Web diary

Today was an exceptional day. One I will remember for a long, long time. Valanga came over this morning and said he wanted to go and visit his cousin in Alexandra and did we want to come? I hesitated at first because my only previous experience of Alexandra had been a mugging and having my camera and all my personal belongings stolen from my person in broad daylight and almost being car-jacked.

We then stopped at a small house which Sydney informed us is the headquarters of the Alexandra community newspaper. We met the administrative assistant and one of the journalists who told us about a story he is working on involving the trial of a man who raped and assaulted a six year old child. The Alexandra community are campaigning for a very heavy sentence for this man as a deterrent. Rape is just becoming a major issue in Alexandra, and the journalist Howard is very keen to give the issue a high profile. Later in the day we met the newspaper’s editor, a wonderful man called Raymond, who agreed to provide us with information about the rape campaign in return for a story about us – which we agreed to do toward the end of our stay.

The highlight of our day was our 4.30pm meeting with the lawyer suggested by Crystal. Her name is Cathi Albertayn, and she lives in Troon Road, Greenside, (the same road as Charlene). She is extremely friendly, easy to talk to, young, attractive, and smart. She very quickly grasped what the film is about and offered to help us with all legal matters and strategies – and insisted on doing it free of charge. She also agreed to be in the film if necessary and she is very good talent. She said that given the information she has, that the Prosecutor’s Office will almost certainly re-open the case but that perhaps this isn’t the best approach to take. She agreed to meet with us next week after we’ve talked with Charlene and the Head of the Sexual Offences Unit.