“GRIZZLY BEAR GANG CAUGHT” read the headlines of the Edo-Mill paper. “Lieutenant Jobela and team finally rewarded,” the story continued.

The streets of Edo-Mill township were buzzing as usual, mostly because of the public announcement, which was making many heads spin. Every single person in spaza shops, taverns, taxi ranks and surgeries was holding their own newspaper, reading the local morning news.

Paulen Siba, the head journalist of the Edo-Mill newspaper, was the one who had written the column after interviewing and getting the whole scoop from Lieutenant Jobela and Sergeant Daliwe.

Back home, Uncle Edward was very relieved when he heard the news.

“Cliff, you’re telling me that Madlebe and Socawe were also present when all of this took place?” asked Uncle. He couldn’t comprehend how two police officers who drank too much and got high on drugs could be able to handcuff vicious criminals.

“Yes, Uncle,” I replied calmly. “You may as well read for yourself. It’s all there on the front page – it just arrived this morning.”

I handed over the newspaper to my uncle and he read the headlines.

“Well, I’ll be damned. Good heavens, how on God’s green earth did they pull that one off?” said Uncle.

I began to laugh.

“But, Uncle, how can you say that? Aren’t you even happy that those crooks got caught?”

“Well, sure I am, Cliff,” Uncle replied calmly. “Besides the fact that those two and their colleagues were high as kites, I am very happy that finally, the Grizzly Bears’ killing spree has finally ended.”

“Hey! But who would have guessed that the gang was staying down at The Standings?”

“No one, of course,” replied Uncle. “This township, my son, is just like any other township. There are always dark corners and secret hiding places in each location. Worst of all, such places are the ones we often pass through and don’t realise what is going on behind their doors.”

The weeks passed and the Grizzly Bear Gang was set to go to trial at the Edo-Mill Magistrate’s Court back in Zone 1, quite near to the local police station where the gang members had been locked up.

The Edo-Mill Magistrate’s Court was a huge, rectangular building made out of red face brick. The big windows were all fixed with shiny, iron bars, an authoritative sight that stated that advocates of the law worked in this department. The lawn outside was green and cut. Flowers were planted in the front yard.

The South African flag hung from a metal pole fixed on the silver, triangular rooftop. It was another symbol that implied that the building was not just an ordinary building. From the other end, at the public entrance in the middle, stood the tall, double iron gate. There was a gold inscription on the gate in capital letters:

EDO-MILL MAGISTRATE’S COURT

It was total havoc from the first day of the trial. Residents of Edo-Mill township flocked in their numbers to follow the case and to get a view of the ruthless gang members.

From the early hours of the morning the crowd arrived on the scene, watching from the wire fence outside of the magistrate’s court. During the afternoon residents opened their umbrellas, taking cover from the sun under them. Resting on the pavements and the stony gravel, residents were ever more anxious to know what was happening inside the courtroom.

Security was tight outside the court.

As the day came to an end and the trial was set to adjourn until the following day, the Grizzly Bear Gang could be seen as they were escorted to the back of the police vans.

Bra Biza, Vinnie, Bhunga, Jaman, Max and Dladla were handcuffed and chained together.

The angry crowd shouted at them as they were locked back in the police vans.

“Voetsek! You can all rot in hell!” cried one of the residents.

“Tomorrow’s another day – there’s no way in the world you’ll get bail, forget it! You’re all guilty and you’ll be charged!” yelled another.

It was not long before residents headed back home, agreeing about how the Grizzly Bear Gang had caused turmoil in their township and how they were all seriously going to pay.

The following day, it was still havoc at the court. News about the Grizzly Bear Gang had spread beyond Edo-Mill. The trial would make news headlines countrywide for two weeks while it was in progress.

Every time I turned on the TV or radio I heard: “And we have the latest ground-breaking news from Edo-Mill township”

The coverage was huge. The eyes of the country were all glued on Edo-Mill. When the final day of the long and exhausting trial arrived, residents were still gathered outside in numbers and were determined to hear the final verdict before they departed.

In the end, justice prevailed

There were no big, flat television screens for the crowd to watch the trial like they had at football matches. And it was not long before Lieutenant Jobela and Sergeant Daliwe, accompanied by two tall, muscular and seriously grumpy-looking bodyguards, walked towards the front gate to address the journalists.

“We are extremely happy with the court ruling,” said Lieutenant Jobela delighted.“It has been a long process and an anxious wait for all, but now we are glad to say that the guilty have been given a life sentence. We could ask for nothing better than that.”

“Sergeant Daliwe,” asked one of the journalists, “where will the gang members be

serving their life sentence?”

“At Pollsmoor – a maximum security prison. It is there that they will serve their life sentence. They will never set a foot in Edo-Mill township again.”

When the interview was done, Lieutenant Jobela and Sergeant Daliwe headed back to their vehicles and made their way back to the police station. As they drove off residents and journalists shouted for joy. Justice had prevailed. They began to sing the national anthem.