Latest news with #ActionSociety
eNCA
3 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Action Society says SA has no reason to celebrate Women's Day
JOHANNESBURG - Action Society says the country has no reason to celebrate Women's Day. The party says this is because every month over 300 women are murdered, nearly four thousand are raped and nearly 5500 are physically assaulted. READ: Women's Month | Female officers re-enact 1956 women's march Action Society wants Gender-based Violence to be declared a national disaster. The group's spokesperson, Juanita du Preez had a discussion with eNCA on this topic.
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Women's Day: Action Society calls for violence against women to be declared a national disaster
Action Society calls for urgent action on violence against women in South Africa Image: Supplied Action Society released a statement on Women's Day, asserting that the widespread violence against South African women should be considered an act of terror, rather than merely crime. Citing the latest SAPS Crime Statistics, the rights group warned that behind the speeches and tributes, millions of South African women are not celebrating - they are surviving. The press release noted that, in the SAPS Crime Statistics covering 1 October to 31 December 2024, violence against women remains alarmingly high. 961 women murdered - about 11 per day, 320 per month, 11,803 women raped - about 131 per day, 3,934 per month, 16,023 women assaulted with grievous bodily harm, about 174 per day and 5,341 per month. Action Society strongly felt that these figures only reflect reported cases. 'Thousands more remain hidden in silence, fear, or distrust of a system that too often fails them,' read the statement. By comparison, the group said that terrorism kills around 1,667 people per month globally. 'South African women alone face over 9,500 violent attacks every month, yet there is no war room, no emergency deployment, and no national mobilisation,' it contended. The release also highlighted gaps in the country's legal framework and support structures. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It stated that while South Africa does have sexual offences courts, there are just over 100 for the entire country - far below what is needed, adding that many are under-resourced, inconsistently staffed, or not fully operational, with rural and high-crime areas often lacking access entirely. Action Society is calling for a package of urgent actions, including that Violence against women be declared a national disaster In addition, it is calling for urgent investment in public-private partnerships to strengthen investigative and forensic capacity, the expansion of courts in every district focusing on permanent legislation of sexual offences, better-trained prosecutors and magistrates to prioritise GBV cases, and enforcement of mandatory minimum sentences and closure of legal loopholes. 'This Women's Day, we cannot simply honour women with words,' said Juanita du Preez, spokesperson for Action Society. 'We must defend their right to safety and dignity with decisive action. Silence protects the predator, not the victim.' Du Preez reiterated the group's stance, stating that the statistics demand more than rhetoric and commemorations. 'They require concrete, systemic reforms to protect women and deter those threatening them," she said. IOL Politics
IOL News
02-07-2025
- IOL News
Chanelle Plaatjies murder: Suspects abandon bail bid amid ongoing investigation
The distraught Plaatjies' family previously asked for the police not to drag the case as they did with the slain 4-year-old Mia Botha's case. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The three men accused of murdering 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies have abandoned their bail application and will remain in custody until their next court appearance. Keaton Johnson, 19, Bradley Mamani, 25, and Theodore Qatha, 31, appeared in the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Tuesday facing charges relating to the brutal murder of the teenage girl from Paarl East. They first appeared in court on June 20. Johnson was reportedly the teenager's boyfriend. Plaatjies went missing on May 14. After a desperate two-week search by her family and community, human remains were discovered in a wooded area about a kilometre from her home, but DNA tests had to confirm it was her body that was dug out of the shallow grave. Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk said: "Be advised that the DNA results were received and confirmed that the body of a female discovered buried in the woods in Paarl East near to prison is indeed 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies." Chanelle Plaatjies Image: Facebook According to the charge sheet, the accused are charged with premeditated murder. The State alleges that 'the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Chanelle by strangling her and burying her body in a shallow grave'. The charge falls under Part I of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, which deals with aggravated forms of murder, including killings committed as part of a group, conspiracy, or with premeditation. As such, if convicted, the accused face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Action Society spokesperson, Kaylynn Palm, who was present at court on Tuesday, confirmed that one of the accused had initially considered applying for bail but later withdrew the application. All three ultimately abandoned their bids and remain in custody. 'Action Society is at Paarl Magistrate's Court for the murder case of Chanelle Plaatjies. Three people were arrested, including the boyfriend, and they appeared in court. On Tuesday, all of them abandoned their bail,' said Palm. She added that the State informed the court that several investigative reports were still outstanding. 'According to the State, outstanding items include the DNA report, soil analysis, and toxicology report,' Palm said. She also noted that the accused alleged mistreatment while in custody. 'They complained that they were roughed up by the wardens and were apparently injured, but they didn't produce any evidence of that.' Palm said Action Society will keep an eye on the future court proceedings. The matter has been postponed to August 1, 2025, for further investigation. Plaatjies' family previously asked for the police not to drag the case as they did with the slain 4-year-old Mia Botha's case. "We would like to request that the police keep the investigating officer and not hand the case over to other officers, as they did with the Mia case. The detective was very good and thorough when my sister went missing. "We don't want to find ourselves years from now asking questions about Chanelle's cold case. This is our only request to the police." Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
IOL News
01-07-2025
- IOL News
Suspects in Chanelle Plaatjies murder case abandon bail application
Chanelle Plaatjies' body was found buried in a shallow grave. Image: Facebook The three men accused of murdering 16-year-old Chanelle Plaatjies have abandoned their bail application and will remain in custody until their next court appearance. Keaton Johnson, 19, Bradley Mamani, 25, and Theodore Qatha, 31, appeared in the Paarl Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, facing charges relating to the brutal murder of the teenage girl from Paarl East. Johnson was reportedly the teenager's boyfriend. Plaatjies went missing on May 14, 2025. After a desperate two-week search by her family and community, her remains were discovered in a wooded area about a kilometre from her home. Her body had been buried in a shallow grave. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading According to the charge sheet, the accused are charged with premeditated murder. The State alleges that 'the accused did unlawfully and intentionally kill Chanelle by strangling her and burying her body in a shallow grave'. The charge falls under Part I of Schedule 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 105 of 1997, which deals with aggravated forms of murder, including killings committed as part of a group, conspiracy, or with premeditation. As such, if convicted, the accused face a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Action Society spokesperson Kaylynn Palm, who was present at court on Tuesday, confirmed that one of the accused had initially considered applying for bail but later withdrew the application. All three ultimately abandoned their bids and remain in custody. 'Action Society is at Paarl Magistrate's Court today for the murder case of Chanelle Plaatjies. Three people were arrested, including the boyfriend, and they appeared in court. On Tuesday, all of them abandoned their bail,' said Palm.
IOL News
07-06-2025
- IOL News
Outrage as Marius van der Westhuizen seeks parole for child murders
Former police officer Marius van der Westhuizen has applied for parole after serving more than a decade for the murder of his three children. Image: File Civil rights organisation, Action Society, has condemned the renewed parole application by a former police officer who murdered his three children in 2006, calling it a 'disgraceful affront to justice'. The organisation said the latest attempt to seek early release is retraumatising for the victims' family and deeply offensive to the broader public, many of whom remain haunted by the brutality of the crime. Marius van der Westhuizen was convicted of the premeditated murders of his children, Bianca, 16, Marius Jr, 5, and Antoinette, 21 months, at their Brackenfell, Western Cape, home on July 28, 2006. The killings, carried out in front of his then-wife, Charlotte, were reportedly sparked by jealousy and emotional turmoil. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Despite citing stress and depression, the court ruled that his actions were calculated and intentional. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison and has applied for parole three times. His third attempt was briefly successful in June 2024, when the parole board cited his rehabilitation efforts and acceptance of responsibility. The decision sparked widespread public backlash and was overturned by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board just weeks later. 'The fact that Van der Westhuizen is once again seeking legal leniency is disgraceful. He murdered three innocent children. His place is behind bars, not back in society,' said Kaylynn Palm, Action Society spokesperson. Charlotte van der Westhuizen, now a lieutenant-colonel in the SAPS, has previously welcomed the revocation of her ex-husband's parole. 'I am extremely grateful for the positive outcome that we received, especially seeing that we are also celebrating Women's Month. I feel that justice has prevailed,' she said at the time. The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that the parole board's original decision had been overturned in terms of Section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act. Van der Westhuizen remains incarcerated at Malmesbury Prison. Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald also supported the decision to revoke parole, saying it highlights the urgent need to review the parole system. 'Reforming our parole system is not just a policy issue, but a moral imperative. We must ensure that it protects the most vulnerable and does not re-victimise those already harmed,' he said. Action Society has reiterated its call for justice and urged the Department of Correctional Services to reject any further attempts by Van der Westhuizen to gain early release. 'This is not just an administrative issue — it is about upholding the value of life and protecting those who cannot protect themselves,' said Palm. 'We owe it to the victims to ensure that justice is not eroded by leniency.'
