Crime

Commission finds “serious inefficiencies” in Khayelitsha policing

The Commission of Inquiry into Policing in Khayelitsha has identified “serious, overlapping (policing) inefficiencies”.

Daneel Knoetze

News | 25 August 2014

Marikana public violence accused appear in court

17 people appeared at Athlone Magistrate Court on 25 August on charges of public violence related to the Marikana informal settlement evictions last week. The accused faced charges ranging from stoning police vehicles and private cars to arson, including torching a car, setting alight a shop and looting.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 25 August 2014

Angy Peter case frustrated by sick detective constable

Whispers of disbelief and frustration broke the silence in the courtroom as Judge Robert Henney announced that detective constable Stanford Muthian had called in sick for the second time in the last week. Muthian of Mfuleni police station headed the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of Rowan du Preez.

Barbara Maregele

News | 22 August 2014

Cosatu holds conference on crime

On 22 August in the Cape Town City Hall, Cosatu convened an anti-crime conference in response to desperate pleas from communities asking for a more effective response to crime.

Mary-Anne Gontsana

News | 22 August 2014

Daylight robbery at Nyanga school

On 20 August at Walter Teka Primary School in Nyanga, an official from the Department of Education in Western Cape became a victim of a crime while he visited the school on official duties. The incident occurred in front of schoolchildren.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 21 August 2014

Crucial evidence missing from police docket

The handwritten notes made by the three police officers who claim they recorded Rowan du Preez’s dying declaration “were nowhere to be found” in the investigating docket.

Barbara Maregele

News | 21 August 2014

Angy Peter case: defence questions police docket

Defence attorney William King has questioned the authenticity of the police docket handed to the court in the trial of Angy Peter and others.

Barbara Maregele

News | 20 August 2014

Peter trial: Constable’s competence called into question

Defence attorney William King expressed concern yesterday at the lack of memory and of competency of the detective constable who led investigations into the kidnapping and murder of Rowan du Preez.

Barbara Maregele

News | 19 August 2014

Weekend crime sweep in Delft

Bad street lighting, poor numbering of streets and bushes affect policing in Delft, according to Brigadier Hendrik Jansen, who is the Acting Cluster Commander.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 18 August 2014

Mfuleni constable too sick to testify in Peter case

The case against activist Angy Peter and four others including her husband was postponed on 14 August as the Mfuleni detective constable was “too sick” to testify.

Barbara Maregele

Brief | 15 August 2014

Angy Peter trial: Police sergeant dismisses claims by State’s eyewitness

On 12 August, police sergeant Lesley Freeman, who arrested two of the four accused of murdering Rowan du Preez, dismissed several claims made by the State’s eyewitness.

Barbara Maregele

News | 13 August 2014

Police detective was not trained to probe murder

The detective constable who headed the investigation into the case where activist Angy Peter and four others are accused of killing Rowan du Preez had no formal detective training at the time.

Barbara Maregele

News | 12 August 2014

Fourth accused in Peter trial takes the stand

One of the four people accused of murdering Rowan du Preez nearly two years ago believes he was “falsely implicated” in the matter by his ex-girlfriend after their relationship ended on a bad note.

Barbara Maregele

News | 11 August 2014

Gugulethu residents go on 24-hour patrol

Residents of ward 44 in Gugulethu have taken matters in their own hands to combat crime in the area. About 122 volunteers have signed up to do community policing work, which encompasses patrolling the area 24-hours a day, checking sewage problems and collecting rubbish material. The group has divided itself into three shifts, working around the clock from 7am.

Johnnie Isaac

News | 11 August 2014

Alibi belatedly corroborated for co-accused in Angy Peter case

The testimony of a Khayelitsha taxi driver corroborating the alibi of Azola Diyamani on the night of murder victim Rowan du Preez’s assault is “shocking” and “defies any logic”, prosecutor Phistus Pelesa told the court on Thursday, 7 August. This follows the testimony of Monde Cofa, who told the court he had been in possession of the taxi for the entire weekend in question.

Barbara Maregele

News | 8 August 2014

Angy Peter trial co-accused also claims he was framed

The man accused of hitting murder victim Rowan du Preez multiple times with a golf stick the night before he was found severely burned, told the court he was at home watching movies at the time.

Barbara Maregele

News | 7 August 2014