no one to stand up and fight for them. And consider giving a special donation to Touch of Hope; purchase the video Not Today so that we can continue to expand our efforts by providing food, medical aid, disaster relief, job training, and make a difference in other people’s lives.”
Elmarie is also working at erecting a Wall of Remembrance for the victims of abuse and human trafficking in the Boksburg area. The Wanda Sylvester article further explained: “A victim of human trafficking is defined as someone who is being forced or being lied to and then moved (from their home) in order to be exploited for sexual purposes (rape, porn, prostitution), cheap labour or their body parts, among other purposes. “In some cases, the person can be trafficked without being moved; ‘ownership’ of the person changes from trafficker to trafficker at a fixed location. “Parents act as traffickers of their own children by allowing others to sexually exploit them for financial reasons such as paying off debts.” Anyone wanting to contribute to the Touch of Hope campaign can email info@touchofhope. co.za or contact the Call Centre: 076 754 2043 or add BBM Pin: 515CAE7A.
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in Reiger Park behind the Technicon and in the centre of the crusher area as one enters Reiger Park from Middel Street. “The above squatters are carrying out their criminal activities at The East Rand Station / Angelo as they are confident no one will disturb them.” This is only one of the complaints tame TIMES received from residents from those areas - the rest were verbal complaints. We contacted the Ekurhuleni council and received a response from the office of the COO, saying that the matter has been reported to the relevant departments and that “the service delivery issues will be dealt with.” No response had been received from the relevant departments as to how and when the problem will be resolved, by the time of going to print.
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CERPS CONGRESS 2015 On Saturday 17 October, from 08:00 AM, member clubs of the Gauteng Central and Eastern Region (“CERPS”) of the Photographic Society of South Africa (“PSSA”) are cordially invited to participate in this Photographic Congress and Inter Club Competition. Laerskool Baanbreker, 1 Boerneef Street, Boksburg DAMESTEE VIR BORSKANKER Saterdag 17 Oktober, 09:30 AM, “Vintage” Damestee t.b.v. borskanker. Prof Carol Ann Benn en Dr Marisse Venter gaan inligting met ons deel en so kan ons die gemeenskap versterk! Borskanker is oorwinbaar! Alle dames skuld dit aan hulself om inligting te kry! Summerplace, Boksburg. Kaartjies kos R149 per persoon RIDE OF THE IRON MAIDENS Everyone is welcome at Gold Rand Harley-Davidson for the 2015 Pink Glove Run on the 31st of October. The parade will depart from the dealership at 10 am on the day and the purpose is to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. Bring your bike (any make and model) and enjoy the day with us! Gold Rand Harley-Davidson, 38 North Rand Road, Boksburg
Distribution: Boksburg & Benoni: 40 000 Alberton & Germiston South: 37 000 JHB South: 26 500 Bedfordview & Edenvale: 14 500 Kathorus: 55 000 Delivery on Tuesday to all households and businesses in Boksburg. Published by Tame Communications Corner Michelle Avenue and 37 Sangiro Close, Randhart. PO Box 17699, Randhart, 1457. Tel: 011 862 8500, Fax: 011 869 7335 Editor: Justus Abrams: justusabrams@gmail.com
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