Murder

Nyanga gangster puts the blame on his family

“I was not born a gangster, but I will die one. This is not a choice, but it’s because of my circumstances. I want to change, but I can’t. I do not know what to change to and how,” says gangster.

Pharie Sefali

News | 20 June 2014

Family of 13-year-old take legal steps to compel SAPS

The Makalakata family is concerned that a month after the death of their daughter, Tariro, they have not received the post-mortem results and there is no progress on the case.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 20 June 2014

Angy Peter defence say it is a “political case”

Angy Peter continued giving evidence in her defence as the trial continued on 19 June. She told the court that after she was arrested for the murder and kidnapping of Rowan Du Preez in October 2012, she was arrested three more times on other murder and kidnapping charges. None of these charges were ever brought to trial.

Lara Sokoloff

News | 20 June 2014

Angy Peter application to have case thrown out unsuccessful

Advocate William King for the defence applied under Section 174 of the Criminal Justice Act to have the case against Angie Peter quashed. The section allows for a case to be discharged if after the prosecution has outlined its case, there is a lack of evidence. But on 18 June the application was dismissed.

Adam Armstrong

News | 19 June 2014

My brother was my best friend, says sister of slain Ceres man

Though it had taken her years to accept that he was gay, her brother had become her best friend, the sister of murdered Ceres 21-year-old David Olyn said last week.

Pharie Sefali

News | 18 June 2014

Defence asks for discharge in Peter trial

The State has not proved “beyond reasonable doubt” that Social Justice Coalition activist Angy Peter and her co-accused are responsible for the assault and murder of Rowan Du Preez, the defence argued in the Cape High court yesterday.

Barbara Maregele

News | 10 June 2014

Angy Peter: Court hears closing arguments in trial-within-a-trial

The "dying declaration" allegedly made to police by Rowan du Preez, who was kidnapped and murdered, should be regarded as hearsay, the defence told the Cape High Court during closing arguments in the case against Angy Peter yesterday morning.

Barbara Maregele

News | 30 May 2014

Was 13-year-old Tariro murdered?

No arrests have yet been made after the death of 13-year-old Tariro Makalakata earlier this month.

Tariro Washinyira

News | 28 May 2014

Young, high and dangerous: youth gangs and violence in Khayelitsha

They fight to kill - with pangas, knives and their bare hands. They don't know why the fighting began but it doesn't seem to matter. Proving your manhood doesn't require a reason.

Words: Pharie Sefali Images: Don Pinnock Editing: Guy Lamb

News | 27 May 2014

Angy Peter trial: Court hears that evidence submitted by police was incorrect

The Angy Peter case resumed on Monday with a brief but significant submission from Nobuntu Sifuba, a member of the Street Committee in the area where Rowan Du Preez lived.

Adam Armstrong

News | 27 May 2014

Angy Peter trial: Was murder victim’s dying declaration likely?

State prosecutor, Advocate Phistus Pelesa, continued to cross-examine Dr Almin Steyn in the Angy Peter trial on Thursday.

Adam Armstrong

News | 23 May 2014

Angy Peter trial: Dying declaration unlikely testifies surgeon

Dr Elmin Steyn testified in the Angy Peter trial yesterday that it was “extremely unlikely” that someone in Rowan du Preez’s condition would have been able to “have a long and complicated conversation” in which he identified his assailants.

Adam Armstrong

News | 22 May 2014

“In a matter of seconds a man is dead “ÂŚ for snatching a handbag”

“We don’t need to focus on fighting crime ... we need to heal our communities,” testified Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela at the Khayelitsha Inquiry into policing this morning. Her testimony described the social and psychological trauma of the Khayelitsha community, and how that results in vigilante killings.

Adam Armstrong

News | 16 May 2014

Angy Peters case: a trial within a trial

The case against Social Justice Coalition (SJC) activist Angy Peters and three others on trial for the kidnapping and murder of a Mfuleni man 18 months ago, was postponed today.

Barbara Maregele

News | 15 May 2014

Peter trial: Defence questions how burnt witness could have fingered accused

The trial of Angy Peter and Isaac Mbadu continued last week after a two week recess. Peter and Mbadu are on trial, along with two others, Azola Dayimani and Christopher Dina, for the murder by ‘necklacing’ of Rowan du Preez in October 2012.

Simone Haysom

News | 23 April 2014

Murder in Ceres: gay people are not safe, says activist

Activist Kenith Abrahams, who was a friend of David Olyn, a gay man murdered in Ceres three weeks ago, says gay people in the community do not feel safe.

Pharie Sefali

News | 15 April 2014