From darkness into light…

Children's toys at the Child Protection Unit, Daveyton SA Police Station, Johannesburg. Statistics estimate that in South Africa, a child is raped every twenty-four minutes.

Today I have learnt about a J88 form.

It is a medical report completed by a doctor or medical attendant, of an alleged offence in cases of rape, sexual and physical abuse. The form documents a complete physical examination including gynecological and anal examination and male genitalia. On the form are a number of schematic drawings of a person’s body where the doctor has to indicate location and manner of injury. It is a sobering form to contemplate.

We are standing in Daveyton, a suburb in the far east of Johannesburg. At the Daveyton police station, there is a child-friendly unit which was provided by funding from the Old Mutual Foundation. (A similar unit was also funded in Kraaifontein, Cape Town). These units offer a safe, non-threatening environment where children involved in cases of rape, physical and sexual abuse can be interviewed by members of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS),  a special unit of the South African Police Service SAPS.

Lieutenant Colonel Katie Segatta, Krugersdorp FCS Unit, SA Police, tells us about her work and some of the cases she's dealt with. She has been with the SAPS for 16 years. "I couldn't possibly think of doing anything else," she says, "this work is my passion." 

Inside the unit, the walls are painted a gentle peach colour and have children’s murals of Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger and Piglet. Off the entrance area is a separate bedroom with child-sized chairs and table, colouring books, crayons and loads of teddies and soft toys. We are talking with Lieutenant-Colonel Katie Segatta, of the Krugesdorp FCS Unit. She has recently completed a specialized forensic training course which covers Clinical Forensic Medical Examination and Expert Witnessing. This was organised by Matla a Bana (which means a voice against child abuse) and also funded by the Old Mutual Foundation.


This specialized training is attended by doctors, forensic nurses, members of the FCS Police Unit and social workers and has a twofold purpose. It’s designed to help 1) police personnel such as Katie gain a better understanding of the medical terminology used in the J88 form and the implications of those observations, 2) medical personnel gain a better understanding of the Child Care Act and the legal requirements that police are required to fulfill for prosecution in such cases.


What was the impact of this training, I ask Katie? She explains that by better understanding the medical report, she could better prepare for her interview with the child victims, thereby obtaining solid evidence leading to prosecution.  In fact, she explains, she’s just had a case where the perpetrator, a police officer, had admitted guilt without having to go to trial, of raping his own granddaughter (10 years old), because of the overwhelming evidence gathered from Katie’s interview with the victim. It’s hard to get my head around these details.


Lieutenant Colonel Heila Joubert, Gauteng Provincial Coordinator of FCS Units, SAPS sits in the child friendly interview room at Daveyton Police Station. The Old Mutual Foundation funded Matla a Bana R100 000 which led towards the creation of this unit and another in Kraaifontein, Cape Town

Matla a Bana representative, Liesel van Eden (right) talks with Lt-Colonel Heila Joubert, FCS Unit, SAPS outside the child friendly unit, Daveyton Police Station.

I’m struck by the complete dedication and passion of these FCS police in contrast with the morass of legal technicalities through which they have to wade. “The worst part of this job,” says Katie, “is seeing people who we know are guilty, get off just because the children in some of these cases are too young (2-3 yrs) to testify."

"How do you cope?" I ask Katie and some of her fellow colleagues standing around. There's a second of silence before someone sort of laughs, makes light of it with a joke, “Ag, we have a lapa with some drinks… "

Later we’re in the car on the way to our last project for this leg of the road trip. We’re all feeling a bit subdued, Mark and Tim are both fathers with young kids and it's a while before I can shake off those clinical J88 drawings.  

We’re finally heading into Soweto (an acronym for South Western Township for those who may not know) - the largest township in South Africa, the scene of such pivotal struggle and painful turmoil during apartheid years, and also the site of Nelson Mandela's first house, No. 8115 Vilikazi St, Orlando West where we are sitting having lunch.

Now it’s pretty much a tourist attraction with the entire street being taken up with tourists, curio tables (and opportunistic young lads offering you rap poems or parking). It was frustrating having so little time, as there was so much that we unable to see, including the Hector Pieterson memorial.

Nelson Mandela's house in which he lived from 1946 - 1962 has become a major tourist attraction.
Mandela returned to this house after his release from prison in 1990, despite suggestions from government officials that he find a safer home. At a 1990 rally welcoming him home to Soweto his opening words were, "I have come home at last." However, after 11 days back at the house he moved out again. He later wrote in his autobiography: That night I returned with Winnie to No. 8115 in Orlando West. It was only then that I knew in my heart I had left prison. For me No. 8115 was the centre point of my world, the place marked with an X in my mental geography.

After lunch, our last project is Melodi Music Trust, situated in St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. It's a township youth program offering classical musical training.  

As soon as we arrive at the church, Tim and Mark instantly disappear. By now I recognize this about them, if a project has that ‘x’ ingredient, a certain zing in the air, they can’t help themselves and hustle off to start shooting and filming. Mind you, I’m not far behind them! There are about 30-40 school kids milling around, all dressed in black with their smart Melodi Music Trust tops on.

There is noise everywhere - students are chattering, laughing excitedly, it’s the last day of school-term, kids are fetching instruments, some of practicing already and the air is filled with a joyous cacophony of musical instruments tuning, flutes fluting, horns tooting, a double bass goes walking past, Mark opens a door onto young lad practicing his trumpet in the bathroom...

“The children have outgrown the space in this old church house where they practice,” explains Nimrod Moloto, director of the Melodi Music Trust. Founded in 2002, Melodi’s purpose is to provide children in and around Soweto with an opportunity to read, write and play music.

The Old Mutual Foundation invested R80 000 funding in purchasing musical instruments for the orchestral ensemble group. Melodi has grown from strength to strength with professional recitals in and around Johannesburg, they've twice performed at Baroque in the Bush (a weekend in Kruger Park with the Jhb Festival Orchestra) and they’ve also toured Europe, playing at The Hague Conservatoire and also in Amsterdam, Manchester and London.



Sitting on a pew in the church, listening to Nimrod guide the children through a piece that they’re playing for us. Every now and then he stops, make the cellos repeat a section, then the group moves on again. When Nimrod conducts the group, he reminds me of a gazelle or a ballet dancer, his arms and hands dance so gracefully, there is so much passion that is evident.

The children are clear-faced, focused and totally engaged in playing. I get the same feeling of ‘healthiness’ that I felt at the sailing academy in Grassy Park (Read Christmas in Cape Town). This is how one changes children’s lives, I think. Even if they don’t go on to pursue music full-time, they will have this resource built into them for life, an additional strength and discipline that will help them onwards. 

Nimrod Moloto, Director of Melodi Music Trust, based in Pimville, Soweto, Johannesburg.

Zinhle Tshabalala (20) has been playing with Melodi since 2002. She chose to play the clarinet because, "it suits my personality." she says. In 2007, she flew to London, "my first time ever in a plane." The thing that overwhelmed her the most was how interested everyone was to hear them play. Zinhle is now studying Economics at University. She will never stop playing her music, she tells me.

Young Mpho Magabane (14) strikes a pose for Mark with his french horn. He's been playing since he was 10 years old, "... because it's been a friend to me," he says, "It's just nice to always have the opportunity to play."

Shafts of late afternoon sunlight are glancing through the stained glass windows. It’s been a long trip and I close my eyes, for a moment I’m transported into and away to that place only music can take you.  I open them again, after a few seconds or perhaps an age, and there’s a vague sense of surprise when I realize that I’m in Soweto. Soweto, can that really be? Strangely my eyes are filled with tears and I’m reminded of the complexity of our human souls. I had expected to be emotional at the Child Care Unit this morning, but instead, in a little sanctuary in Soweto, I discover there are no defences against beauty.

I shake myself back into myself, into this world. Its early evening and time for us to go. Children are leaving the church. It’s become dark outside and the temperature has plummeted, Mark and Tim bundle into scarves, jackets. The streets of Soweto are noisy with people streaming home from work, a line of car tail-lights glows red into the distance. Dogs are barking and the pungent smell of anthracite fills the night air...