5.2 Case Studies: Biographical Data, Background and Behavioural Patterns
5.2.1 Bridge City Court case studies Case 1
Participant 1 was an 18-year-old Black African male whose main language was isiZulu. He came from Ohlange, which is in Nanda Township. He was in grade 11. He did not have a family or siblings and he did not know his biological father. His mother had passed on and he had to leave his home in KwaMashu to live with his maternal relatives. According to him, he was not related to the family that he was living with but he regarded them as his family because he had been living with them for some time. He had four cousins, three of whom attend a multiracial school. He said that he liked school but he hated going to school because the distance from home was too far and he always arrived at school tired. He did not attend a school near his home because he had been suspended from this school as he had bunked classes all the time. He would leave home going to school and ended up not going to school at all and, as a result, he received a NR (no return) status.
This young man was convicted of shoplifting when he was 17 years old. Apparently he had been doing it for a long time but this was the first time that he was caught. He reported that he had been stealing for some time in order to support himself. He explained that he did not want to be a burden to the people he was living with, and sometimes when he asked for something or financial support they could not provide it. He said he did not even have school shoes and he had to walk a long distance to school. Because his mother had passed on, life was not easy for him. The main reason that led him to shoplift was that he was unable to accept that he did not have what he wanted at any particular time. Another reason was the passing of his mother, who had been the only person who had supported him because he did not know his biological father. He stole because he did not
have financial support and because he was under the influence of his peers. Due to socioeconomic factors and a lack of proper supervision by guardians, he engaged in antisocial acts. After he had been caught and diverted to the programme, he stopped shoplifting. He was also trying to quit smoking dagga. He was now enjoying going to school even though the distance was very far. He understood the purpose of attending the programme. After the programme, he did well and scored high marks at school. He also said that he enjoyed music, and he and his friends had formed a band.
Case 2
Participant 2 was a 17-year-old Black African male whose main language was isiZulu. He was in grade 10 and he enjoyed going to school. He was staying with his mother, stepfather and his four siblings in Mahoti Township. He and his siblings were in different schools. Some of his siblings were still in primary school. He reported that he had a good relationship with his family and, even though they sometimes fought, they always managed to sort out their differences. He was convicted for assault when he was 16 years old. He was arrested for assault after he and his family had attacked his cousin’s boyfriend who had taken his cousin’s cell phone and, as a family, they got upset and attacked the person who was seriously injured. He said that he had never injured a person before; this was the first time. He had not intended to assault the man, but what he had said about his father (stepfather) hurt him because he knew his stepfather would never do something like that. (The man had accused his stepfather of having an affair with his girlfriend.) Thus, he was very angry. He said that what the man had been saying was not true and he knew that his stepfather was wrongfully accused. He stated that he and his stepfather had a very good relationship. They usually spent time together and talked, and he described him as a loving father.
He said he knew that it was important to find a way to resolve conflict without engaging in physical fights.
Case 3
Participant 3 was an 18-year-old Black African male whose main language was isiZulu. He was from Mantiwe Township and in grade 11. He enjoyed going to school. He was living with his grandmother and cousin. His mother was staying with his stepfather in another location and his brother was staying in Newlands West with his paternal family. He was the only sibling who was still in school. His brother was a qualified teacher. He said that he had a good relationship with his family. They got along well and his brother usually visited on weekends. He was convicted for assault when he was 17 years old. He and his friends attacked one of the pupils at school because the boy had stolen his friend’s school bag. When they asked him to return it, the boy refused and instead he called his friends to attack the owner of the bag. He said he had been protecting his friend. He believed that if he had not joined in, his friend would have been hurt. After the incident, he was scared of what he was going to say at home and he was also scared of going to jail, but he felt relieved when he was referred to a diversion programme. He indicated that being in conflict with the law affected his life in terms of education. He explained that he had failed a term because he had to attend the programme during school hours. He said beating that boy affected him at school because, because of that incident, he failed a school term. However, he acknowledged that he had learnt the lesson that, when having many friends, one may end up doing wrong things.
However, he insisted that he could not let his friend be beaten by that boy.
Case 4
Participant 4 was a 15-year-old Black African male whose main language was isiZulu. He was in grade 9. He lived in Nanda location with his mother, brother and sister. He enjoyed school and he
was the only child who was still in school. He had a good relationship with his family, but sometimes he and his sister did not see eye to eye. For instance, when he would ask his mother for money to buy something, his sister would say that his mother should not give him the money because he would use it to buy something to smoke. He was accused of smoking dagga at school.
It was the first time that he was caught but he mentioned that prior to this, the police at school for smoking had caught him but they had given him a warning and did not arrest him. He stated that his brother was a role model to him. He liked the way he dressed, as he wore designer clothes and he smoked dagga. He thought this was cool. He also started smoking and ended up enjoying it. He thought he was going to be like his brother; he described him as an intelligent person who would give him good advice, but he realised that he was not his brother and that he had his own mind and personality. He reported that he feared to go to prison. He felt like crying when he was arrested because he was scared of what his mother would say and it felt as if his life was over. Nevertheless, when he was referred to a diversion programme, he felt relieved that he was not going to prison but he also wondered what the programme would entail. He explained that he felt bad for being arrested at school because, based on what he knew, the police could not arrest a person at school.
He also acknowledged that smoking dagga affected him at school, as he failed in 2016 because of dagga. He then quit smoking and he had a few friends who did not smoke.
5.2.2 Durban court case studies