Court sentences man to 20 years in day care toddler rape case
A man found guilty of raping a three-year-old girl was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the High Court in Johannesburg, according to a report. Beeld reported that Judge George Maluleke on Tuesday rejected argument from Mathys Van Zyl’s lawyer that it was less serious for an adult to rape a child with his fingers
Problems with phone lines
We are currently experiencing problems with our phone lines. Should you need to contact the Saartjie Baartman Centre, please try the following numbers: 021 633 1253 / 5287, 021 637 4463 / 4483 / 3487 or 021 638 4152. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused by this
Author donates portion of proceeds from sale of book to Centre
Suzanne Franco, author of Exile Child has kindly agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book to the Saartjie Baartman Centre. Exile Child – The Story Torn from her South African tribe by Dutch settlers, sold as a slave, trapped in a world of debauchery and trickery, humiliated whilst
Comment on an aspect of the Zuma rape trial
Letter to the Cape Argus, printed 13 March 2006 We at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children would like to voice our support for all the South African organisations and individuals who are standing up for and defending the rights of the complainant in the Zuma rape trial. In particular we support the
Zuma Opinion: What Zuma won and South Africa lost
Colleen Lowe Morna 15 May 2006 It is ironic that as South Africans celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Constitution last week [8 May], a young woman who dared to lay a charge of rape against the man who would be president prepared to surrender that most basic of rights: her citizenship. Former deputy president
Outcomes and Outrage – Reflecting on the jacob zuma verdict
Opinions on the Zuma rape trial by Liepollo Lebohang Pheko 22 May 2006 The past few weeks have been characterised by heated debate and unfettered anticipation about the verdict of the Zuma rape trial. The matter has polarised the nation; not only across gender lines but also across class, ethnic and political lines. Having been
Disciplining our children
In a recent edition of You Magazine (23 February 2006), there was an article titled “Mom, Dad, you can’t hit me” about the possibility of smacking one’s child becoming illegal in South Africa (it already is in our schools). Following on from that article, there was a whole page of letters from irate parents, saying
365 days of action to end gender violence
An important conference was held in South Africa from the 3-5 May 2006. A follow up to the Sixteen Days of Activism campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December, the conference was the first attempt to stretch this campaign into a structured year-long campaign with tangible outcomes that can be used to measure
Infinite Woman at the Saartjie Baartman Centre
Infinite Woman, a Cape Town-based learning and networking forum for women in business and professional women, hosted a function at the Saartjie Baartman Centre on 27 July 2006 to raise awareness of women and child abuse among its members. Patricia de Lille, at the Centre in her personal capacity, spoke inspiringly and forcefully, condemning the
The healing power of dance
Dance has always been a way for people to express themselves. Many use dance for exercise as well. Such is the case with belly dancing, long known for increasing suppleness and toning stomachs. At the Saartjie Baartman Centre, belly dancing is being used to heal, helping women and children who have been abused learn to
