Crime – Gingersnaps

Living a Life on Purpose

March 3, 2019March 27, 2019https://gingersnaps.wordpress.com1 Comment

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

Kurt and I had the opportunity to listen to a former prison gang member address an audience of community leaders, parents and teachers. Here is his story…

A young boy growing up in the Cape Flats of Capetown, South Africa, Welcome Witbooi was a “Straight A” student in school. His dad was a successful business man that put high expectations on his son.

Because of his intellect, academic drive and small stature, he was bullied by the other students in school. When he went home to what should be a place of safety, love and encouragement, his father would tell Welcome he could do better. What is better than straight A’s?

Because of his low self esteem and his father’s emotional abuse, Welcome was sought out by a street gang. Gangs sit and observe the community. They have plenty of time on their hands. So they sit. They observe. They wait. And when the time is right, they pounce. They are keen to know which children are seeking acceptance and are ready and willing to step in and offer it.

And so it began for Welcome. At 14-years old, a young man from a gang called, The Firm, drove up in a canary yellow BMW and invited Welcome in. He befriended Welcome offering him time, money and acceptance. Welcome was hooked. He did what he was told to do in order to join the gang. It started with robbery. Then progressed. But he was now part of a group who accepted him.

At 17 years old, Welcome was given his first firearm. It was time to gain more respect from his gang. This meant he must take the life of an innocent person. Before he could, he and seven other gang members were caught in the midst of a home invasion (robbery and attempted murder). The gang convinced Welcome that because he was the only one under the age of 18, he must take the fall. The courts would never give him more than two years. Welcome believed them. The judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison.

His cocky attitude led him to believe that this was no big deal. His gang family would be there to visit. To get him out. Not once did anybody show up. He was on his own.

Being in a South African prison is very dangerous. They are run by numbers gangs. I don’t just mean the gangs are prevalent. I mean they run the South African prisons. As I wrote in the blog post “Gang to Grace”…

In South Africa, numbers gangs control the prison populations. Once prisoners are sentenced by the South African Department of Corrections (DOC), they are classified into 3 different categories. These categories are either economic offense, sexual offence or a crime of violence. This determines what gang they will join upon arrival. The 26s are thieves, responsible for gambling, smuggling and accruing wealth in general. The 27s are the guardians of gang law, murderers. And the 28s are the most senior gang, the warriors. They accrue wifies within the prison population by raping new prisoners. They are also in charge of the flow of food supply. There isn’t a prison in South Africa without numbers gangs. It is a nationwide brotherhood. New prisoners are recruited upon entrance.

Welcome realized that because of his small stature, he had better figure out how not to be a victim of rape in the prison. His only chance was to climb the ladder of the 28’s gang. So that is exactly what he did. He made it all the way to “General”. The stars on his shoulders prove it. Each star represents the murder of a prison warder or another prisoner. He has 4 stars on each shoulder.

As the senior gang, the 28’s earned money in prison through extortion, prostitution, drugs, etc. The gangs run so deep and are so interconnected within the prison system of South Africa, they run like a well-oiled machine. And here was Welcome at the top. General. Now called Nongoloza (leader of the 28’s). Commanding over 2500 inmates.

After years of this life, Welcome was tired. He says that although he was at the top, he lived in fear. At any time a lower gang member might try to kill him to try to get his spot. He wanted out.

Numbers gang members know there is only one way out. Death. However, as Welcome reached the highest level, he learned there was another possibility. Welcome wanted to plead his case. He wanted a chance to turn his life around. In order to do that, Welcome had to negotiate with the prison administration to transport four other Generals from four other prisons to his prison to hear his case. His request was granted.

Four 28’s Generals were brought to Welcome’s prison. A room was cleared and ready for his case. Each General stood in the four corners of the room. Then Welcome was escorted into the room naked and put in the center (naked so that the Generals knew he had no weapons on him). Two Generals stood in from of him… the “one who sees” and the “one who hears”. Two stood behind him… the “executioners”.

It was at that time that Welcome said he wanted to retire. He pleaded his case that he had performed well for the 28’s over the years, but it was time for him to get out. He wanted to turn his life around. After he spoke, the Generals escorted him out of the middle of the room and discussed amongst themselves whether he will live or die. Then he was put back in the middle, facing the same two as before. However, before the four Generals began their discussion, one turned to Welcome and said thank you for teaching me to read and write.

As Welcome stood in the middle, he had no idea whether this would be the end of his life or the beginning of a new chapter. The two in front would say he could leave the gang, OR the two in back would stab and kill him. His life was spared.

Welcome spent two more years in prison before being released. He believes that the only reason his life was spared and he was allowed to leave the gang was because he taught one of the other Generals, somewhere down the line, how to read and write.

Welcome lived a life of crime and unspeakable acts. He is not proud of what he did. But he knows he can use his past to help bring change to the future.

Since being released from prison in 2012, Welcome has worked with offenders who were being introduced back into society. He works with young boys and girls involved in gangs to get them out. He works with institutions of education to get kids back into school. Welcome has a foundation that works with children individually, giving them a sense of identity and belonging.

He also conducts parenting workshops to help parents understand the activities their children are involved in.

While here in Knysna, Welcome spent a couple of days in the community. He walked the streets in day and in night, met with boys involved in gang activities, met with parents, community leaders, school administrators and teachers.

His mission is two-fold. To youth, he talks about the importance of education, how to avoid the false sense of security of being in a gang and explains the horrific life of a prisoner. To adults, he speaks of the importance of responsibility and accountability of the youth in the community. The parents and teachers must be active in the lives of the children. Know where they are. Who their friends are. The things they are involved in daily.

If good influential adults aren’t there to engage with the youth, the gangs are ready and willing to take their place!

After living the life of Nongoloza, Welcome says he is “Finally, Welcome”. He is redeemed. Living a life on purpose.

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Sidenote… Welcome is not only a motivational speaker, he is an actor and an author. He starred alongside Forrest Whitaker in “The Forgiven”, consulted on prison gang culture for the movie “Four Corners” and has an autobiography titled “All is Not Lost”.

Vigilante Justice – Is there room for it in society?

March 25, 2018March 27, 2019https://gingersnaps.wordpress.com3 Comments

“Justice delayed, is justice denied.” ~ William E. Gladstone

If I had to write the mantra of a vigilante, I believe it would be, “Justice delayed, is justice denied.”

Vigilante: A member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate.

** Just a warning… the photos at the very end of the article may be disturbing.

This begs the question, “When is Vigilante Justice acceptable?” Ever? Should community citizens take justice into their own hands if they feel overlooked by the local police department?

If I didn’t know the boys involved in Monday’s incident, I may have said, “Well they shouldn’t have put themselves in that situation. ” Or maybe, “They got what they deserved. If they weren’t guilty this time, they probably did plenty of things in the past that have gone unpunished.” But I know these boys. And yes, they have a list of unpunished crimes. Probably a long list. But does that justify what occurred on Monday night?

A “Community Group” (vigilante group) in the township took matters into their own hands Monday night when they hunted down and severely beat four boys (Angel, Gerald, Danville and Danville’s uncle). Two of the boys I know. They are boys I have come to love. Boys that have a past, but are making strides to change their lives for the better. I told Gerald’s story in the blog post “Gang to Grace” and I hope to tell Angel’s story soon. Danville I don’t know as well. Kurt knows him better. He too comes from a troubled background that we will never fully understand. And Danville’s uncle I have never met.

The story I know that led to Monday night’s horrific incident is this… Danville stole a phone at knife-point from a girl in the township earlier in the day. Angel and another boy were said to have been with him. It is unclear truly when it happened. Angel swears he was not there. And if the theft did happen earlier on Monday (and not over the weekend), I know for a fact Angel was at work. None-the-less, at some point a phone was stolen and the community was ready to take action.

Stealing phones is commonplace. Stealing at knife-point is too. This is a poverty-stricken, knife-ridden community. Stealing is a mode of survival for many. People steal to feed themselves food. Others steal to feed themselves drugs and alcohol. In Danville’s case, it is both. But over the last year, he has become so addicted to ‘Tik’ (crystal meth) that the only way to feed his addiction is to steal.

So in a community where theft is commonplace and the police are scarce, what do you do? In the township, they form vigilante groups or as they call them “Community Groups”. These groups have risen up across the townships in South Africa to fill the gap for needed justice. Each area creates their own group which consist of businessmen to taxi drivers. They take care of the things that the under-resourced police department cannot. They often are the first responders to take action. They recover and return stolen items that would otherwise sit in a police station for months until trial. Some believe they are the heroes of the community. The ones who serve the well-deserved justice. Others fear them. Community Groups use anything from humiliation to extreme violence. Sometimes even murder.

OK… I admit I may have read an article or two in the past where a vigilante took down the “bad guy” and I thought “Way to go. Justice is served!” I didn’t need to know anything about the people involved. Just that the “bad guy” received due justice.

On Monday night however, my friends were at the receiving end of Vigilante Justice. And it is quite frightening.

The victim got word to the “Community Group” that she was robbed of her phone. She identified our friend Angel, an 18-year old boy living on his own, as the thief. A case of mistaken identity? I think so. But because of Angel’s past, the group had no problem believing her. With that, the group headed out to find him. They showed up at his house and dragged him out to the street. They threatened to take him to a metal shipping container in the bush and ‘beat every piece of skin off of him’. I say threatened because Angel was in and out of conscientiousness during the beating. He has no idea where the beating took place. As he was struck with metal pipes and sticks, he remembers opening his eyes and seeing so many people surrounding him. He thought the whole township was watching. Lastly they burned his clothes and piled tires around his house. They told him if he did not get the phone back, they would burn him in his house. Angel was terrified.

He had a good idea who had the phone. Danville had been traveling down this criminal path for over a year now. He is so addicted to “Tik” that he needs money to feed his habit. And with no job and no income comes no conscious. He steals. And he steals often. So to save his own life, Angel told them about Danville.

Danville was next. The mob headed to Danville’s house and dragged him into the street. They beat him and broke his arm. They threatened to cut off his hands, but before they could, his uncle intervened (so I was told). Danville’s uncle was just released from prison last week. This gave the group reason to turn and beat him next. Danville’s uncle was so severely beaten that he is still in ICU in the hospital.

Finally, there was someone in the “Community Group” that had a debt to settle with our friend Gerald. This had nothing to do with the stolen phone. It is actually an old financial debt that Gerald owes to a drug dealer. The group made Danville lead them to Gerald’s shack. Unsuspecting, Gerald was dragged out of the shack and beaten with the same metal pipes and sticks used on the other boys. His swollen face was split open under his eye. Gerald only remembers scanning the group once while he was being beaten. That is when he recognized one face in the crowd. The drug dealer. How it becomes justice to beat a man that owes money to a drug dealer is beyond me!

All of the victims ended up in the hospital. Bruised and bloody. Frightened and fragile. Angel, the youngest of them all, checked himself out before the doctors returned. He was in such fear of his life. He went straight to YFC (Youth for Christ) to look for protection. He was exhausted. He was afraid. He was crying. He cannot go back in the township right now. He cannot get on a taxi (the drivers make up the vigilante group). Kurt drove him out of town to a family member this morning. There he will recuperate.

Gerald needed stitches in his face. He was split open on his cheekbone just under his eye. He is furious. He wants to bring charges against this “Community Group”. Just three weeks ago they killed someone during a beating and nothing has been done about it. The sad thing is, that was not the group’s only murder. I don’t know whether or not Gerald will file charges. It may be too dangerous to do so.

So what do you think? In a community so frustrated with the lack of police presence, is there room for Vigilante Justice?

Do the boys stop stealing for fear of being beat? No. They are hungry and they are addicted. Stealing is the only way to feed themselves.

And in Gerald’s case, what justice is being served if the group helps a known drug dealer get revenge?

I wonder. What purpose do these groups really serve? ~Tracy Cooper

Gerald Immediately after the beating.

Gerald with a swollen face and lips. Stitches on his cheekbone.

Gang to Grace

March 16, 2018March 27, 2019https://gingersnaps.wordpress.com2 Comments

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” ~ 2 Corinithians 5:17

Gerald Johnson was born in the Joodsekamp area of the Knysna township in October of 1990. This was just a couple of months before our second son was born. Had we been living in the same part of the world at the time, Gerald could have grown up with my boys. I imagine they could have thrown the baseball around or played video games together.

Instead, my boys grew up with a very different childhood than Gerald. Upper middle class. Taking so many things for granted… a home, food, transportation, education, family, sports, and endless opportunities.

For Gerald, life was much different. He was the son of a Xhosa father and a coloured mother in a poverty stricken township. The child of a marriage not accepted by his Xhosa grandparents. To make matters worse, when Gerald was only 2-years old, his father died in a work accident (he worked with a tree feller).

This set Gerald’s life trajectory in motion. His dad’s parents decided to start selling off everything Gerald’s father owned… including his home. They said his mother had no claim to any of it, as she was “just” a coloured woman. A nothing. And within the next couple of years they even managed to take her children from her (Gerald and his half-sister), pushing her out of their lives.

This was hard for Gerald. He loved his mom. He needed his mom. But he had no choice in the matter. He was just a small boy.

Gerald doesn’t complain about the years with his grandparents. They kept food in his stomach and a roof over his head. And although his grandfather was strict, he cared for him well. It wasn’t enough for Gerald. This young boy missed his mom terribly. So at the age of 9, he ran away to find her.

From that time on, Gerald found himself in and out of the foster care system. Sometimes he was placed with families, other times in the government orphanage. He even had a short stay with his mom. But she is an alcoholic and could not care for him. He always landed right back in foster care.

unnamed — Dorothy Broster Orphanage where Gerald lived at one time.

By the age of 13, Gerald took off running. Running from the system. Running from the pain. Running from Knysna. He ended up in a town called Sedgefield about a 30 minute drive from Knysna. There he came across some boys he knew from the orphanage and joined them sleeping on the streets. Their only means of survival was to steal. Mostly food. They just needed to eat. It was a horrible life. But it was his life now. Then Gerald made the mistake of robbing the wrong man one day. A man who was known for beating kids to death if they stole from him. When Gerald realized this, he ran. He ran all the way back to Knysna in fear of his life.

Some of his story gets a little foggy. I say this because Gerald’s coping mechanism was to escape his life by smoking marijuana and mandrax. He does know that in 2004 he somehow ended up in a school for wayward boys. And sometime in 2005 he was back living on the streets in Knysna. A 15-year old boy, sleeping in a cardboard box in the taxi rank in town. It breaks my heart when I stop here and remember what my boys were doing at 15… attending a good high school, playing on sports teams, working a part-time job, learning to drive, and much more. Certainly not sleeping in a cardboard box and wondering whether or not they will have food to eat.

One day while hanging out in the taxi rank, a coloured woman (Blanche) recognized him from when he lived in the orphanage. She was a Christian woman and used to lead Bible Studies there. She opened up her home to Gerald and he lived with her family for about 1-1/2 years. He was back in school, had a roof over his head and food in his stomach. Yet, because he couldn’t understand the love this family was offering to him, he ran.

He traveled all the way to Capetown this time (a 5-hour drive away). There he slept on the streets. He was a beggar and a thief. He started to learn about prison number gangs, the 26s, 27s and 28s. He soon aspired to be part of one.

Meanwhile, back home in Knysna, Blanche had different plans for Gerald’s life. She tracked him down in Capetown and brought him back to live with her family in Knysna again. It didn’t last. Gerald soon ran back to the streets.

Gerald2 — Gerald working with Kurt at YFC.

“Why?” I asked Gerald. “Why would you throw such a great opportunity away? A bed, food, education, a family?” He tried to explain it to me. What he came up with is that he didn’t understand nor could he accept their love. He wasn’t worthy of it. And he feared disappointing them.

If it was possible, this time on the streets was rougher. Gerald met people that had been in the Numbers Gangs in prison and he so wanted to belong to the group with them. This required certain things. One of which was to steal for them. Well, that was no big deal. He has stolen many times before. But this time was different. It wasn’t for food. It wasn’t for survival. It was for acceptance. Acceptance into a gang. And there just seemed to be a danger about it this time that he couldn’t shake. He did it anyway. And he was right. The police showed up and he and his cousin/brother ran. Both went different directions. Gerald picked the wrong way. He was caught and put into the police car. As the police drove him around to the other side of the house, Gerald was horrified. There he saw his cousin/brother. Hanging on the spiked fence. Dead. It appeared that he slipped when climbing the fence and was pierced in through his rib cage and out through his neck. A tragic, horrific site Gerald will never forget.

And so it began. At age 16, Gerald was sentenced to 5 years at a juvenile detention center. Not a place of rehabilitation. Not even close. This was the place he learned more about gangs. More about crime. More about drugs. When he was released, he continued on a path of crime.

Gerald didn’t share all of his criminal activity with me, but I know he landed himself right back in prison for robbery. Prison this time. Not juvenile detention. Prison, home of the Numbers Gangs!

Gerald worked his way up the ranks of the 26s, eventually becoming a Judge. This is a high ranking officer who decides the fate of those that break the rules. Consequences can range from beatings, to rape, to death. Even though Gerald was willing to tell me his rank in the 26s, he would not disclose what it took to move up in rank. Nor would he share the many secrets held by each gang. Members that betray the gang and share the secrets are not safe in any South African prison (or outside). The secretive nature of the gang makes their system of communicating to other prisons unknown. This is what makes them the most dangerous prison gang in the world.

A thug. A gangster. Gerald was released from prison in April of 2017 (now 27-years old). People in the township knew who he was and “feared” him. He was a high ranking officer in the 26s. Non-ranking members of the 28s in the township feared he would steal their recruits because of his rank. This led to an attempt on Gerald’s life. In November 2017, a “soldier” of the 28s stabbed Gerald with a knife. Left him to die. And he should have. It was plunged 2 inches deep into his heart.

God had other plans for our friend. Gerald spent weeks in the hospital trying to survive and then recuperate. Doctors convened trying to decide if his body could handle heart surgery. They decided it couldn’t. Instead, they inserted a drain and after a month’s stay, Gerald was sent home.

Still bandaged up, he went back to his old way of life. A thief. This time, this theft, changed his life forever…

Gerald stole a phone from a younger boy (Danville) in the township. What do you know? It was the wrong boy to steal from. After the robbery, Danville was riding in the car with our friend Chris (a missionary now living in Knysna) and discretely pointed Gerald out to him. Much to Danville’s horror, Chris stopped the car to confront Gerald. This was Gerald. Judge of the 26s. I’m guessing Danville slid down in his seat, out of site. Well, funny thing.. not only did Chris get the phone back, but he took time to share something with Gerald that would change his life forever. He shared Christ.

Hungry to hear more, Gerald met with Chris the following day. He heard that his life matters. He is highly valued. God loves him so much, that he sent his son to die on the cross for him. Gerald’s heart was finally healed, spiritually. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. And in February, Kurt and I had the privilege of watching Gerald publicly profess Christ at his baptism.

I wish I could say Gerald’s life is easier now. It isn’t. He still lives in a run down shack that costs about $25 U.S. per month to rent. His long time girlfriend broke up with him. His mother is still an alcoholic and losing her eye site to cataracts.

What I can say is that his life is better. He focuses on what he does have. He has a brand new job at a glass company (his very first job ever). He has a new family in Christ. He has joy. Most of all he has Christ!

A true story of God’s redeeming love.

Our God is an awesome God! ~ Tracy Cooper

A Purposeful Gap Year

February 13, 2018March 27, 2019https://gingersnaps.wordpress.comLeave a comment

“It’s the steady, quiet, plodding ones who win in the lifelong race.” – Robert W. Service

This quote makes me think of my sweet friend, Victoria. I met her last year when she was looking for some tutoring lessons during her matric year (final year) of high school. She is a 19-year old young adult; sweet, unassuming and quiet. So much so, that although her birth name is Priscilla, when her school records got mixed up years ago and her teachers starting calling her Victoria, she NEVER felt the need to correct them. Now, she goes by Victoria.

Victoria was born in Nekkies, a part of the township in Knysna that is located right on the N2 (the highway that runs east and west from Capetown to Port Elizabeth. It is probably one of the most dangerous parts of the Knysna township. And here is why: 1. Because of its location on the N2, it is easily accessible to everybody and anybody (good or bad). It is one of only two ways in and out of the township. 2. Many of the bars/pubs are located in this area, so people gravitate to there and are often under the influence of alcohol and drugs. 3. Many of the “homes” are shacks instead of concrete block homes, making life a little more unstable.

For Victoria’s family, life went on as best it could. They were a Coloured family living in a mostly black Xhosa township. Across the N2, within site, was the all Coloured neighborhood (Hornlee). Because she was coloured, Victoria and her siblings would cross the N2 on foot every day to attend Hornlee Primary School. The native tongue for Coloureds is Afrikaans, while the native tongue for blacks is isiXhosa. It is easier to attend a school that speaks your native language. And at the time that Victoria was in primary school, there was not an Afrikaans school on her side of the N2.

This posed many dangers for a young girl… the greatest of these was crossing the N2. Cars and trucks are traveling at a speed of 45 – 50 mph on a 4-lane highway. There are no crosswalks, no traffic lights, no crossing guards, NO ADULT SUPERVISION. Just children standing, watching, waiting and judging when to cross. It is one of the scariest things I have witnessed here. Once safely on the other side, the children must walk up a path through the bush (the forest as we know it) to get to the school. If alone, you could most certainly be robbed or raped. Victoria mentioned that she only had to walk home by herself one time. She was so scared that she ran as fast as she could and never stopped until she got to the N2.

Born the 5th child in a family of 7 children, Victoria grew up in a household with two very loving, Christian parents. She is one of a few children/teens I know that have a complete family unit. Her father worked hard as a truck driver for years and her mother stayed home to care for their large family.

In Nekkies, the nine of them lived contently in a shack together, until tragedy struck their family. Not once. But twice. First, Victoria’s older brother (the oldest of the 7 children) was stabbed and killed outside of their home. Victoria was very young at the time, so doesn’t really know or remember the entire story. She has been told it was a senseless act of jealousy. The second tragedy had a greater impact on Victoria’s life. At the age of 11, her family’s shack burned to the ground in the middle of the night. It is believed that the man (a cousin to the family) in the shack directly behind them, was drunk and fell asleep with a candle burning. Both his shack and theirs burned completely. Everyone except Victoria’s little brother escaped. Ornan was 9-years old and died in the fire. Not only was her family grieving the loss of another child, they were now homeless.

The family split up to live with various relatives in the area, moving from place to place for about 4 years. All throughout this unsettled transition, Victoria continued in school. Finally, when she was about to begin grade 8 (High School), her family moved back together to a part of the township called Concordia. There, her father slowly built a concrete home which they are still living in today.

unnamed-13 — Victoria’s family home, built by her dad.

Victoria did well in school. She is only the second child in her family to graduate (matric) from high school. And the first to receive a “Bachelors”, the highest diploma you can receive in high school (you pass with either a Bachelors, a diploma, or a certificate). Victoria had set herself up to be able to realize her dreams of going to a University. Unfortunately she was “wait-listed” at The University of Western Cape in Cape Town, and ultimately did not get in for this school year.

Dreams crushed? No, just delayed. Gap Year. A year to learn and work before reapplying to University next year. Because of Victoria’s character, a teacher introduced her to a program called TEFL (Teaching English to Foreign Learners) that offers the course right here in Knysna. This program is a 30-day instructional class that prepares you to travel to another country to teach English for 1-year. (Her teacher’s daughter did this and taught English in China).

Victoria will continue to move forward.. slowly, steadily, quietly plodding through this lifelong race.

When I met with her today, we were talking about her plans for this gap year. She explained the TEFL program and told me that she has already enrolled and will begin on March 5. Knowing that neither of her parents are currently working, it caught me off guard that she has so confidently moved along with her plan. I started to question how she will finance this endeavor. She sat there quietly, unassuming telling me that she has managed to come up with the money for the deposit (with the help of her sister) but does not know how she will finance the rest. With faith it will work out. Slowly, steadily and quietly she will make it work.

Victoria is currently $350 U.S. shy of completing the payment for the course. Once she completes the course she will also need funding to travel to the country where she will be teaching. This seems like an impossible dream for a young township girl. It is. But Victoria is already beating the impossible. She stayed in school during a chaotic 4-years. She matriculated with a Bachelors. She was wait-listed by a college. And she figured out how to come up with a $150 U.S. deposit to take this course. This is an amazing opportunity for Victoria during this gap year. She has NEVER been outside of Knysna, much less South Africa. I have confidence that she will be successful in this endeavor.

If you would like to help Victoria, please click on the link below. Any amount will help. All donations are tax deductible and will go directly to help cover her expenses for this gap year experience. Type “Victoria” in the comment section. ~Tracy Cooper

https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000WKZkVEAX

The “Unprotected” – Part 1

February 12, 2018March 27, 2019https://gingersnaps.wordpress.com2 Comments

“Every kid is one caring adult away from being a success story” ~ Annonymous

When I think back to the birth of my first child, I remember feeling so much love, hope, excitement and fear all at the same time. My heart was so full. I knew I would do anything for this sweet little baby. Love him. Feed him. Hold him. Teach him. PROTECT him. Yes, I think for most mothers, one of our strongest motherly instincts is to protect our child. If anyone tries to harm our little one, our “mother-bear” instincts surface. We are ready to protect our child at all costs. And for me, I was blessed to experience this with each of my four children!

Unfortunately though, this is not the case for many children in the township. They do not have a mom to protect them. Not necessarily because she is absent in body, but because she is absent in mind. Many are orphaned due to the unhealthy addictions plaguing the moms. (I say the moms, because quite frankly the fathers are rarely in the picture by the time the baby is born). These moms lose their “mother-bear” instinct to protect their baby when they allow their addictions to take over their lives. They choose alcohol, drugs and men over their sweet, innocent babies. And because of this self destructive behavior, the defenseless babies are left orphaned on the street.

Well this is the very sad and short ending to the life story of so many children. But for a few others, it isn’t. There is a woman of great faith, who lives in the township, and is determined to help write a new chapter in the life stories of many orphaned children. A chapter full of love, hope and faith. A new beginning. A new life. A new family.

I have known Ella for 4 years, and like many, she has a long story of her own. Today, however, I want to introduce to you the children God has helped Ella rescue throughout the township. Some she has found on her own, others have been brought to her by relatives of the children or social services.

The stories are brief, mostly because the children were so young when they arrived at Ella’s. Also, because of their young ages, many were too young to understand their full story.

Meet my friend Tracy:

I have known Tracy for the past 4 years. She and I had an instant connection because of our name. Unlike many other children, I could actually pronounce her name! Tracy is 9-years old now, but came to Ella’s (Lukhanyiso Safe House) at the young age of 3-years. She was brought to Ella by Child Protection Services after she and her younger brother Toffee were removed from their home. Tracy, a 3-year old innocent little baby was being sexually abused in her own home. Her mother was an alcoholic and could not function in a way to protect her baby.

Because of the violence she endured in her young life, Tracy did not transition easily into Ella’s care. She suffered from post-traumatic syndrome, and did not trust anyone. She was constantly screaming and crying. With love, prayer, tender care, counseling and time to begin healing, Tracy has become a happy, confident young lady. She attends Knysna Primary School in town where she is in grade 4. She is learning English and speaks it quite well for a 9-year old. Her favorite extra curricular activities are playing net ball and running sprints. She has always had the role of “drama queen” in the house, but as she matures she is slowly passing that role on to a younger “sister”.

Tracy stills suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, but all in all, she is doing well. Her life story now has a new, more hopeful chapter.

Tracy

Tracy running track in yellow and blue

Tracy’s little brother is named Toffee. His given name is Fikile and he is 7-years old. When he and his sister, Tracy were brought to Lukhanyiso Safe House, Toffee was only 2-months old. He was filthy dirty and starving to death. A very sad and inexcusable situation for a helpless 2-month old baby. Ella took Toffee straight to the clinic to have him checked. Afterwards, she gently stripped him of his rags, gave him a nice warm bath (probably the first one in his 2-months of life, dressed him in clean clothes, fed him a warm bottle and cuddled him. Since that day, he has the mom every baby deserves. A mom to protect him. To love him. To guide him.

Toffee (nicknamed that, because Ella says he is so sweet), attends Knysna Christian Mission School. He is in Grade 1 and starting to learn English. He is a happy little guy with a lot of personality.

Toffee

Toffee Today

The next sibling pair is Beauty and Stephen…

Beauty is a thriving 9-year old little girl now. However, when she arrived at Ella’s house, she was possibly the most neglected child Ella had ever seen. At the age of 1-1/2 years old, this sweet little baby girl was found by a police officer in the street in the middle of the night. A baby with no name and no parents. He picked her up and brought her straight to Lukhanyiso Safe House for the night, where Ella named her Beauty. Six months went by before anybody in her family even started to look for her. And it was determined that she would stay living with Ella and her new family. During Beauty’s first year in Ella’s care, she was a very shy and withdrawn child. She never made one sound… no crying, no screaming, no laughing, no talking. Nothing. Ella would bring Beauty into her bed at night and hold her, but when Ella woke up, Beauty was off of the bed, curled up on the floor. It was obvious that she had very little attachment or bonding to a mom. But as time went on, Beauty came out of her little shell. She is a sweet young girl and attends Knysna Christian Mission School with many of her siblings. She too is learning to speak English. The reason I mention this with the children is because their native tongue is Xhosa. South Africa has 11 official languages, but all children must learn English.

Beauty

Beauty Today

Beauty at 1-1/2

Stephen is 4-years old and is Beauty’s little brother. They both have the same mom, but I really don’t know if they have the same dad. Both of Stephen’s parents are alcoholics. He was removed from their home when he was just 4-months old and brought to live with Ella in the Safe House. His and Beauty’s mom usually shows up drunk to the Safe House about every two years or so to try to see the kids. Stephen is a happy young little guy. He is learning English in the Mama Mia Preschool.

Stephen

Ella and Stephen

These are the stories of 4 of Ella’s children. She currently has 14 children living in her home and 12 more children for which she has taken on the financial reponsibility. Unfortunately every one of her children have similar stories. I will try to introduce you to a few at a time throughout my blogs.

Ella lives modestly in the township and has hired a small staff to help care for and transport the children. Her expenses run around $200 U.S. per child per month. This is for food, clothes, school uniforms, school tuitions, staff fees, etc.

She and her business partner Penny have opened a township tour company called Emzini Tours to try to help cover the expenses of the Lukhanyiso Safe House. With the needs so great, they are always looking for sponsors.

If you feel called to sponsor one of Ella’s children on a monthly basis, or make a one-time donation, please click on the link below and follow the steps. In the comments, type Lukhanyiso Safe House. All donations are tax deductible and will go directly to the care of Ella’s children. ~Tracy Cooper

https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000WKZkVEAX