Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Day 16: 10 December - Bonani Update

I just wanted to give a quick update about Bonani. Because many of you followed up and made calls to various people this case has been properly investigated. Claire Jones contacted someone at the DA and they investigated the case by looking at the CCTV camera footage. As i mentioned in the blog, they saw that Bonani was not without fault. But as i said in the blog, it still does not justify him getting beaten like that, much less tear gassed and doused with water. They also saw some of Bonani's injuries could have come from a random drunk lady who was involved in the scene. They are going to give the one security officer in charge an interview with a polygraph to see if he is telling the truth about his account of what happened. I just wanted to make "right" and say that the CCID may not be responsible for 100% of the injuries. However, he was in fact tear gassed and soaking wet with water and that had to come from somewhere so they are not all together innocent either. Plus this type of violence is a regular occurrence between the security guards and the kids, and it has to be stopped! Thank you so much for your support!! This case might not have been investigated so thoroughly had you not have made calls and emails! I will keep you updated on any information i get. Thanks!

4 comments:

Jo said...

Thank you Lord, at-least somethings being done...

Beth said...

I am so glad that it is being investigated. Bonani needs to receive a punishment for whatever he did, but it needs to be a fair and acceptable punishment! Thanks to all of you who were able to help Ryan bring awareness to this problem.

Sandra said...

Hi Ryan,
Sorry I am only now reading your blog when everything is over (bit IT challenged!) Thanks for doing such a wonderful job of raising awareness. I love your 365 days message.

For some time now the Western Cape Street Children's Forum has wanted to set up a forum for everyone working with the hard-to-reach kids like Bonani (who have been through every "helping" programme and don't buy into what they offer). We need to all put our heads together and come up with innovative ways to help these children. Hopefully this will happen in early 2009, and I hope you will join and share your experience. I believe that we can and must all work together - the children's lives are far more important than organisations and individual egos.
Please send me your e-mail address.
Sandra Morreira
Homestead

Claire Holtak said...

Thanks Ryan. Its all part of raising awareness and partnering with the groups and political parties who can bring lasting macro level change in these areas.

I hope that the awareness you have brought can start a groundswell of people who can get behind a lobby for change in legislation and let the politicians who make the laws know how the people feel! They'll be more open to hearing us around election time - for sure. Thanks for all you have done Ryan, grace to it!