Latest news with #NotInMyName
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Four-year-old from Eldorado Park dies after alleged abuse by father
A little girl died in hospital after allegedly suffering severe abuse by her father in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg South. A four-year-old girl from Eldorado Park, Johannesburg South, who was allegedly beaten and sexually assaulted by her father, has died in hospital. Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital admitted the little girl on Wednesday, after police responded to a complaint of the father physically abusing his child. Found by police with injuries on Wednesday When the police arrived, they were directed to a backyard shack that was closed. The police discovered a man with a young boy and a young girl inside. 'They noticed that the girl who was sleeping in the bed had head injuries, bruises and a swollen eye,' the Gauteng police said. ALSO READ: Massive child abuse material seized in Standerton operation [PICS] The man who claimed to be the children's father did not provide a clear explanation about what happened to the girl. Girl died in hospital on Friday The police subsequently arrested the father and rushed the girl to the hospital for treatment. She tragically died in hospital on Friday, the police confirmed. The 32-year-old father was initially charged with attempted murder and child abuse. After further investigation, the South AFrican Police Service Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units arrested the victim's mother on Thursday and charged her with defeating the ends of justice. ALSO READ: Four suspects face attempted murder charges after viral child drug video The mother reportedly confessed to police during interrogation that she knew about the abuse. She also claimed that she was also a victim of abuse. Father charged with murder and rape The father made a brief appearance at the Protea Magistrate's Court on Friday to a full gallery of community members. The case docket has been changed to murder, and a charge of rape has been added. Responding to the news of the girl's death, Not In My Name founder Themba Masango expressed frustration over the lack of severe consequences for heinous crimes, suggesting a referendum on reinstating the death penalty. 'This is terrible, and we are angry. We are hoping that the court and the justice system will throw the entire book of the law at this person,' Masango told SABC.
TimesLIVE
7 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Pretoria murder accused has pending rape case — NPA
He later added: 'I would like to abandon the whole bail thing.' After Helder abandoned bail Mbembele postponed the matter to October 15. Outside the court, the NPA's Lumka Mahanjana told the media Helder has a pending rape case at the same court. 'He is also facing a charge of rape and he will appear on the same date. 'At face value, it looks like the rapist would meet his victims on Facebook, invite them to his place and rape them,' she said, while not ruling out the possibility of more victims coming forward. Bodies of three other women were found in the same area but Mahanjana clarified that they were not linked to Helder as suggested by other media houses. 'The investigations on those cases are ongoing,' she said. #NotInMyName, which advocates against the abuse of women and children, said they were pleased Helder chose to abandon bail. 'We are happy that he abandoned bail and until his matter is ventilated properly in a court of law he should stay behind bars,' said Themba Masango, the organisation's secretary-general.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Dump the National Dialogue and focus on fighting crime and capture, says #NotInMyName
#NotInMyName leader Siyabulela Jentile insists South Africans deserve action, not another staged consultation. Image: File Civil rights group #NotInMyName has called on the government to shelve plans for the 'costly' National Dialogue due to what has been described as a complete collapse of public trust in leadership and governance in South Africa. Last month, IOL reported that a draft budget of more than R700 million for preparations for the National Dialogue had sparked anger amid concerns that it could just be another government-sponsored talk shop. At the time, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the eminent persons group for the National Dialogue, which was scheduled to be held around mid-August. Commenting on the latest political and criminal developments in South Africa following the explosive revelations by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, #NotInMyName said public trust in the government of the day 'has reached new lower levels just below zero'. 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 KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers 'While the media briefing (by Mkhwanazi) was under way, the slain Ekurhuleni municipality auditor, Mpho Mafole, was being laid to rest. Mafole was gunned down a week ago by unknown gunmen on his way back from work. It has now been alleged that his murder is linked to the missing R2 billion in the municipality,' said Siyabulela Jentile, president of #NotInMyName. 'These two events alone confirm a long-held view and a chilling reality, that South Africa is a mafia state where crime and criminality find expression with impunity. Under the current conditions, any attempt at public dialogue becomes meaningless and a waste of taxpayers' money.' Jentile insisted the government has no moral imperative to convene the dialogue, 'at least not while it lacks the political will to address widespread reports of corruption' and mismanagement of state resources. 'Hosting a dialogue while ignoring rampant crime, corruption, and deteriorating public services undermines its legitimacy. South Africans deserve action, not another staged consultation,' he said. 'Last year, we reflected on the living conditions of South African citizens, highlighting the concerning expenditure on Presidential Imbizos. In the 18 months leading up to the 2024 national and provincial government elections, over R44 million was spent on just four imbizos.' #NotInMyName said it is concerned that the R700 million intended for the National Dialogue could be misused, potentially to influence the 2026 local government elections. 'These extravagant costs stand in stark contrast to the daily realities faced by millions of South Africans. Unemployment remains high, and critical public services continue to deteriorate. The question remains: how can such significant sums be justified for a handful of community meetings, while the fundamental needs of the population remain unmet? Jentile asked. #NotInMyName urged the government to prioritize restoring public trust through decisive action on corruption and crime, reaffirm commitment to service delivery and citizens', safety and lastly, halt the costly National Dialogue process until there is political will and ethical leadership. Earlier this week, IOL reported that a war of words has erupted between former president Thabo Mbeki and DA leader John Steenhuisen over the withdrawal of the blue party from the National Dialogue. The DA recently announced its withdrawal from the National Dialogue, just days after Ramaphosa fired former Trade and Industry deputy minister Andrew Whitfield for travelling to the US without presidential permission. Whitfield's departure has rocked the Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA threatening to leave the arrangement but later backtracking. Ramaphosa accused the DA of turning its back on South Africans and lacking commitment to core democratic values. IOL News
eNCA
16-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
GBV, poverty, and exclusion haunting young people
JOHANNESBURG - The message from young activists on Youth Day is urgent and unapologetic: This is not a day of celebration, but of defiance. Defiance of a system that continues to fail its youth. Defiance of violence, exclusion, and injustice. The civic organisation, Not In My Name, says it's been 49 years since the Soweto Uprising and 31 years since democracy, but for many young people, especially young Black women, freedom remains a promise unfulfilled. The organisation says the youth are still mourning, still fighting, and still demanding real change.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crowds demonstrate against gender-based violence in South Africa after alleged rape of 7-year-old
PRETORIA, South Africa. (AP) — A crowd of protesters staged a demonstration against gender-based violence in the South African capital of Pretoria on Friday as part of a national outcry after an alleged rape of a 7-year-old girl. This is the latest protest sparked by allegations that the girl, referred to as Cwecwe to protect her identity, was raped at her school last year and that the matter was only reported a month later. Last week, thousands protested in the city of Cape Town and earlier this week another demonstration took place in Matatiele, an area where the alleged rape took place. Demonstrators were dressed in mostly all-black outfits and held placards with slogans condemning the scourge of rape and violence against women and children. The protesters have called on the South African government to declare gender-based violence a national crisis and impose the harshest sentences on those convicted of related crimes. While the attack on the 7-year-old girl was in November, her mother has recently been speaking out frequently, saying she has felt let down by the justice system. Reigning Miss South Africa Mia le Roux was among those who attended the protests and called on the government to do more to fight gender-based violence in the country. 'I'm here because I want to add my voice to the voices of all these women that are gathered here today because we have decided that enough is enough,' she said. 'We are hearing too many stories of our sisters being hurt, and I want our leaders to know that this is really a natural disaster." Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, deputy leader of the political party Build One SA, said the government should declare a state of emergency and show the political will to deal with the problem. 'We are here to say that the way justice system works in this country is not conducive to curbing and actually killing this gender-based violence and femicide crisis that we have,' said Hlazo-Webster. She also called for the government to publish the sex offender register so that people convicted of these crimes may be known so that women and children can be protected from them. Activist Themba Masango, who leads the organization Not In My Name which advocates against gender-based based violence, called on men to take responsibility and lead the fight. Rape and attempted sexual offenses from October to December last year declined by 3% compared to 2023, according to the latest crime statistics published in February by the police ministry. However, sexual assault and contact sexual assault cases reported increased during the same period. Nearly two thirds of the 11,803 rapes were committed in the perpetrators or victims' homes. A fifth took place in public spaces while night clubs, schools and universities were also places of violence, according to those statistics.
