Latest news with #TCCs
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Eyewitness News
NPA welcomes life sentence handed to elderly man convicted of raping girl (6)
JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has welcomed the life sentence handed down to a 79-year-old man convicted of raping a 6-year-old girl. Johannes Kotze assaulted the girl in 2019 at a commune where the child lived with her mother. Kotze pleaded not guilty, denying the rape and alleging that the child's parents fabricated the case. The Pretoria Magistrates Court has also further ordered that Kotze's name be added on the national register for sex offenders. The NPA said that the conviction underscored its commitment to protecting society's most vulnerable. Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana: "The NPA urges communities to remain vigilant and report GBV and child abuse promptly. Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) stand ready to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors."
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Pretoria pensioner sentenced to life for raping six-year-old girl
A 79-year-old Pretoria pensioner will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of raping a 6-year-old girl, with the court imposing a life sentence and declaring him unfit to work with children or own a firearm. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the Pretoria North Magistrates' Court handed down the life imprisonment sentence to Johannes Jacobus Christiaan Kotze, a 79-year-old. 'Kotze also received five years each for two counts of sexual assault, to run concurrently with the life sentence. 'The court further ordered that his name be added to the National Register for Sex Offenders and declared him unfit to work with children and unfit to possess a firearm.' She said Kotze rented a room at a commune where the six-year-old girl was staying with her mother. 'The victim referred to him as Oupa even though they were not biologically related. 'On October 03, 2019, the mother of the child had a feeling that something was wrong with her child and needed to look for her. 'When she could not find the child where she was supposed to be playing, she went to look for her in Kotze's room. When she entered, he immediately pulled his hands away from the child, which brought suspicion to the mother.' The mother then grabbed the child and took her to their room, where she questioned her. 'The child then disclosed to her mother that Kotze had raped her by digitally penetrating her, touching her private parts, and forcing her to touch him. 'The child further revealed that these acts were not isolated incidents. The mother immediately reported the matter to the police, leading to Kot on October 24 2019.' Kotze pleaded not guilty, denying the rape and alleging the child fabricated the case due to a dispute over their tenancy at the commune. However, State Prosecutor Hanlie Du Preez presented compelling evidence, including the victim's testimony and corroborating reports, proving Kotze'silt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mahanjana said during sentencing, Kotze sought leniency, citing his age and ill health. 'Du Preez countered that his lack of remorse, the gruesome nature of the crime, and its lasting trauma on the victim, who continues to suffer nightmares, warranted no deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life imprisonment. She argued that age alone could not excuse such a heinous act.' Regional Court Magistrate Piet Nel agreed with the state, stating that rape is a scourge in our society, and the absence of remorse aggravates this crime; therefore, he found no substantial or compelling circumstances to justify leniency; he imposed life imprisonment, reinforcing the judiciary's stance against GBV. The NPA urges communities to remain vigilant and report GBV and child abuse promptly. Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) stand ready to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors. 'This case highlights the critical role of caregivers, like the victims, in exposing abuse and seeking justice.' Also read: Here are the most dangerous suburbs in Pretoria Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India very important supporter of peacekeeping, says top UN official
India is a very important supporter of peacekeeping, including its support for various efforts such as its lead on efforts to ensure accountability for crimes against peacekeepers, the UN's top peacekeeping official has said. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix's comments came during a press briefing on Thursday on the occasion of International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. He had visited New Delhi to attend the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers organised by India on February 24-25. 'Yes, I really wanted to go to New Delhi and to that conference,' Lacroix said in response to a question by PTI about the conference and his assessment of it. 'First of all, because India is a very important troop and police contributing country. It's also a very important supporter of peacekeeping, beyond the important contribution of men and women from India, but also in terms of supporting various efforts. I'm thinking in particular, but there are many other examples, of the lead from India on the accountability for crime against peacekeepers,' Lacroix said. The Delhi conference with the theme of 'Women in Peacekeeping: A Global South Perspective' was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK). It brought together women peacekeepers from 35 Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) from the Global South to discuss the evolving challenges in peacekeeping and the critical role women play in advancing peace and security. Lacroix added that the issue of women in peacekeeping has two dimensions. 'It's more women in peacekeeping, which guarantees a more effective peacekeeping, and it's more empowerment of women through peacekeeping, in terms of the role of women in political processes, their empowerment, making sure that they are part and parcel of all these peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts,' he said. Noting that 'there is nothing ideological in this', the UN peacekeeping chief said it is 'just plain realism that women need to be fully involved and participating in all these efforts, and that's why we are continuing our effort to have more women in peacekeeping.' Accompanied by Acting Military Adviser of the United Nations Major General Cheryl Pearce at the briefing, Lacroix noted that the world organisation is 'doing good in terms of the numbers of women peacekeepers 'although we still have more to do". He added that UN peacekeeping is still having challenges in terms of the formed military units because the resources of member states are not so high. 'Also, in terms of senior female general, although, thankfully, we have an excellent example of that,' he said, referring to Pearce. 'But yes, we would want to have more senior female generals applying for positions of Force Commander and Deputy Force Commander. It's a work in progress,' he said. India is the 4th largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 5,300 military and police personnel to the UN peace operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. India was the first country to deploy an all-women Formed Police Unit to Liberia in 2007. In January 2023, India also deployed an all-women's platoon of peacekeepers as part of its battalion to the UN Mission in Abyei, the single largest deployment of women peacekeepers in recent years. In December 2022, India, during its presidency of the UN Security Council at the time, launched a 'Group of Friends' to promote accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. India had also announced the launch of a new database designed to record crimes against Peacekeepers and monitor progress in holding perpetrators accountable.
Middle East
27-04-2025
- Business
- Middle East
OPEN// Uganda eyes greater economic cooperation with Egypt
KAMPALA, April 25 (MENA) - Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said Egypt is ready to cooperate with its Nile Basin partners to develop their capabilities, and share relevant expertise in various sectors, including the agriculture, irrigation, health, energy, and mining industries. Madbouli was speaking during a meeting with President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni on the margins of his participation in the Extraordinary Summit of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), held in Entebbe on Friday. Museveni praised the robust ties between Egypt and Uganda at the political and economic levels, voicing his country's aspiration for greater cooperation in various economic sectors. Meanwhile, Madbouli conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to his Ugandan counterpart, applauding Uganda's successful hosting of such an important summit. Commending the growing ties between Egypt and Uganda in 2024, Madbouli said the two countries are now poised for a significant shift in their relationship. He stressed Egypt's commitment to that goal, calling for intensifying joint communication and consultations to push bilateral relations to new higher levels. He also hailed the positive outcomes of Egypt's foreign minister's visit to Kampala in October 2024, the visit of Uganda's ministers of water and international relations to Cairo in early December, the meetings of the technical and ministerial committee for joint and permanent cooperation on December 3-4, 2024, and the first round of political consultations between both countries on December 4. About 25 Egyptian companies are now operating in Uganda, with estimated investments of $100 million, the prime minister said, noting that the volume of bilateral trade between both countries reached nearly $133 million in 2023. He said he looks forward to greater volume of trade exchange between the sisterly African nations. (MENA) M A A/M S H
Egypt Independent
26-04-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Uganda eyes greater economic cooperation with Egypt
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt is ready to cooperate with its Nile Basin partners to develop their capabilities, and share relevant expertise in various sectors, including the agriculture, irrigation, health, energy, and mining industries. Madbouly was speaking during a meeting with President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni on the margins of his participation in the Extraordinary Summit of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), held in Entebbe on Friday. Museveni praised the robust ties between Egypt and Uganda at the political and economic levels, voicing his country's aspiration for greater cooperation in various economic sectors. Meanwhile, Madbouly conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to his Ugandan counterpart, applauding Uganda's successful hosting of such an important summit. Commending the growing ties between Egypt and Uganda in 2024, Madbouly said the two countries are now poised for a significant shift in their relationship. He stressed Egypt's commitment to that goal, calling for intensifying joint communication and consultations to push bilateral relations to new higher levels. He also hailed the positive outcomes of Egypt's foreign minister's visit to Kampala in October 2024, the visit of Uganda's ministers of water and international relations to Cairo in early December, the meetings of the technical and ministerial committee for joint and permanent cooperation on December 3-4, 2024, and the first round of political consultations between both countries on December 4. About 25 Egyptian companies are now operating in Uganda, with estimated investments of $100 million, the prime minister said, noting that the volume of bilateral trade between both countries reached nearly $133 million in 2023. He said he looks forward to greater volume of trade exchange between the sisterly African nations.
