Action Society has had many challenging stories to tell in 2023, but the team prioritises celebrating the wins. “Some of the battles felt like there would be no possibility of a victory, but there have been triumphs and strides in the right direction in various cases, and we want to kick 2023’s #16DaysOfActivism off with that. Celebrating the wins keeps hope alive for those still caught up in the battle for justice,” says Ian Cameron, Director of Community Safety at Action Society.
Guilty verdicts!
Chevonne Rusch’s mother and stepfather guilty:
On 17 November 2023, Stefan van Niekerk and Rochelle Botha were found guilty of murdering two-year-old Chevonne Rusch in the Johannesburg High Court. Both were also found guilty of rape involving another minor child. They were convicted of various other charges as well, including attempted murder, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect.
Chevonne was only two years old when she was beaten to death last year. A pathologist assigned to the case determined that the cause of her death was bleeding on the brain and revealed that her body was covered in 49 bruises.
Convicted child rapist removed from position as Mayor:
Convicted child rapist Jeffrey Donson was suspended from his position as Mayor of the Kannaland Municipality in a decision made by his own party, the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (Icosa), of which he is also the president. Action Society placed a great deal of pressure on Icosa and the local municipality to remove Donson, and we stand by our mantra of no perpetrators in power. Removing Donson should send a strong message to all government officials with a criminal history.
Gerhard Ackerman:
On 25 April 2023, child sex abuse kingpin Gerhard Ackerman was found guilty on hundreds of charges, including rape, sexual exploitation of children, human trafficking, sexual grooming and the possession of child pornography.
Raymond Kelly, one of Ackerman’s co-conspirators, was sentenced to 34 years in prison for the murders of Brendon de Wee and Griet Plaatjes and the severe abuse of his girlfriend, Regina Saayman. Kelly’s court case lasted very long as he employed delaying tactics and continued to lie during the proceedings.
Action Society won against GBV with two convictions:
On 31 March 2023, Yamkela Sikhafungana’s attacker was found guilty and sentenced for severely beating her in July 2022. Her then-boyfriend, Silulami Madikizela, locked her up and attacked her because she had visited a friend’s place and wanted to stay longer. He burnt her clothes and belongings and pushed her outside the shack in her underwear after beating her.
Madikizela was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment or a R3 000 fine. Furthermore, an additional 12 months of direct imprisonment, suspended for five years, were added.
In another case, Shannon Addeman‘s biological father was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to 570 hours of community service in Mitchells Plain.
Justice in Chantal Makwena case, more than three years after brutal rape and murder
More than three and a half years after the horrifying rape and murder of five-year-old Chantal Makwena, her murderer-rapist finally faced the consequences of his gruesome actions. Ricardo Grysman was found guilty in the rape case of his first victim and guilty of both raping and murdering Chantal – lovingly known as “Pienk Meisie”. He was charged on 9 February 2023.
“There is still much work to be done, but we are extremely proud of what our team has achieved. We will continue to fight for the voiceless victims in our communities and bring justice to the women and children who have been stripped of their dignity,” said Cameron.
