Senior correctional services official arrested for stealing condoms
Top Western Cape correctional services official Robin Maripan is set to appear in the Somerset West magistrates’ court on Monday, after he was allegedly nabbed stealing a pack of three condoms.
According to City Press, the alleged theft at Checkers Sitari Village, Firgrove, was reported to police last month. Maripan was quickly arrested and held for several hours. He appeared in court just over a week later.
Western Cape NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila told the publication Maripan is accused of stealing a pack of “regular fit” condoms worth R89.99.
He is alleged to have not told his bosses as Correctional services, where he reportedly works as head of community corrections and deals with ex-convict reintegration, and was called to the Drakenstein prison last week to answer. He said the matter had “nothing to do with the media”.
A municipal manager that stole
In 2019, Beverly Gungisa drew outrage over her appointment as Mogalakwena local municipality manager, with the DA in Limpopo claiming she had a criminal record for shoplifting.
It claimed she committed the crime in Pretoria eight years earlier, and this showed she could not be trusted with classified and financial information.
In May, Umhlali police in KwaZulu-Natal noted a spate of shoplifting incidents.
“The community should know that shoplifting is treated seriously. It takes a long time to process a shoplifter so we are enforcing stronger restrictions to avoid repeat offenders,” police spokesperson, Captain Vinny Pillay told the North Coast Courier.
Shoplifting troubles in the UK
British businesses reportedly turned to the government this week to assist with a rise in thefts and violence by criminal gangs, addicts, and people struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
“We see shoplifting every day here, sometimes multiple times a day,” a manager of a Sainsbury’s food store in London said.
The Association of Convenience Stores said the UK recorded 1.1 million incidents last year, a record high.
The most stolen items were meat, alcohol, and confectionery.
In other news – What you need to know about the viral fitness trainer, Nkululeko Dlamini
Nkululeko Dlamini, affectionately known as Nyawolomshini, has gained fame in South Africa as an aerobics instructor with enviable glutes. However, what many people don’t know is that he is a qualified schoolteacher with a degree in Education from the University of Free State.
“Teaching is in my blood,” he says. Teaching runs in Nkululeko’s family, with his mother and sister also being educators. Despite his qualifications, his journey into fitness instruction was driven by his passion rather than a struggle to find a teaching job. Read More
