IN ASSOCIATION WITH
27 September WeekWeek 39 Tel: 086 862 241 8500 5648 I www.tametimes.co.za Volume 09, 232019, May 2017, 21 011 862 8500 I Fax: Tel: 011
HAMMANSKRAAL I WITH THE COMMUNITY
Former drug smuggler changing lives
Ga-Rankuwa-based community centre Aga Sechaba Community Centre continues to thrive and impact positively on the lives of young people struggling with addiction. The centre decided to not to call its patients drug addicts, instead using the term ‘service users’. Today, it is proud to have turned around the lives of young people who have lost hope and and were abandoned by their families. The community centre continues to
reach out to around 5 000 young people monthly. The centre received recognition from the City of Tshwane and other donors who helped the centre upgrade its facilities. The centre has a team of 23 qualified staff that consist of psychologists, social workers, arts performers and IT networks training administrators. It was founded in 2010 by former drug smuggler Lehlogonolo Letsoalo, who spent time in London after being
TAXI TIMES
busted with bags of dagga. He wanted to discourage young people who were praising him for serving time in prison overseas, as they thought he was a hero. He started the centre in a small location in Atteridgeville without any funding or support but kept going as he was fuelled by passion. To date, even when he doesn’t receive funds, he doesn’t feel like its time to give up because he learned to do the work without money.
Rejem Property DEVELOPMENT FOR MORE INFO, E-MAIL RIAANJONKER@REJEM.CO.ZA OR CALL US TODAY ON 011 869 9269
Serial rapist Tshepo Mokwena given four life terms The teacher, who cannot be named, has also been suspended. The Temba Magistrate’s Court north of Pretoria has sentenced the Hammanskraal serial rapist, Tshepo Mokwena, to four life sentences. Mokwena has 14 days in which to appeal the sentences. Mokwena attacked and raped young and old women using the Babelegi Bridge between 2006 and 2014. He was arrested after being on the run for seven years. Magistrate Edmond Humphreys described him as heartless and someone who deserves to be completely removed from society. One of his victims, Dineo Makhubela, says she feels relieved that Mokwena will be away forever.
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A NOTE FROM THE
EDITOR
HUMAN TRAFFICKING ‘KINGPIN’ TO ROT IN JAIL
FRIGHTENING TIME TO BE A WOMAN
Let’s start by not ignoring the signs when our son is violent towards their girlfriend. She didn’t “deserve” to be beaten. Don’t walk away when your friend’s husband manhandles her. It’s not a “married people’s problem”. “Boys will be boys” is not an excuse for degrading girls or sexually harassing them. There is no such thing as being “entitled” to misuse or abuse a woman. Don’t look away because it’s easier to not get involved. Take the sexual predator’s power away by speaking out. Do it for Uyinene Mrwetyana who was murdered when she went to the Post Office, for 14-year-old Janika Mallo who was raped and had her head bashed in. Do it for Lynette Volschenk and Jesse Hess who were murdered in their homes. But most of all, do it for yourself, your mother, your daughter and your friend. Don’t look away.
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Six life sentences and an additional 129 years imprisonment was meted out to a Nigerian national for human trafficking and related charges after he kept three young girls hostage to work as sex slaves. Judge Natvarlil Ranchod, sitting in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, on Wednesday cited experts as saying that human trafficking is increasing worldwide. It not only caused trauma to the victims, but also to communities. Criminals view it as a thriving business as sex slaves - often young girls - can be used over and over to generate money for their brothel masters. But the judge made it clear that the court viewed human trafficking in an extremely serious light and it will be met with the harshest sentences possible. The court heard evidence behind closed doors for months from, among others, three young victims around the age of 13 and 14, who were lured from the streets by recruits - other young girls - used by brothel master Ediozi Odi. These girls were mostly vulnerable and came from poor families. They were lured to a house in Springs with promises of a better life. None of these victims had any idea they were entering Odi’s brothel - a house which masqueraded as a shop and a barber. Once inside the house of horrors, these girls were immediately forced to
smoke a drug called “rocks”. This was manufactured and sold by Odi and is believed to be highly addictive. An expert told the court that once these girls were exposed to this drug, they were immediately hooked. He said they would do anything to get their hands on the drug. The girls told the court how they were taught to smoke the drug by one of Odi’s co-accused, Nomsa Hlalele. Once high on the drugs, Odi himself raped these girls “to teach them the tools of the trade” as an initiation into the sex trade. The victims were locked up in the house for the duration of their stay, while Odi send his workers to prowl the streets for prospective clients. They were also locked up in a dungeon under the floor of the house whenever the police raided the house. A 14-year-old teenager was only rescued after a year, while two other victims were able to escape after a week, when the police raided the house following a tip-off that the brothel master was going to move them to another premises. The girls were paid for their prostitution by means of drugs and they got hardly any food. The brothel master took all their proceeds. The court also heard evidence that some police officials were bribed to turn a blind eye as to what was happening in the brothel. Judge Ranchod said that on the other hand, these girls were saved
by other SAPS officials who took their work seriously. Odi, who was convicted on 24 of the 29 charges against him, sat emotionless as Judge Ranchod told him “You were the kingpin.” The judge also commented that Odi was aggressive at times in court and he even threatened his co-accused. One of the female co-accused who had been acquitted at a stage leaped from the dock where she sat next to Odi and ran to her lawyer as Odi was threatening her. The judge referred to pictures handed to court of the dungeon where these girls were often kept, as well as the filthy and unhygienic brothel that was littered with condoms. Judge Ranchod also referred to the fact that Odi used his co-accused Hlalele and Luke Botha as drug runners. They often had to fetch drugs from other suppliers as well as ingredients to manufacture his own drugs. The two drug runners each received a suspended sentence for the possession of drugs, while Odi received three life sentenced on three charges of human trafficking and three more life sentences for each charge of rape. His bid to appeal against his convictions and sentences were also turned down. The victims have meanwhile been reunited with their parents and Hlalele, who had a baby a few weeks ago, is drug free.
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Injured Trevor Nyakane replaced by Thomas du Toit
Thomas du Toit was en route from France to Nagoya, Japan, on Monday after being called up as an injury replacement to the Springbok Rugby World Cup squad. The 24-year-old Cell C Sharks prop replaces the unfortunate Trevor Nyakane who tore his right calf in the 23-13 defeat by New Zealand in Yokohama on Saturday night. Du Toit, who was on a short-term loan to Toulouse, was on standby and had been
involved in preparations right up until the team’s departure for Japan. He is expected to join the squad in Nagoya on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s very tough on Trevor,” said Rassie Erasmus, director of rugby. “He has had a great season and added value whenever he took the field. It’s a blow to him and the team, but it’s also an opportunity for Thomas and for Vincent [Koch] who now have the chance to step up.”
All Blacks take win
South Africans were glued to the screens today, braais were lit, beers were at the ready but the dream died as the Springboks lost to the All Blacks 23-13. Although the match was hard fought against the two-times World Champions, Mzansi has come down hard from the green and gold fever that gripped the
nation Taking to social media, many had varied opinions on why the match tanked blaming everything from the referee to just poor skills for the loss. Taxi Times reported that SA celebrities, citizens, politicians and even the Ndlovu Youth Choir had shown support for the team ahead of their Japan tour.
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