GOOD Statement by Thyrone Williams, GOOD Saldanha Bay Councillor and West Coast Regional Organiser:
The GOOD Party is currently investigating the recent comments made by Saldanha Bay PR Councillor Veronique ‘Nnopi’ Pretorius regarding the outcome of the Joshlin Smith trial.
As a party, we have complete respect for the justice system and believe that the lengthy sentences handed down to the three accused are appropriate in light of the guilty verdicts. A life sentence each for human trafficking and an additional 10 years for kidnapping, imposed on the child’s mother and her accomplices, must serve as a clear deterrent to all perpetrators of violence against women and children.
It cannot be forgotten that Joshlin Smith remains missing. Those convicted of her disappearance have done nothing to assist in locating her, and this continued silence adds to the profound pain endured by her family and community.
The video circulating on social media was captured by IOL, during which Councillor Pretorius was approached for comment. As a Diazville resident, a regular trial attendee, and one of the community members involved in the original search for Joshlin, Pretorius has been deeply immersed in this tragedy. Her comments, though deeply unfortunate and ill-timed, stem from her view that the community of Diazville continues to suffer from neglect, poverty, and high levels of crime, conditions under which many children remain vulnerable.
Councillor Pretorius has expressed concern that Joshlin may not be the first child to have disappeared from the area and believes a broader criminal element may be involved. When she stated she was “disappointed in the verdict,” she intended to convey her belief that justice remains incomplete and that more needs to be done to dismantle systemic threats to the safety of children in her community.
Nevertheless, the GOOD Party distances itself from any statement that could undermine the gravity of the crimes committed or the importance of justice being served. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to upholding the rights of every child and to the ongoing fight against gender-based violence.
We remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice, safety, and dignity for all South Africans, especially our children.
GOOD Manifesto on Disaster Management: Supporting effective disaster management strategies.
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Fun South African Fact: South African Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the world’s first heart transplant on 3 December 1967 at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. The groundbreaking surgery was carried out on Louis Washkansky and Dr. Barnard was assisted by a large and exceptional team of surgeons, nurses and technicians. One of Dr. Barnard’s assistants was Hamilton Naki, a black laboratory assistant who had worked previously as a gardener and went on to work in the animal laboratory at the University of Cape Town. He had assisted Dr Barnard with research leading to the transplant. In the apartheid days, Naki had no access to higher education due to his race. Despite being unable to access formal training, he learned from and assisted university researchers and went on to do unbelievable work.
Steel Cut Toe
Fun South African Fact: The Karoo region in the Western Cape is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. In fact, it is estimated that some 80% of the mammalian fossils found to date were found in the Karoo.