Thursday 18 November 2004

This site will be updated on 25 November 2004.

Nuus - News

• Child rapist to die in prison
• Wyn word water
• Alle skoliere kry plek
• Bendelid kry lewenslank
• Bestuurder skuldig
• Vars appels in Paarl-Oos
• Teenager dies for love
• Lots of houses on the horison

Child rapist to die in prison

[ Top ]

Malané Bosman

STILL reeling from the violent sexual attacks on them three years ago, six Paarl girls heard a High Court judge sentence their rapist to six life terms in prison last week.

"I feel happy, happy, happy," a mother said after the verdict.

"I was so hurt that day when we searched for my child and when we found her she told me what the man had done to her..

SATISFIED. A satisfied Captain Klaas Cloete of Paarl with four teenage rape victims whose attacker was sentenced to six life terms last week.

"We cried and cried together. But now we are happy."

Mpho Dikeng (27) of Fairyland used the same trick on each of his young victims between February and October 2001.

He would send then on an errand to find a friend. He then followed the girls and raped them. Afterwards he left the girls on the scene, terrified, injured and bleeding.

The girls aged between nine and thirteen at the time, were living with their parents in the Mbekweni and Fairyland communities.

His second victim was raped on the very Saturday that Dikeng's girlfriend gave birth to his youngest child.

Three days later, when his nine-year-old victim was still hospitalised, she recognised her attacker when he came to visit his girlfriend.

Security guards summoned the police and the rapist was behind bars. But not for long.

Dikeng was let out on bail of R500, only to pursue his next victim.

"A month after my child was raped she recognised him at the Mbekweni railway station," a mother recalled.

"When the police searched the train, he jumped out and ran into the bushes at the river."

Policemen tracked him for two hours before they managed to flush out the rapist.

"In court he claimed he  had been 'possessed' when he did that to our children. Then later he claimed he had been reborn," a mother said with contempt.

Judge President John Hlophe did not accept the plea for mitigation and sentenced Mpho to life imprisonment on each of the six charges of rape.

Two years have passed and the girls still carry the scars. They have nightmares and normal relationships are not easy.

For one of the girls the trauma was too much and she is no longer attending school.

Another girl says: "I wish I could go to a different school, where no one knows what happened to me."

The principal at her school had deemed it fit to inform the learners about her ordeal.

Another of the young victims said, "During these past two years we could not concentrate and we did not participate in school activities because we thought about this all the time.

"We had to go to court every three months and every time the terrible thing was fresh in our minds again.

"Now we can look ahead. The man is behind bars."

The mothers and fathers praised the investigating officer, Capt Klaus Cloete.

"He was so patient with the case and so loving to the children. It was a difficult time for us, but he made it easier.

"We are now one big family," they smiled bravely, their arms locked tightly around each other

DIT was Maandag nie wyn wat deur die KWV in Suider-Paarl gevloei het nie, maar water, sommer baie water.

'n Waterverspreidingspyp op die dak van die historiese hoofgebou, wat by 'n koppelstuk uitgeskiet het, was die sondebok wat skade van duisende rande op die derde verdieping aangerig het.

'n Groot slag is tydens middagete gehoor, en binne sekondes het water deur die plafon gestroom, in die kombuis en die onthaalvertrekke op die derde vloer.

Die noodspan het haastig stopkrane toegedraai, maar gedeeltes van die derde vloer het toe reeds soos 'n swembad gelyk.

Personeellede het skoene uitgeskop en plek-plek enkeldiep in die water meubels uitgedra, tapyte opgerol en gordyne by die vensters laat uithang.

Besems, moppe en emmers is nadergetrek en die stromende water is van die houtblokkiesvloere van die onthaalvertrekke, die matte in die gange en kantore en die kombuisvloer gevee.

Besoekers in die voorportaal is begroet met 'n ongewone gesig, 'n waterval waar die trappe na die boonste verdiepings lei.

Tafeldoeke en koerante is voor deure en die hysbak gepak totdat die brandweer opgedaag het. Sandsakke is gepak en van die water is uitgepomp.

"Dit is 'n groot slag. Was dit nie vir die wonderlike personeel wat net eenvoudig ingespring en gehelp het nie, was die skade baie, baie meer," het 'n sopnat hoof van skakeldienste, Janine Eybers, Maandag gesê.

"Daar is gelukkig geen skade aan die skilderye en antieke meubels nie."

'n Buite-maatskappy wat spesialiseer in sulke ongevalle, het dwarsdeur die nag die volvloermatte uitgesuig en sedertdien brand spesiale verhitters en ontvogters in die kantore en gange.

* The head office of KWV in Paarl's Main Street was flooded after a pipe burst on Monday.

DIE laaste graad agts in die Paarl wat nog nie plek gehad het vir 2005 nie, sou Woensdag deur die plaaslike Onderwys Bestuur en Ontwikkelingsentrum (Obos) by skole geplaas word.

Dit is die jongste verwikkeling in die probleem met akkommodasie vir graad 8 en 9 leerders.

Jannie Beukes, hoof van Obos, sê daar is wel genoeg plek by bestaande skole om almal te plaas, veral in Paarl-Wes.

"Eers as alle skole optimaal benut word, sal daar gekyk word na die moontlikheid van nog 'n skool in die Paarl.

"Dan sal daar ook besluit moet word oor 'n geskikte perseel om in die behoefte te voorsien."

Beukes het bevestig dat die huidige getalle leerders in graad 8 en 9 waarskynlik net 'n tydelike bottelnek is en dat daar nie oorhaastig nog skole opgerig kan word nie.

'n Woordvoerder van die Paarl Beheerliggaam Vereniging (PBV) sê hulle is erg besorg oor die klaskamertekort. Volgens hom het vier laerskole in die Paarl vanjaar elk 80 graad agts ingeneem.

Die skole is LK Zeeman, Orleansvale, Ebenezer en Charleston Hill. Dié skole sal volgende jaar weer klaskamers beskikbaar stel aan graad 8 leerders en in die geval van Charleston Hill, ook graad 9.

Beukes het ook reageer op berigte dat ouers kan aansoek doen vir hulp met skoolgeld en vervoer.

"Mense moet duidelik verstaan dat daar nie spesiale toegewings gemaak gaan word nie. Enige ouer kan, soos nog altyd die geval was, aansoek doen vir gedeeltelike of volle kwytskelding van skoolfonds.

"Waar leerders verder as 5km van die skool woon, kan daar ook aansoek gedoen word vir hulp met busvervoer. Daar is egter geen waarborg dat dit wel toegeken sal word nie."

* All local Grade sevens will be accommodated at high schools next year, according to education officials.

'n ERKENDE bendelid van die Future Funky-bende in die Paarl, Nujin Adams (22) van Poinsettiastraat, Paarl, is tot lewenslange gevangenisstraf gevonnis.

Hy is skuldig bevind aan die moord op Leswin Warries van Lupinestraat gedurende Mei 2003, asook drie klagtes van poging tot moord en gevonnis tot lewenslange gevangenisstraf.

Op 'n verdere klagte van onwettige vuurwapen- en ammunisiebesit is hy gevonnis tot twee jaar gevangenisstraf wat saam met die lewenslange vonnis uitgedien sal word.

Die skuldigbevinding en vonnisoplegging het gespruit uit 'Projek Chicago' wat daarop gemik is om bendegeweld in die omgewing hok te slaan.

'n Taakspan was op die been gebring, wat bestaan het uit insp Kenny Nicholas (Area Misdaadbekampings-eenheid Boland), insp Anthony Sauls (Paarl-Oos), sers Chris Baxter (Mbekweni) en die ondersoekbeampte speur/insp Theonis Segelaar (Paarl-Oos Speurdiens).

Die voorsittende beampte by Paarl Streekhof was landdros Patrick Ross en die aanklaer in die saak was Alfreda Lewis.

Na skuldigbevinding is die saak verwys na die Kaapstadse Hooggeregshof vir vonnisoplegging.

* A gang leader has been sentenced to life imprisonment on chagers of murder and attempted murder.

DIE maande van wag is vir 'n Paarlse gesin verby - die bestuurder van die motor waarin hul seun verlede jaar gesterf het, is skuldig bevind.

Sidwell Weimers van Desmorestraat was 21 jaar oud en het pas gehoor dat hy sy werksvisum gekry het om in Brittanje te gaan werk.

Die aand van 15 Augustus verlede jaar, was Sidwell op die sitplek agter die motorbestuurder toe Ivor Botha sonder om by die Weltevredelaankruising by Wellington te stop, ingedraai het. Reg voor aankomende verkeer.

Botha (43) van D'Oliveirastraat, Boland Park, eienaar van die BMW, het ten tyde van die ongeluk 'n leerlinglisensie gehad.

Sidwell het die volgende dag in die Paarl Hospitaal aan hoofbeserings beswyk. Botha het intussen van sy beserings herstel. Die ander drie mans in die motor saam met Sidwell was ongedeerd.

Botha, 'n voormalige Paarl Ranger-rugbyspeler wat by Telkom met 'n pakket uitgetree het, het in die hof skuld erken.

Die ongeluk was deur sy toedoen omdat hy nie op die kruising stilgehou het nie.

Botha is verlede week in die Wellingtonse landdroshof skuldig bevind aan strafbare manslag.

Landdros Robert Lewis het Botha gevonnis tot 'n boete van R10 000 wat vir drie jaar opgeskort is. 'n Jaarlange verbod op bestuur is opgeskort tot vyf jaar.

* The driver of a car in which a passenger, a young Paarl man, died, has been found guilty of culpable homicide.

DAAR is nie "vrot appels" in die Paarl-Oos polisiestasie nie.

Verlede jaar het Boland area-kommissaris Ganief Daniels tydens 'n gemeenskapsvergadering in Paarl-Oos belowe om bewerings van korrupsie onmiddellik te ondersoek.

Daar is voorgeneem om " vrot appels te verwyder".

Vandag, 16 maande later, is daar ongelukkigheid by die stasie, want, soos lede sê: "Daar kleef sedert dié uitlatings en daaropvolgende beriggewing, 'n stigma aan die stasie.

"En tot vandag is geen lid van Paarl-Oos van korrupsie aangekla nie."

Waarop kommissaris Daniels antwoord: "Daar was korrupsie-ondersoeke, maar niemand is aangekla nie.

"Bewerings word maklik gemaak, maar aan die einde van die dag was niemand bereid om verklarings te gee nie. Daar is dus nooit waarheid in die bewerings bevind nie."

Kommissaris Daniels is tevrede met die diens wat by die Paarl-Oos stasie gelewer word.

"Verlede jaar is almal wat nie 'n bydrae tot dienslewering in Paarl-Oos gedoen het nie, en 'n verleentheid geword het, geskuif.

"Ook goeie mense wat by ander stasies nog beter aangewend kon word, is met groot sukses vervang."

Die polisiestasiegebou is egter steeds in 'n haglike toestand. Kommissaris Daniels se belofte verlede jaar dat 'n nuwe polisiestasie by Orleanspark teen 2005 betrek sou word, is uitgestel tot einde 2007.

"Dit was 'n lang proses, en nou is R24 miljoen uiteindelik deur die Departement Openbare Werke bewillig en kan die beplanning in alle erns voortgaan," het kommissaris Daniels gesê.

"Ons hoop om voor die einde van die jaar verligting te kan gee by die bestaande gebou in Klein Drakensteinweg, met die verskuiwing van die gemeenskapsdienssentrum na die munisipale 'poskantoor'-saal agter die polisiestasie."

* No corruption allegations have been proven against Paarl East police staff, according to Area  Commissioner Daniels.

A TEENAGE boy hanged himself in his parents' home in Mbekweni after a quarrel with his 11-year-old girlfiend.

Bulelani Compela (13) did not attend school on Thursday last week. His parents, casual farm labourers, had left for work, and his brother was out looking for work.

When the brother, Bundu (15), returned at 11:30, he found the 18 Lusaka Street home in the OR-Township locked.

He climbed through the bathroom window and discovered Bulelani's body hanging from a rafter in the lounge.

Bundu cut the extension cord around his neck, but was too late to save the boy's life. He covered his body in a blanket and called for help.

The barefoot Bulelani was wearing his school uniform, although he had not gone to class that day.

A passing policeman summoned the emergency services and Bulelani was certified dead.

Grieving relatives could find no other reason for the tragedy, but a relationship that had gone sour with a girlfriend.

Bulelani leaves his parents, Cornelius and Anita Vyftien, his brother and two sisters.

A burial service was held in Mbekweni at the weekend.

"PEOPLE are in dire need of housing and we can't have non-delivery."

This was the stern warning of Neil Lyners, project manager for Housing Scheme 51 in Mbekweni, to prospective builders at a tender information session last week.

It was the second round of tenders for the 385 housing units and Lyners told the meeting that no company would be appointed without scrutiny of its record and ability to deliver.

Site

Not satisfied with the first batch of tenders, the Municipality had advertised a second time, which means that work on the site will now only start in January.

The project should be completed by mid April 2006.

The R15,2 million scheme comprises of the conversion of existing hostels into 122 subdivided units and the construction of 263 semi-detached top structures on separate sites (erven 557 and 3444).

The hostels will be occupied at the time of construction, but Lyners assured tenderers that the community will work closely with them.

A community liaison officer will also be appointed for the duration of the contract.

A total of 56 units previously built by the Municipality will now get ceilings and be plastered as part of the new project.

Tenders will close at 10:00 on Thursday 25 November and will be opened at 10:15 on the same day at the big committee room on the first floor of the civic centre in Paarl.

Tenders will be considered in terms of Council's Procurement Policy and tenderers must be prepared to furnish financial statements, original tax clearance certificates and must be registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC).

The lowest, only or any tender will not necessarily be accepted by the Council.

Fairyland

* The Municipality is also awaiting tenders for the provision of 482 top structures in Fairyland (phase 4 and 5 of Housing Scheme 59).

This is also the second round of tendering and tenders will close on Thursday 9 December at 10:00.

A formal inspection of the site will take place on Wednesday 24 November at 10:00. It is compulsory for tenderers to attend.

Tender documents are obtainable at the Planning and Economic Development Department, Paarl East Housing Offices in Van der Stel Street.

[ Top ]

Tel: (021) 871-1170 - e-mail: edit@paarlpost.co.za  

[ Top ]