Latest news with #BradNathanson
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Foetus discovery draws rehab centre into spotlight again
IN A shocking turn of events, police have launched an inquest after a foetus and CCTV equipment were allegedly discarded in a roadside drain by a senior official at the Tetelestai Recovery Centre (TRC) on July 10. Also read: Luke Edwards' murder accused get bail Private investigator Brad Nathanson said a passing motorist, familiar with the official, witnessed him allegedly dumping items into a drain less than 10km from the centre. After the official drove away, the motorist investigated, recording a video on his cellphone before retrieving surveillance cameras, cables, and a blue plastic bag containing a foetus. Police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, confirmed the grim finding and said an inquest docket has been opened. 'On arrival at the scene, police found the lifeless body of a newborn baby. Investigations are underway to locate the parents, and no arrests have been made,' said Netshiunda. TRC's owner Donovan de Klerk referred all questions to his lawyer, Wesley Rogers, who denied his involvement. 'My client is not linked to this in any way whatsoever. We have confirmed that the foetus issue is an inquest docket and De Klerk is not a suspect. Reports otherwise are false and defamatory,' said Rogers. The centre is also under scrutiny following the April death of patient Luke Edwards, whose body was discovered on the grounds of a nearby old-age home. Four fellow patients were arrested earlier this month and released on bail pending further investigation. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Rehab or cult? Ex-patients look towards collective civil case
Locals claimed online that the centre is 'not a rehab but something sinister". Following The Citizen's investigation and article on Tetelestai Recovery Centre (TRC), a string of disturbing allegations has emerged online, with more former patients and community members accusing the facility of abuse, financial exploitation and psychological manipulation disguised as treatment. TRC owner accused of major abuse and manipulation One account described how a young man was allegedly sent to the centre for a minor addiction to cigarettes and, after being caught smoking, was locked in a cell 'no bigger than a toilet'. He was reportedly forced to scrub the small space with a brush for hours each day as punishment. Locals claimed online that the centre is 'not a rehab but something sinister', with rumours of other illegal activities linked to the property mulled by concerned people. Another former patient alleged he was humiliated and made to sit in one spot from 6am until 9pm, digging a hole with a teaspoon for three weeks, exactly as witnesses had told The Citizen. He claimed a volunteer at the facility called him a racial slur too nasty to print and stole R7 000 in cash. He has rallied a group of witnesses who say they are willing to testify to anyone about what really goes on inside. ALSO READ: Tetelestai Recovery Centre founder denies abuse claims Calls for an investigation into rehab Calls for police intervention have grown louder, with some urging victims to lay formal charges. More serious accusations have been made by others, who claim they were trapped in the centre against their will. One woman, who claimed she escaped after a week despite paying six months' fees upfront, described De Klerk as 'a manipulator' who uses religion as a weapon to break people down, rather than help them heal. She accused him of unethical and abusive practices, including shaming patients with religious teachings, refusing to let them leave and exploiting families for financial gain by prolonging stays. She also alleged inappropriate sexual behaviour. De Klerk denied this previously. Others alleged the owner routinely vilified patients, telling them they were 'monsters' undeserving of forgiveness. Alleged racial slurs, forced isolation and public humiliation were repeatedly mentioned. Community members have called for the facility to be shut down, while those affected are urging others to come forward to build a collective civil and criminal case. Many victims insist the facility operates more like a punitive cult than a rehabilitation centre, preying on vulnerable families desperate for help. Brad Nathanson, retained by the Edwards' family to investigate the circumstances of Luke Edwards' death at, or because of, treatment at TRC, said that nothing shocks him any more about De Klerk and his attorney. 'This is in keeping with everything I have been told by so many about him and his God complex. You can't make this up, and why would anybody do so? I am repulsed,' said Nathanson. READ NEXT: Newborn baby found dumped in storm drain in Ekurhuleni
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South Africa's real crisis isn't crime — It's lawlessness
Private Investigator and former police officer Brad Nathanson, Image: Facebook Lawlessness, not crime, will be the demise of us. And when you understand the difference, you'll agree. Crime is committed by criminals. Lawlessness, on the other hand, flourishes when ordinary people begin to break the law because they no longer fear consequences. This happens when a state becomes too weak, too slow, or too indifferent to enforce its own laws. That is where we are now. If we don't return to basics, we will lose what little is left. We need to enforce the law. But how? With what resources? There are not enough police vehicles. That is a fact. A police officer with the best intentions will be failed by a justice system that allows endless postponements until the case is eventually withdrawn. The complainant gives up. Hope is gone. The police cannot keep up. They are understaffed, under-resourced, and underpaid. What incentive do they have? Minimum wage and no support. And who benefits from the endless delays? Someone is getting paid, because in the justice system, time costs money. Criminals know how to frustrate the process. They use delay as a weapon. For them, time works in their favour. For victims, it means months of sitting on hard benches in court, unsure whether the matter will even proceed. That chaos spills over into families, livelihoods, and communities. Eventually, you realise you're up against someone who has nothing but time and little to lose. How many court appearances does it take before a victim gives up? Too many. And who can blame them? Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Our courts have become the very image of organised chaos. They are overburdened, understaffed, and badly maintained. Do I think we've gone too far? Sadly, yes. But I want to be proven wrong. The police force is the backbone of any country. When it becomes ridiculed or distrusted, society loses its grip. People obey the law not only because it exists, but because breaking it leads to real consequences. That takes us back to the justice system. There is no shortage of work in our courts. From cleaners and interpreters to prosecutors, magistrates, attorneys, judges and advocates, the entire machine is under pressure and most charge by the hour. The police blame the courts. The courts blame the police. So who is responsible? The answer lies with the government of the day. There is simply not enough money left to fix the following: Make policing a respected career. Recruit the best. Train and equip them properly. Restore respect for police officers by giving them the tools and authority they need. Outsource what can be outsourced, from forensic work to administrative support, so that dockets are properly prepared before reaching overworked prosecutors. How can this happen without money? It can't. But political will can change that. Since becoming a private investigator, I have seen this breakdown firsthand. Often, we are called in not because people no longer believe in the police, but because the police simply cannot do the work. They lack the time, the tools, and the support. We are filling gaps in a system that was never meant to be this broken. That is the real threat. Not just crime, but lawlessness. When people lose faith in the system and see that the law can be broken without consequence, the country starts to fall apart. In KwaZulu-Natal, the running joke from those caught driving drunk was, 'It's okay, I've got money for KFC on me.' Since moving to the Western Cape, I've never heard of a police officer being bribed. I'm not naïve. It may still happen. But it's not the talk around the braai. Instead, people warn each other. Don't get caught. You will be punished. That is what makes the difference.
