Yesterday, the 20 February the case was remanded to today to accommodate another witness’ testimony. Today, the case was remanded to the 1 March due to an electrical failure at the Alexandra Magistrate Court!

We were hoping that the perpetrator would take the stand at the next court appearance but now we will have to wait for the last witness to testify on the 1 March 2012.. You would think that our courts would be equipped with generators and with all the necessary resources needed to prevent any delays in cases especially such a heinous case involving so many children, whose studies and daily lives are being disrupted each time they are called to testify.

‘All 11 male victims managed to identify the alleged rapist during an identity parade after he was caught and handed over to the police by one of his victims in April 2011. The victim, who the alleged perpetrator had attempted to rape in December 2010, recognised his attacker crossing a nearby street and with the help of a group of friends handed over the perpetrator to the FCS Unit at the Alexandra police station Our Alexandra Kidz Clinic Social Workers have counselled the victims ranging in age from 12yrs to 18yrs at the Kidz Clinic in Alex and have assisted with preparing them for their court appearances. The young man who handed the rapist to the police has more than likely saved many more young boys from harm and we commend him for his courage.

The ANC Women’s League led a march to the South Gauteng High Court against sexual harassment and gender-based violence after two women were hassled at a taxi rank. The WMACA team was there with banners and placards.
Justice Minister Jeff Radebe signed a memorandum of understanding at the court, pledging that the justice system would support efforts to curb violence against women and children.
Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said no one could enjoy human rights while women and children lived in fear of potential abuse. The taxi industry in particular needed to join the fight against sexual harassment.
Minister of Women Lulu Xingwana said the march was in support of the women’s movement and gay rights.
The miniskirt march began at Bree Street taxi rank at about 13:30 under the watchful gaze of a heavy police contingent. Mokonyane, Xingwana and one of the Noord Street victims led the march.
The crowd sang “when you strike a woman, you have struck a rock” and chanted “Viva miniskirts, Viva”. The women’s league was joined by the Congress of SA Trade Unions and Women and Men Against Child Abuse for the march.
People watched and shouted their support from the high apartment blocks in the city centre.

The WMACA team marched with the ANC WL and Cosatu to protest the continual violence against women and children especially the girl child who should as our male childern are, be free to wear what they want without intimidation harrassment violence and rape.

PTA News, and Jinine Botha of Beeld reported on the WMACA protest outside the Johannesburg Regional Court for maximum sentencing in the Baby Michael case. -  January 27 2012 at 12Sentencing of a Melinda Marshall and Bradley Connor  convicted of assaulting their baby in 2003 was postponed in the Johannesburg Regional Court on Friday. Magistrate Frans Booyens postponed the matter to March 28 as the social workers’ reports were not ready. Its unacceptable that their report was not ready – they had since Nov 2011!   Prosecutor Carina Coetzee said that Prof Lorna Jacklin would be called to describe the injuries’ effects on the child. Jacklin is a paediatric neurologist, an expert on shaken baby syndrome. One of the doctors who cared for baby Michael at the Avril Elizabeth home would also give evidence about the effects on the child after the abuse. Bradley Connor and Malinda Marshall, now both aged 26, were the parents of Michael – dubbed baby Michael in the media. On November 21 the pair were found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. A charge of attempted murder was dropped. Both are out on bail. Connor appeared in the dock in a blue hoody, while Marshall wore a backless halter-neck top. Baby Michael, who was three months old at the time of the assaults, died a blind quadriplegic at Avril Elizabeth Home on October 16 last year. Non-governmental organisation Women and Men Against Child Abuse (Wamaca) representatives demonstrated at the court on Friday. Spokeswoman Vincentia Dlamini Ngobese said the organisation was disappointed that sentencing was not completed on Friday as expected. The parents’ age at the time of the assaults was no excuse for the crime. “There are other resources available if parents really can’t cope. There are children’s homes, police stations… It’s not an excuse anymore.” Earlier she said the organisation hoped for harsh sentences for Connor and Marshall. “The sentences must be a warning to child abusers that there will be serious consequences for their actions and that consistent justice will prevail for any crimes committed against children.” The children’s rights advocates held up placards bearing Michael’s image in court but lowered them on Booyens’ request. When Marshall left court, Wamaca followed her to her car singing and showing her the posters of baby Michael. As she and her new partner drove off, the posters were stuck onto the car.
Outside court the NGO displayed banners calling for life sentences for Marshall and Connor. Connor waited inside the court for the children’s rights advocates to disperse. One woman held a doll in a cardboard coffin bearing the legend “RIP baby Michael”. Booyens rejected an application to allow cameras into the court but said audio recordings would be permitted. Previously, a medical professional said baby Michael appeared to have been throttled, causing haemorrhaging and blindness. In October 2003, Michael was admitted to hospital with injuries which raised concern that he had been abused. A social worker looked into the case, but recommended that he be returned to his parents. In November 2003, Michael was again admitted to hospital. He was bruised, blind, and brain damaged. His parents – aged 18 at the time – were questioned. Initially Michael’s mother claimed his father had abused him. Later, she retracted this and claimed she alone was responsible for Michael’s injuries. The baby was placed in the care of the Ikhaya Tini Vorster home, where he remained until 2007. Marshall was convicted of assaulting the child in July 15, 2005, after changing her plea to not guilty. Connor received a suspended sentence under a plea bargain in which he admitted to not feeding the baby and to not getting medical treatment for him. In a new trial both were charged with attempted murder in October 2009. Connor applied for a permanent stay of prosecution on the basis of his previous plea bargain. This was denied. The attempted murder charge was later changed to assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Marshall has since married and has three more children, all below the age of nine. – Sapa

Mogomotsi Magome, Algoa FM and The Citizen qouted WMACA in their reports after Tania and I were interviewed while participating in the March – Can you believe that the The National Lotteries Board (NLB) has challenged NGOs and other organisations which protested at its offices on Friday to produce evidence of any corruption or irregularities at the board. Really? This after nearly 200 members of various NGOs marched to its offices to hand in a memorandum about their grievances with the NLB. We have called for a forensic audit into the financial affairs of the body and the awarding of grants to organisations they claim are well-connected with NLB officials. NLB chairman Professor Alfred Nevhutanda received the memorandum. We carried posters calling for transparency in the awarding of the grants to various organisations, saying many had been forced to shut down because of the lack of funding. Tania Otto, operations manager for Women and Men Against Child Abuse, said they had stopped depending on the NLB for funding as the board had proved unreliable. “We raise funds through other means because you cannot rely on the NLB for funding. We know of organisations which have closed down because of lack of funding from the board and we cannot afford to do the same. (We need) a forensic audit of how funding is distributed, as it is clear that many organisation fail to get funding,” said Otto. – Pretoria News

ALGOA FM – Germaine Vogel, advocacy manager for Women and Men against Child Abuse, said the NLB was reluctant to release funds and offered no clarity on how to apply for a grant. “This is public money that is supposed to be handed over to NPOs rendering the bulk of essential social services, which are mostly statutory in nature, like child protection services,” Vogel said. The protesters are claiming that suspended ANC youth league leader Julius Malema was given a NLB allocation for a function just two weeks after he applied. “Quite frankly we have had enough,” said Vogel.
27 January 2012 | CITIZEN REPORTER and SAPA

More than 400 protesters from several non-profit organisations (NPOs) took part in yesterday’s march, disapproving of the way the board allocated grants and its lack of transparency.
Germaine Vogel, advocacy manager for Women and Men against Child Abuse, said the NLB was reluctant to release funds and offered no clarity on how to apply for a grant.
“This is public money that is supposed to be handed over to NPOs rendering the bulk of essential social services, which are mostly statutory in nature, like child protection services,” Vogel said.

At the closed entrance, manned by security guards, the protesters burst into a chorus of “we want the money” and “Awulethi imali yami” songs and chants, blowing vuvuzelas.