According to Die Son Racquel ‘Kelly’ Smith, Jacquin ‘Boeta’ Appollis, Steveno van Rhyn and Phumza Siqaga were in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s court on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.
The state claims that Kelly instructed Boeta and van Rhyn to sell Joslin to Siqaga for R20 000. Siqaga is believed to be a witch doctor (Sangoma). Kelly’s family says that it is difficult to believe that she had anything to do with Joslin’s disappearance.
Speaking to Kelly’s cousin Maureen Bam she says that to find Joshlin is the priority. May the guilty feel the full weight of the law. They will be back in court on the 13 April.
Elsies River train driver, Riyaad Sampson, received a special ceremony in honor of saving the life of a “lost and
confused” dog. Close to Lakeside Station the driver says that the dog was on the track and he decided to slow down, the dog and him jogged along the tracks towards Lakeside. When he stopped, the train stopped and so it went all the way till in front of Lakeside Station.
This was one of the funniest moments of my career: a dog dictating a train’s movement. The dog then made its way back to Steenberg Station. Founder of Paws-a-While, Carolyn Dudgeon, says that he showed such an incredible act of selflessness and compassion by going beyond what many would do. He has highlighted the importance of looking out for one another, regardless of
species.
Ward 71 Councillor, Carolynne Franklin says that Mr Sampson is the epitome of how one person can impact and encourage a societal shift in compassion and approach to animal welfare. While Metrorail spokesperson Zino Mihi says that this further indicates that the train driver is not only concerned about the safety of our passengers, but also values animals.
Woman2Woman is launching a programme on the 09 March for girls called #Saveourgirls. The non-profit organisation spokesperson Florence Campbell says that the programme aims to create a safe space for about 60 girls.
The programme will open up in the Bishop Lavis area. Their vision is to create a platform for these future leaders to express themselves in a safe environment. These girls come from difficult backgrounds and Campbell explains that there is so much negativity out there, but here is a story of hope. To reach our goals the whole community needs to be involved.
The initiative is in partnership with the Department of Justice, Health, Bishop Lavis Police, Famsa and Bishop Lavis Library.
For more information about the programme contact them on 079 8067 998 or 076 3064 701.
Lawyer and Co-host of the Palestine Pod Lara Elborno says that the scope of the destruction and devastation and killing in Gaza is unprecedented because Israel is using AI to identify people. An investigation was published by +972 magazine entitled a mass assassination factory. That investigation relied on the testimony of current and former Israeli intelligence officials, who were quoted as confirming that Israel intentionally targets Palestinian family homes and apartment buildings in its airstrikes and that this is not an accident. These families are not collateral damage, they are the targets.
Elborno says that Israel refers to those targets as 'power targets' and this is an intentional policy that is designed to create as much carnage as possible. In the words of the Israeli intelligence officers describing this practice, its intended to put pressure on Hamas by putting pressure on the entire civilian population. This practice is the definition of terrorism. Terrorism is specifically the unlawful targeting of civilians, using violence for a political purpose.
The weapons that are being used in Gaza are the most advanced weapons in existence. In many cases they are being tested on the Gaza civilian population. Once those weapons have been tested, they can then be sold to governments around the world, with the label battle tested and this increases their value. She says that all of this is dystopian.
One million children live in Gaza and they are half of the population. While they are being bombarded with the most advanced weapons known to man they are also being starved and dehydrated. They are succumbing to disease all at the same time. Every form of human suffering that could possibly exist right now, exists in Gaza.
