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/ 3 July 2008

Siya, a 15-year-old prison commodity

“All the people inside wanted to eat him like they did. I don’t know how many men [raped him], but it was messy.” A formidable, broad woman, Ma Khambule* allows her eyes to water just a little as she recounts the pain of discovering that her 15-year-old son, Siya*, was allegedly raped “many, many times” […]

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/ 6 May 2008

Court opens door for Beuthin’s bail

The Johannesburg High Court has opened the way for former bouncer Gary Beuthin to be freed on bail. The court set aside the Correctional Services Department’s decision to revoke Beuthin’s parole. It also ordered that he be transferred ”with immediate effect” to Johannesburg prison’s Medium A section for awaiting trial prisoners.

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/ 4 April 2008

Shaik back in hospital for tests, says brother

Convicted businessman Schabir Shaik is undergoing tests at a Durban hospital to determine the extent of organ damage, if any, caused by persistent problems with high blood pressure, his brother said on Friday. Mo Shaik said: ”He is undergoing tests in terms of organ damage. It’s a case of seeing what there is and what to do about it.”

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/ 20 February 2008

R10-billion for police, prosecutors

Over R10-billion will be spent on strengthening the police force and judiciary over the next three years, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said in his budget speech on Wednesday. There would be more than 200 000 police officers by the end of March 2011, up 22% from the 163 000 police officers in 2006/07.

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/ 18 February 2008

All eyes on Manuel ahead of Budget

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s national budget speech on Wednesday is even more keenly anticipated this year in view of the electricity crisis and its anticipated negative effects on the economy, and Democratic Alliance spokesperson Kobus Marais has urged Manuel to tackle the crisis head-on.

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/ 7 December 2007

Pollsmoor whistle-blower gets his job back

The Cape Town Labour Court has ordered that whistle-blowing prison doctor Paul Theron get his job in Pollsmoor back. He was suspended after telling the Inspecting Judge of Prisons and a parliamentary committee about what he said was an acute healthcare crisis at Pollsmoor, including chronic understaffing and lack of disease control.

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/ 23 November 2007

Prison escapee dies in shoot-out

A Qalakabusha prison escapee died on Friday morning after a shoot-out with law enforcement officials, KwaZulu-Natal police said. Police spokesperson Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said the incident took place at 2am in Mtubatuba. Xolani Ngobese and nine other convicted criminals escaped from the prison in northern KwaZulu-Natal on August 4 this year.

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/ 22 November 2007

Beuthin’s parole to be revoked

The parole of former bouncer Gary Beuthin is to be revoked following his re-arrest in connection with an assault case, the Department of Correctional Services said on Thursday. Correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the department was in the process of revoking his parole conditions.

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/ 17 November 2007

UCT professor killed for his bag in Rondebosch

A University of Cape Town (UCT) commercial law professor was stabbed to death during a robbery in Rondebosch on Friday, Western Cape police said. Police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana said the professor was walking down Roslyn Road between 6pm and 6.30pm on Friday evening. He was then approached by two men who tried to grab his bag.

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/ 16 November 2007

It’s hard to visit Shaik, family complains

Schabir Shaik’s wife is allowed to visit her husband once a week in hospital, while other family members need to go through ”red tape” at the Department of Correctional Services to be allowed to visit Shaik, the family said on Friday. Yunus Shaik was speaking after his brother suffered a mild stroke and was admitted to hospital in Durban.

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/ 17 October 2007

Union warns of chaos in prisons

The Public Servants’ Association of South Africa said on Wednesday that it foresaw chaos in the country’s prisons on weekends following failure of the Department of Correctional Services to compensate its employees who work on Saturdays and Sundays. Correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the matter was still under discussion.

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/ 10 October 2007

Union concerned about exodus of police in N Cape

The exodus of police officers out of the Northern Cape must be addressed, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the province said on Wednesday. Popcru provincial secretary Glisson Itebogeng said union members had expressed their dismay and concern over the ”massive transfer of members” who leave the province after being employed or promoted.