An interesting feature of post-1994 politics is the emergence of men who fight violence against women. From "everyday hero" campaigns to conferences, pledges and marches, something new is going down. Could this be the solution to violence against women? Some…
When Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete announced the need to "deal with crime the way a bulldog deals with a bone", he could not have envisaged a more suitably placed or aptly named candidate as Bulldog Rathokolo. Named for…
Thus is the story of "Johanna Smit", sentenced in 1997 to 20 years for the murder of her abusive husband. Johanna met her second husband "Thinus" through a magazine advertisement. Within four months of meeting for the first time, they…
The "in-between" space adolescent girls have in South African society places them in a uniquely vulnerable position. Possessing neither the innocent appeal of children nor the life experience of adults, they frequently fall between the cracks in the criminal justice…
"God made men and women equal and Smith and Wesson makes damn sure it stays that way". A clear warning – even a call to arms – this slogan appeared on posters pasted up in Yeoville during the early 1990's…
Last week Solomon Mhlongo was sentenced to an effective 23 years in prison for the murder of his common-law wife Elizabeth and five-year old daughter Tlaleng. Two years earlier he emptied a magazine of bullets into Elizabeth and Tlaleng, stopped…