tame TIMES BEDFORDVIEW - WITH THE COMMUNITY
Devin overcomes despair to provide hope to others
18 June 2019, Week Volume 09, 23 May 25 2017, Week 21
Devin Hitchings, a Primrose resident, believes that a person is brave when they do something that scares the hell out of them. Devin (20) has been awarded the Purple Heart SA for his outstanding bravery and volunteer work.
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“This (being brave) could be getting out of bed and facing the day or it could be someone running into a dangerous situation to save a life,” Hitchings told Purple Hearts SA. Hitchings explained that life had not been easy for him.
At the age of 9 his parents were divorced. “I had seen my mom in ICU with cancer receiving chemotherapy. In August 2010, my mom was in a near-fatal accident when a vehicle had collided with her. At age 13, my mom would leave when it was dark and come back after dark, after a long day on the road as a sales representative. I would walk home from school every day and the moment I got home, I would start with the garden, do washing, cooking and then prepare my mothers’ bath so that when she gets home she can relax, enjoy a bath and have a good meal. I know that she works extremely hard and I will forever be thankful for her sacrifices she has made for me,” said Hitchings. The turning point in Devin’s life began in 2016 when his stepfather committed suicide in front of him and his mother. “In 20 years I have felt rejection, hate,
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shame, fear, guilt, sadness, depression, despair, envy, doubt, jealousy and frustration. I made a decision to use my life to make a difference,” added Hitchings. Today, he is part of South Africas’ Search and Rescue specialising in missing persons, medical rescues and other endeavors. tame TIMES understands that he is also involved with the Primrose Community Policing Forum, the Edenvale SAPS and the CPF Youth Desk, where he is the vice chairperson. Whenever possible, Devin also volunteers at the Joburg Gen Trauma Unit. His current job is as an E.M.D for a medical company in Johannesburg. “I want to encourage other young people who have been through difficult things that they can make a difference,” said Hitchings. The Primrose CPF is proud and honoured to have Devin in their ranks.
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18 June 2019
City arrests three corrupt police officials
On Wednesday, 12 June an intelligencedriven joint operation between South African Police Service (SAPS) and
the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) arrested three police officials who were attempting to
extort money from the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in charge of Human Settlement Cllr Lesiba Mpya. The accused had claimed that they were in the possession of a dossier containing evidence of alleged corruption and malfeasance committed by MMC Mpya, Executive Mayor Cllr Mzwandile Masina, City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi and other senior political figures within the Region. The accused demanded that MMC Mpya pay an amount of R5 million in order for them to make the dossier disappear. Upon receiving these demands, MMC Mpya approached the police and opened a case of extortion and corruption against the three police officials, case registered 163/06/2019. The SAPS and EMPD proceeded to set up a joint intelligence operation in which the accused were investigated and a sting
operation was formulated in order to apprehend the accused. On the evening of Wednesday, 12 June, MMC Mpya participated in a sting operation where he made a money drop off at a venue prescribed by the three accused. Upon handing over the money to the accused, police authorities pounced on the three police officials and arrested them. The investigations into the three police officials revealed that they were connected to a string of anonymous WhatsApp messages that went viral in March 2019, that made false claims of corrupt activity being undertaken by the Administration of Executive Mayor Cllr Mzwandile Masina and Senior Management staff of the City. It was found that messages were being used as an attempt to intimidate Mayor Masina and MMC Mpya into paying their R5 million demand. “We must commend the swift and effective response by both the SAPS and EMPD in apprehending these three corrupt police officials in our City. I am glad that today, the truth is finally being unveiled on a malicious and incendiary plot to distract this administration from continuing to deliver quality services to our people. We are now fast closing in on City Officials and other individuals involved in these unscrupulous acts of corruption and extortion. The City of Ekurhuleni remains steadfast in its zero-tolerance approach to corruption, and we expect to make more arrests in the near future,” said Mayor Masina. The three accused will appeared in court on Thursday, 13 June 2019. The names of the accused have been withheld pending
Suspect arrested for suspicious powder Officers from the Primrose Police Station recently received a tip-off from the community. “Police were told about a group of people sitting in a shack allegedly doing drugs,” said Sgt Styles Maome, communications
officer
for
the
Primrose police. Officers travelled to the address given. “When they arrived, they introduced themselves
and
asked
to
search
everyone in the shack. “During the search they found a 28-year-old man in the possession of a suspicious powder,” said Maome. He was arrested on a charge of possession of drugs. He will appear in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court soon.
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18 June 2019
Memorial service for Daniel Bakwela A memorial service was kept for the death of a Grade 8 Forest High School pupil, Daniel Bakwela (16), who was stabbed to death at the school on Monday, 3 June. Family and friends shared tears and sadness as they said goodbye to Daniel at his memoral service held at Forest High School on Tuesday, 11 June. Gauteng MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi also attended the memorial service and told the apologised profusely to the family if their child’s death was not handled well by the department. He urged pupils not to take the law into their own hands.
We asked the community...
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON SCHOOL VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY? Darren August shares his view:
Forest High School stabbing accused granted bail CONCERNS HAVE BEEN ALSO RAISED THAT SHOULD THE LEARNER BE GRANTED BAIL, THERE MAY BE A BACKLASH FROM THE COMMUNITY.
What we are seeing in our schools is absolutely outrageous and we cannot allow it to continue. It can no longer only be the responsibility of the government. School is a reflection of society and as society, all of us who know better, need to do better. We can start with the little things like confronting the little kids we see fighting in the park or on their way home after school. We can start by appreciating and supporting teachers more. We can start by just doing something!
Rugail Mohako shares her view:
The 19-year-old schoolboy who allegedly stabbed a fellow Forest High school pupil to death has been granted R5 000 bail. Muhammad Mawela made his first appearance on Wednesday after he allegedly stabbed three boys at the school last Monday. He is facing a charge of murder and two counts of attempted murder. It’s understood that Mawela allegedly got involved in a fight between two groups at the school which left one dead and two wounded after writing last
week Monday. Ahead of the bail hearing, the family of the deceased grade 8 pupil said they hoped the grade 11 suspect would be denied bail. Security concerns have been also raised that should the learner be granted bail, there may be a backlash from the community. The Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola, said he was concerned by the rising levels of violence among young people, and added that his department would consider reviewing the Child Justice Act.
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Violence in schools is one of the biggest problems, we as communities and schools are facing in the 21st Century. It terrifies us, as the parents daily to know we put our children and family members in a position to get hurt at a place, that was suppose to feel like a second home, or in this case a safe Haven. It is important for us as the parents and family member to take charge of the problem, the problem wont change or get better if we sit back and look from the outside, when we know that the little we do can have a big impact on the situation. The little we do, can change a innocent childs life. Violence is never the answer, but rather the question. Just make sure your Answer is positive
Akueiah Bwalya shares her view: Children have too much time in their hands and too much freedom. Disciplinary measures to be put in place and taken more seriously. Searching the children, stripping them off of any inappropriate tools That includes scissors as part of the stationery- not in school- teachers must take charge when handing out learning material that isn’t cut or ready for pasting in. vMore sports activities could be considered as part of curriculum eg.. fitness training. Kids who have dysfunctional behavior
Bianca Delpeche shares her view:
As a young adult who attended a government high school, I unfortunately witnessed fights or school violence between rivalry schools and fellow pupils, I sit & listen to the reports about the recent increase in school violence & I wonder how the parents of those children cope. You are sending your child to school to get an education, you think they safe, suddenly you receive that call that your child was involved in some sort of gang fight, maybe not even a gang fight but just general violence or abuse that took place at school. You don’t know the state of injuries or any further information regarding your child till you arrive at the school. Imagine getting to the school to know your child has been killed by another pupil or is in hospital? Most of the time these incidences happen after school, often the blame falls on the principle or teacher. However, we cannot sit & point fingers at the principle/teachers of the school but the parents. The home environment plays a major contribution to school violence. It’s a fact that violent behaviour as simple as punching and kicking are often learned from observing others or being exposed to such behaviour which means violence comes down to the background or the way in which a child has been raised not based on adult supervision during or after school. Communities with high rates of crime and drug use also teach youth the violent behaviors’ that are carried into schools. At the end of the day it comes down to the environment our children are being exposed to and the change should start there. could use the boxing punching bag as a vent off rather than venting off on a fellow pupil. Programs that will involve pupil in more communication and community work, assign them as leaders, eg. Have a program that focus on character developmentadopt the Olden day programs where search of talent is more a curriculum than social.
And we want to hear it!
IF YOU HAVE TOPICS YOU’D LIKE TO DISCUSS OR OPINIONS TO SHARE, EMAIL
garin.joemath@tametimes.co.za
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18 June 2019
South African duo claim first positions at this year’s comrade
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South African runners Edward Mothibi and Gerda Steyn won the 94th Comrades Marathon that took place in Durban on Sunday, 9 June. Mothibi won the men’s race and Steyn won the woman’s race. Mothibi finished fourth in the 2018 Comrades Marathon which was his first to participate in Bongumusa Mthembu who won last year’s Comrade finished second in this year’s edition of the marathon. The 94th edition of the ultramarathon spans 89km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. 2019 Comrades Marathon winner Mothibi expressed his excitement after his win: “I am very happy, I am excited. All I have to say is, thank you to the people who have supported me through thick and thin.” Whilst Gerda Steyn was the first woman to get to the finish line this year after she finished in the second place last year. Steyn made a time of 5:58:53. This time meant that Steyn broke a 13 year old record set by Russian Elena Nurgalieva of 6.09.24. “I feel so blessed; I cannot believe that this dream came true for me today. It’s all thanks to God because today I had strength that I don’t know where it came from,” she said. She further said that her comrade record victory was sweeter because
she narrowly missed the record of 06:09:23 at the Two Ocean ultramarathon. “I am happy I broke the record on the most important run race which is the comrade marathon but that was not on my mind”In an interview with David O’Sullivan on the Kaya fm breakfast show following their comrade triump both athletes emphasised the importance of having a proper preparation. “Athletes must take proper care of their bodies for their recovery process to be easy and smooth. You must watch what you eat healthy food manage your diet with care,” said Steyn “I went to the comrade with one think in mind, which was to finish in the top 10. I did not think I will win the race but it happened because I did not give up I just run my normal split but when I got to the last 8 km I started believing because I realised I was still going with the same pace,” said Mothibi