1.3 Personal feelings, community norms, values and social pressure  (Page 2/2)

The accused testified that he is a social drinker and that, on the night in question, he was out with some friends. He went dancing at a local club. However, he denied that he had had a firearm in his possession or that he had robbed anyone.

Thereafter the wife of the accused testified that she did not believe that 11 rapes were possible in one night. She testified that her husband is the breadwinner and that he cared well for her and the children. She further testified that she had been at home on the evening in question and that she had been woken by the sound of her husband’s voice. He had a friend with him.

Insp. Van Rooyen testified that the plaintiffs, two scholars, stopped at a set of traffic lights in the early hours of the morning. The accused approached them and asked for a lift. He directed them to a farm outside the town and allegedly even mentioned that they had made a mistake and should not give strangers lifts. On the farm he allegedly told them that he had a knife and a firearm, but later retracted that, saying that he had just been joking.

On a question from the lawyer for the accused on why two schoolgirls were out in the streets at approximately 02:00 on a school night, Insp. Van Rooyen replied that they had been to a club that night and had taken two friends home to Somerset West afterwards. She testified that the girls had apparently been out with their parents’ permission. The plaintiffs had made a distress call from one of their cell phones when the accused had left them alone for the second time. A helicopter was used in the search afterwards.

-Translation of report in Eikestadnuus , 9 November 2001 –

Report 3

Stellenbosch men killed in gangsters’ ambush

Messrs Gavin (Tand) Alexander (25) and a friend, Cameron (Lappe) Abrahams (17) were fatally shot on Thursday night at about 22:30 in what appears to have been an ambush by gangsters.

The deceased, who were allegedly on their way to a shebeen, were apparently changing a flat tyre when, according to the police, they were approached by gangsters who wanted to hijack their car.

Messrs Gavin (Tand) Alexander (25) and a friend, Cameron (Lappe) Abrahams (17) were fatally shot on Thursday night at about 22:30 in what appears to have been an ambush by gangsters.

He always displayed a positive attitude towards his teammates and management. Management will always remember him as a loyal and powerful player. The club wishes to commiserate with his family and all his rugby friends,” he concluded.

- Translation of report in Eikestadnuus , 23 November 2001 -

Activity 3:

To discuss a number of news reports

[lo 1.4]

Group discussion

Discuss the following aspects in your groups:

Reports 1 and 2

• Is casual dating, steady relationships or rape being referred to here?

• Are scholars referred to in these reports?

• What violations are referred to in these reports?

• Approximately how many people or institutions are affected by these violations?

• What is the role of the children’s parents in this situation?

• What is the right or wrong behaviour of the children in the particular situations?

• What is the role of the police in the situation?

• Is HIV/AIDS - in either of the two types of incidents described above – a possible threat?

• What could young people do in similar situations to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS?

• When a person has been raped, it is possible that he/she has contracted a sexually transmitted disease or HIV/AIDS. What should the victim do about this problem?

• How would you have acted in these situations?

• What do you think is the right action to take in such a situation?

• Are rapists always unknown to their victims?

• Are people who act lawlessly altogether evil, or do they also have good qualities?

• Can a person with criminal tendencies be easily distinguished?

Share incidents when you or a friend experienced similar or other dangerous situations with the rest of the class.

Report 3

• Identify at least one problem that is related to violence.

• Describe at least three ways in which this problem could be addressed and state what the consequences of the offence are.

Assessment