In Table View three policemen were arrested after they beat up a suspect that was in their holding cells and he later died. The investigation by the Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) concluded on Monday and the three were taken into custody.
The case dates back to late last year when the three officers, a Sergeant and two Constables, arrested two suspects for an illegal firearm somewhere in Table View.
Apparently, there was an argument as one of the suspects protested against being arrested, saying he had no gun on him. After beating him up the officers realized he was badly injured, put him in a police vehicle and took him to Dunoon clinic, but when they arrived he was already
dead according to their sources.
Unaid Claasen a promising rugby player’s life was cut short on Sunday in Kraaifontein. He was shot and killed by unknown gunmen. Claasen played for Monument Park High School as a scrumhalf.
His father Arnaldo Claasen says his son was just an innocent boy. He was at work when they called him to say that his son had been shot. He says that his son was not a gangster, he was not involved in any of those things. When they arrived at the scene the police showed them his body, he was shot six times.
A murder docket has been opened by the police. Police spokesperson Captain Nowonga Sukwana says that the investigation emanates from the body of a 15-year-old boy who was found with gunshot wounds on Sunday, at about 15:45 in Green Street,
Scottsville.
Police are appealing to anyone with information about this incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
In Wynberg over the weekend more than 100 people were evicted following reports of rampant crime in the area. The people made makeshift homes during the Covid lockdown close to the Yusuffeyah Mosque, taxi rank and train station. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and private security guards took down the structures. They are being accused of an illegal eviction.
Wynberg Residents and Ratepayers Association spokesperson Philippa Duncan says that there had been increasing pressure from the community to have the squatters moved. She says that this was because they are causing crime, they are using public areas as toilets. There’s been a massive rise in drug taking and crime.
In the past week four people were shot and someone was stabbed. Yusuffeyah Mosque secretary Yunus Karriem says this issue has been going on for three years and in 2023 they handed over a petition with 1300 signatures to Prasa. Yunus elaborates that what happens in the area is that criminals, gangsters, selling and using of drugs and prostitution happens.
Local councillor Carmen Siebritz says that Prasa removed the people but had no plans for them. The City social service only left with two people who agreed to be relocated at Safe Spaces.
Gender equality advocate Gary Barker says that there are three things that we can do to foster a culture of care, compassion and connection among men. He works with survivors of violence around the world. He says that the majority of violence in the world is carried out by men and one in three women in the world experiences violence from a male partner. His organisation, Equimundo, does research on these themes worldwide. They do research in partnership with the UN, country governments and local partners on reframing manhood.
"We've been measuring over the last 10 to 12 years where men are on these versions of manhood. This won't surprise you, as we look at some of the numbers. About 40 to 50 percent of men in the world believe in a version of manhood that goes like this: I’ve got to outperform the other at all cost. I can’t show that I’m vulnerable or ask for help. That sex is about conquest, not about intimacy and connection. That you’ve got to show that you’re tough all the time. And that violence is a reasonable way to get what you want. These are not just empty phrases. These are things that men talk about. They create realities. The other thing we find is that the more you believe in these norms, these ideas about manhood, you are multiple times more likely to do this: to have considered suicide, to use violence against others, to harm yourself and to harm others in multiple ways. These norms affect us, they cause harm."
He says violence stems mostly from males and it is how we as a community raises boys. In a global study most men say that they experienced violence as a child from another male. He says that you do not get to adult manhood in most of the world without experiencing, witnessing and learning male violence. How can we change the root of manhood to be reframed, from a more empathetic foundation.
"We have to talk about care. Care of boys, care about boys, care for men, and talk to boys and men about how they care. Let me talk a little bit more about that. One of the casualties that we face as men growing up in that version of manhood that I presented to you, is that we make this thick shell around ourselves. We close off our emotions, we close ourselves off to the human connection we need. Think about what young men frequently say. I would guess, I don't know that we've asked it in a survey, but one of the most frequent things that young men say, "I don't care." "I don't care." "I don't care." It is our perfect shell, right? We close ourselves behind it, and it also says, you can't shame me, you can't question me, you can't hurt me, you can't embarrass me because I don't care. I said it thousands of times as a teenage boy. I'm sure my mother would have a bigger number. And I know I've said it thousands of times as an adult man as well. This is the shield that we put on to close ourselves off. The conversation that we need to step into with boys is not about their mortality, but it is about how we care."
Tomorrow people all over the globe will be getting an extra day when we experience the 29 February. A leap year has 366 days instead of the usual 365 days found in common years. The dictionary defines the additional day ensures that the calendar remains aligned with the astronomical year. People have created their own traditions that include:
- Women propose on this day. It is a sign of luck.
- ‘Leaplings’ can enjoy their birthdays.
- A fun fact according to the BBC, February used to have 30 days. Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus felt a little upset that his predecessor Julius Caesar's month - July - had 31 days and August had only 29. He then chose to take some days from February to make August equal.
