Latest news with #BallitoNeighbourhoodWatch
The Citizen
24-07-2025
- The Citizen
Psychologist Candice Leith weighs in as flasher alarms Ballito residents
Allegations of public indecency have unsettled Ballito residents after a man reportedly exposed himself twice in two days. The Ballito Neighbourhood Watch (BNW) confirmed that both cases involved a young white male allegedly exposing himself to unsuspecting women in public places over the weekend of July 12 and 13. The first incident occurred near Salmon Bay, where a female jogger was approached by a man driving a white Toyota Aygo. After asking for directions, the driver allegedly exposed himself before speeding off. The second incident took place on the boardwalk near Clarke Bay, where two female holidaymakers were out for a morning walk. They described the flasher as a 'young, clean-cut, white male.' These events have sparked concern, prompting the BNW to issue a public alert and encourage immediate reporting of any similar behaviour. Indecent exposure is a criminal offence in South Africa. Ballito psychologist Dr Candice Rae Leith weighed in on the psychological aspect of the incidents, linking the behaviour to a mental health condition known as Exhibitionistic Disorder. 'People with this disorder feel intense sexual arousal from the act of exposure itself, particularly from the victim's surprise or shock,' said Leith. 'In many cases, this behaviour is compulsive and repeated, causing distress for victims and sometimes guilt and shame for the offender.' According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Exhibitionistic Disorder is diagnosed when an individual aged 18 or older experiences persistent sexual urges or fantasies for at least six months involving exposing themselves to non-consenting people. The person must either act on these urges or experience significant distress or disruption in their life. 'This helps professionals distinguish a diagnosable disorder from a one-off act of poor judgement,' said Leith, who notes the illness can be treated and managed. She says specialist psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can help the person understand their triggers and develop healthier coping strategies. In some cases, medication is used to help reduce compulsive sexual urges. 'Community awareness and prompt reporting help protect everyone's safety. At the same time, people struggling with these urges deserve access to treatment so they can stop harmful behaviour before more damage is done.' No arrests have been made. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
TimesLIVE
15-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Ballito residents warned of indecent exposure by young man
Ballito residents have been warned to be on the lookout for a young man who has been indecently exposing himself to women in the popular KwaZulu-Natal north coast town. Ballito Neighbourhood Watch (BNW), on its Facebook page on Monday, issued an alert about 'unfortunate incidents of indecent exposure' in the town. The body said it had received two reports about a white male, believed to be in his early 20s, who has been exposing himself to women. 'In the first incident a female jogger had passed the Boathouse when the driver of a white Toyota Aygo with GP plates stopped and asked for directions. He then exposed himself to her before driving away.' In a separate incident two holidaymakers aged about 16 and 20, were walking on the boardwalk on Saturday when they were confronted by the man. 'When they got close to Clarke Bay, a young, clean-cut white male exposed himself to the women.' BNW appealed to women to 'report immediately if you fall prey to this person'. The body also posted an image of the man from behind walking on the boardwalk. 'If you happen to know who this man is, please contact the authorities immediately. The lack of respect for females in our town is definitely not something that will be tolerated.' BNW did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Public indecency can lead to a fine of up to R4,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, according to the Sexual Offences Act. Public indecency is a common law crime, not always specified by legislation but rather determined by court rulings. The severity of the act and circumstances influence the sentence. According to Psychology Today, a publication that focuses on psychology matters and human behaviour, 'exhibitionistic disorder is a condition marked by the urge, fantasy or act of exposing one's genitals to non-consenting people, particularly strangers. 'People with exhibitionistic disorder may have a preference to show their genitals to prepubescent children, adults or both. Some people may deny they show their genitals to unsuspecting others or deny the act causes them distress. If they have exposed themselves repeatedly to non-consenting people, they may receive a diagnosis of exhibitionistic disorder.'
The Citizen
18-06-2025
- The Citizen
Police probe Ballito robbery after man held at gunpoint
A Ballito homeowner was held at gunpoint during an early morning home invasion yesterday in what authorities describe as a brazen robbery on Minerva Road South. The North Coast Courier reports that, according to Umhlali SAPS, three unidentified men, one reportedly armed with a pistol, entered the property at around 03:00. The robbers allegedly gained access through a sliding door that had been left open, surprising the homeowner who was working on his computer in the lounge at the time. The armed thief reportedly pointed the firearm at the homeowner and forced him to lie on the floor while the other two thieves ransacked the home. Numerous high-value items were allegedly stolen. In a possible lead for investigators, a power bank believed to belong to one of the robbers was left behind at the scene. The item has been retained by police for fingerprint analysis. No injuries or property damage were reported and no shots were fired. Emergency services and police responded promptly. This incident follows a similar non-violent break-in on Marion Road North on Saturday, between 20:00 and 21:00. In that case, a thief entered through a side sliding door while the homeowners were on the patio, stealing a wallet and a laptop without being noticed. CCTV footage from the Marion Road incident revealed a robber wearing Adidas shoes similar to those seen in previous cases. However, police noted a different modus operandi in the two incidents. Ballito Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Morné Steffens confirmed a recent rise in burglaries and attempted break-ins in the area. 'We are very fortunate here with crime usually at a minimum. It's been blissfully quiet, until now,' said Steffens. He urged residents to remain vigilant, secure all entry points and report suspicious activity immediately. Anyone with information is asked to contact Umhlali SAPS or the Ballito Neighbourhood Watch at Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
17-06-2025
- The Citizen
Ballito resident held at gunpoint in house burglary
A Ballito homeowner was held at gunpoint during an early morning home invasion on Tuesday, June 17, in what authorities describe as a brazen robbery on Minerva Road South. According to Umhlali Saps, three unidentified men, one reportedly armed with a pistol, entered the property around 3am. The robbers allegedly gained access through a sliding door that had been left open, surprising the homeowner who was working on his computer in the lounge at the time. The armed thief reportedly pointed the firearm at the homeowner and forced him to lie on the floor while the other two thieves ransacked the home. Numerous high value items were allegedly stolen. In a possible lead for investigators, a power bank believed to belong to one of the robbers was left behind at the scene. The item has been retained by police for fingerprint analysis. No injuries or property damage were reported and no shots were fired. Emergency services and police responded promptly. This incident follows a similar non-violent break-in on Marion Road North on Saturday, June 15, between 8 and 9pm. In that case, a thief entered through a side sliding door while the homeowners were on the patio, stealing a wallet and a laptop without being noticed. CCTV footage from the Marion Road incident revealed a robber wearing Adidas shoes similar to those seen in previous cases. However, police noted a different modus operandi in the two incidents. Ballito Neighbourhood Watch (BNW) chair Morné Steffens confirmed a recent rise in burglaries and attempted break-ins in the area. 'We are very fortunate here with crime usually at a minimum. It's been blissfully quiet, until now,' said Steffens. He urged residents to remain vigilant, secure all entry points and report suspicious activity immediately. Anyone with information is asked to contact Umhlali Saps or the Ballito Neighbourhood Watch at Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
