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VIR ’N GOEIE SAAK VAN HUL TROLLIE AF
Amanda Roestoff

Entoesiastiese inkopietrollie-renjaers spring weg vir die derde agtereenvolgende aanbieding van die inkopietrollieresies by Clearwater Mall. Die projek ten bate van liefdadigheid is deur die winkelsentrum en Roodepoort Tafelronde aangebied. Foto: NELIUS RADEMAN

Van oor die hele Wes-Rand het inkopietrollie-hardlopers verlede Sondag aangetree om aan die Tafelronde en Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort se jaarlikse inkopietrollieresies deel te neem.
Sowat 38 spanne het pret gehad met vanjaar se tema, “Hollywood Blockbusters”.
Dié projek is vanjaar vir die derde agtereenvolgende keer aangebied.
Geld wat met die projek ingesamel is gaan geskenk word aan Matla-a-bana, ’n kinderregte-organisasie, en die Gateway-gemeenskap.

R14 000 is vanjaar ingesamel, die grootste bedrag nóg sedert die ontstaan van die projek.
Deelnemers het R500 betaal om ’n span van vier lede in te skryf, wat om die beurt met ’n loods ’n roete van 2,8 km deur die parkeerterrein moes voltooi.

Danie Odendaal van die Tafelronde het gesê die winkelsentrum steun die projek elke jaar.
“Individue en sakeondernemings kan hiermee teruggee aan die gemeenskap,” het hy gesê.
“Dit is goed om te sien dat die gemeenskap nie net terugsit nie, maar betrokke raak by geleenthede soos hierdie,” het Lizel van Eeden, bemarkingsbeampte van Matla a Bana, gesê.
Dié organisasie gaan die geld onder meer gebruik om die Krugersdorp- en Roodepoort-polisiekantoor se kindervriendelike geriewe en traumakamers op te knap.

By die wegspringplek het die span van die Honeydew-polisiekantoor se blou ligte en sirene deelnemers in hul pasoppens gehad. Mandlachem het vier spanne ingeskryf, vir die tweede keer met die wentrofee weggestap én ’n derde plek behaal. Hul wenspan was die Ghost Riders, wie se loods, Gloria Taute (20), besoekers byna die skrik op die lyf gejaag het met haar Scream-masker.
Haar neef Aaron, ’n atleet, het die span gelei.“Ek hardloop al só van skooldae af,” het Aaron vertel nadat die span die afstand in minder as sewe en ’n half minute afgelê het.

Horizon Karate Centre het sewe waentjies ingeskryf en die prys vir die beste spangees ontvang, terwyl die Automark-span se uitbeelding van ’n sedanmotor die prys vir oorspronklikheid gekry het.
“Ons is oortuig volgende jaar gaan die trollieresies nóg groter wees,” het Odendaal gesê.

Comfort Packs Gauteng

Orlando FCS members -  Lieutenant Munyai & Warrant Officer Ramudzuli - collecting their packs.

Thank you to the Waterkloof Baptist Church who donated the goods and packed 550 comfort packs. These packs were donated to the SAPS FCS units of Sunnyside, Tembisa and Orlando who will give them to child abuse victims.

 

Trolley Race by kids for kids

Matla A Bana was represented in the annual Lions/Clearwater Mall trolley race, by a group of very excited kids (and for them running with a trolley was not a challenge). Thank you to beauty queens, Kayleigh Victor and Ghene Smith and the drivers, brothers Damien and Calvin De Gouveia for supporting our cause.

MAB GT INCENTIVE AWARDS

Rianette Leibowitz, Catherine Constantindes, Gen Norman Taioe & Lizel van Eden

At the second Incentive Awards for the year, we were proud to honour the following members:

Best Performers:

1st Officer Sergeant S Duister Tsakane FCS:

This member shows exceptional dedication, perseverance and investigation skills. She has had several complicated cases and received good sentences for the accused. Sgt Duister investigated a rape case of a young victim in Reigerpark and exceptional long hours to support the victim and to obtain witness statements. The trial was successful and the suspect sentenced to two life imprisonments and 10 years for indecent assault. Sgt Duister‘s commitment and hard work ensured that justice was served.
2nd - Warrant Officers: P.H. Botha and A.N.J.D. Nel of Sunnyside Cluster FCS:
They were assigned to an armed robbery and rape case. The armed suspect burgled the home and raped one female. The members traced the stolen cell phone in Melville with Sec 205 application and identified the suspect. DNA samples linked him to the rape and his fingerprints linked him to 16 other housebreaking cases. The suspect was denied bail he is an illegal immigrant from Lesotho. The case is on trial in September 2012. These members were thanked by the father of the victim and commended for their quick response and thorough investigation. These two members are always willing to help and are respected by the community and their colleagues.
Outstanding Achievements:

1 st. Constable Molefe of Moroka Cluster FCS:
The member investigated a serial rape case whereby several victims were raped by a suspect who was active around Avalon cemetery, Soweto. The modus operandi in all the cases was almost the same. Victims visited the cemetery where they were approached by one unknown black male; he introduced him as a security guard. He helped to clean the graves and escorted the victims to the railway station. On the way he assaulted the victims, robbed them and raped the female victims. Constable Molefe left no stone unturned to solve the case and ensured a fare trial. This takes exceptional detective skills to investigate, as it is always very traumatic for the victims. He ensured the following sentences:
17 life imprisonment sentences on the charge of rape and additional 162 years.

2nd. Constable Mekgwe Orlando Cluster FCS:
This member investigated several cases of rape, kidnapping and sexual assault. This dedicated detective has ensured many good convictions of life imprisonment and more. She is a persevering person and the community and her commander appreciate her hard work.
Best FCS Commander: Capt Mathikge of Garankuwa Cluster FCS was awarded for showing exceptional leadership skills in the fight against women and child abuse.
Best Unit: Garankuwa Cluster FCS for impacting a whole community through teamwork to ensure several life imprisonment sentences and always promoting the image of the FCS in their Cluster by serving and protecting the community.

Best FCS Officer: Lieutenant M R Ranthago of JHB CENTRAL FCS was assigned to a case of kidnapping, robbery and rape on a 16 year old girl. This girl was on a school excursion when the incident happened, which made this a high profile case. The officer was assigned to the case as it was withdrawn from the court roll. He ensured that the bail was opposed; the victim felt safe and was escorted to court to prevent intimidation. The officer even ensured the victim’s court attendance whilst he was on leave. The three suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment each on rape, five years on kidnapping each and 15 years on robbery. Lieutenant Ranthago has shown exceptional leadership, diligence and was also commended by the Public Prosecutor.
Service Excellence:
This special award is given to individuals who impacts the community and makes a difference in the lives of women and children.

Matla a Bana awarded Deputy National Commissioner Magda Stander for her assistance to ensure the establishment of an MOU between SAPS on a National level and Matla a Bana. She has also been instrumental in several of the country’s initiatives focussing on women and children.

Terry Volkwyn of LEAD SA has also been awarded for the positive impact she is making through LEAD SA, which focuses on rights, responsibilities and taking action to make our country safe for our women, children and other citizens.

Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters: Massmart, Clearwater Mall, Grayston Townlodge, Katherine str City Lodge, LEAP Training, Owitz Communications, Servamus, Alice Art Gallery, Rosebank Union Church, Roman’s Pizza and Rays of Hope.

MAB Projects in Finals

Two projects motivated by the Roman's Pizza Double Up Challenge and done by the community, reached the finals for the challenge. They are the comfort packs project done by Little Miss World (see below) and the comfort packs efforts by Old Mutual and Media 24. Hold thumbs for our two projects!

Miss Snow Queen sets example

Kayleigh Victor started hosting miss Snow Queen in 2011 as part of her charity work after winning Little miss World 2010 in Turkey. Last year the beneficary was CANSA and she raised over R 23 000 for them. She vowed that she would make this a yearly event and this year Miss Snow Queen was held on the 28th of July. She decided that Matla A Bana would be this years Beneficary. She asked all the models to bring along items to make up comfort packs for Matla a Bana. She made up over 350 complete comfort packs and got a lot of loose items aswell. Her modelling friends promised that although the competition is over they would still collect more items to make up even more packs. If you take into considiration that to make 1 pack cost about R 115.00 it amounts to a donation of about R 40,250. What makes this more remarkable is that Kayleigh just had her 12th birthday last month.

Mandela Day - After thought

Three days after celebrating Mandela Day, we are still suffering from blisters, stiff legs and sore backs - but all with big smiles! MAB was extremely blessed this year with great support from some of the biggest companies in South Africa.

Thank you to Media 24, Old Mutual, RamsayMedia for believing in us and what we do. Thank you for the thousands of comfort packs, snack packs and the unexpected container that was donated. Thank you to each and every staff member who packed and every member of the public who donated goods towards these drives. Thank you also to Spar for supporting.

Please know that these efforts will change the lives of thousands of abused children!

Mandela Day - Media 24

Staff at Media 24 offices nationwide and On the Dot packed 6000 snack packs for child abuse victims on Mandela Day. These packs were received by Matla A Bana, who handed it over to the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units. 

One great surprise of the day was the donation of a container to be used as an medical examination room for rape victims at West Fleur Hospital in Atlantis. 

MANDELA DAY - Old Mutual

OLD MUTUAL EMPLOYEES GIVE 67 MINUTES FOR MADIBA IN 2012!

Wednesday 18th July 2012. Presentation Room, Old Mutual Business School, Mutual Park, Pinelands, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. OLD MUTUAL EMPLOYEES GIVE 67 MINUTES FOR MADIBA IN 2012! Old Mutual Employees give 67 minutes of their time in honour of Nelson Mandela who celebrated his 94th birthday today, Wednesday 18th July 2012 at Mutual Park in Pinelands near Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Employees spent time making, decorating, painting and packing special comfort packs for girls between the ages of 4 - 8 and 9 - 12 who have been abused. These comfort packs are given to Non Government Organization (NGO) Matla A Bana - A Voice Against Abuse. Matla A Bana is the only legally affiliated NGO to the South African Police Service who has a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU). Old Mutual Employees also spent time making emergency, waterproof sleeping bags for homeless and destitute people. The bags are made from newspaper and plastic. The day's events were hosted by The Old Mutual Foundation. Special Guests attending were Monique Strydom from Matla A Bana and Brigadier Joseph Makhura from the SAPS along with Helene Africa from Old Mutual.
PICTURE: MARK WESSELS. 18/07/2012. +27 (0)21 551 5527. +27 (0)78 222 8777.

Mandela Day - RamsayMedia

RamsayMedia’s ’67 minutes’ to benefit boy rape survivors

It’s hard to comprehend that an increasing number of rape survivors are boys under the age of 10. Yet the ordeal these youngsters have been through was top of mind for RamsayMedia staff when they put together comfort bags for Matla a Bana: A Voice against Child Abuse, for Mandela Day.

The NGO asked the media house to focus on this group when they bag facecloths, toothpaste and brushes, pencils and notebooks, juice, biscuits, underwear, balls – and teddy bears; some of the items intended to provide comfort to the young recipients as they go through the bewildering process of reporting the rape.

“The requests that we are getting from the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units show that the rape of young boys is becoming more of a problem every year,” commented Monique Strydom, national manager of Matla a Bana. “In one area the number is as high as 40%. What is even more shocking is that the average age of the perpetrator is coming down – at one of the units it is 12 years old, which is frightening!”

It is the third year RamsayMedia has adopted Matla a Bana for its Mandela Day initiative. Teams at the Cape Town and Sandton offices spent their ’67 minutes for Mandela Day’ assembling 275 packs for boys aged 4 – 8 and 9 – 12, which were handed over to Matla a Bana and SAPS representatives on Friday, 13 July.

The packs are a real comfort to the children and make it easier for them to open up to police about what they had gone through, said Strydom.

The staff raised almost R4 000 – an amount matched by the company – to buy the items for the comfort packs. The underwear was once again donated by Easywear, which has supported the initiative for the past three years.

TMO Reporter
Media Mecca

THANK YOU!

A very bit thank you to all the individuals and companies who so generously collected and donated items for our comfort pack project. We would not have made the target without you! A very special thank you to Marlene Mostert, who mobilised the whole Western Cape!

Matla a Bana would like to thank Massmart Holdings for the Donation of three fridges and playroom equipment to the value of R17 984.58. This donation will be used to equip the SAPS Provincial Office of the FCS unit in Gauteng and to create child-friendly reporting rooms at the Sunnyside FCS in Pretoria and the Krugersdorp FCS unit on the West Rand.

Watch this space for more news...! 

Workshop - Why men rape babies

On 21 June,  MAB  hosted a workshop with the FCS detectives in Gauteng on why men rape babies. Thirty FCS delegates attended and the feedback was very positive!!

Matla aBana would like to thank Dr Amelia Kleijn a Registered Social Worker for sharing her Research with our Organisation!  Dr Amelia’s research was conducted with “baby rapists” or incarcerated men serving long sentences for the rape of children under the age of three years. The focus of the study were the men’s psychosocial histories and the possible factors in their lives that enabled them to act so violently and brutally towards particularly young children. To the best of her knowledge, her study is the first of its kind.

We would like to thank Eversheds International for your generous sponsorship of an immaculate venue and scrumptious snacks!