Yes that sounds a bit harsh because a person always has the ability to bounce back, but not in my situation.
In Nov 2000 my wife and i were held up in an armed robbery at morningside country club, we were managers there. The organisers turned out to be my domestic servants'husband. I had used him to do some carpentry work at the club. My reward for assisting a person without work was to be robbed at gunpoint. Th one perpetrator pulled the trigger twice with the barrel against my head, the gunned jammed.
I sold my house in bryanston, and took my family to mpumalanga hoping to flee crime. In 2006 i was working for Samancor eastern chrome mines as a club manager. We had a few chalets on the premises. Once chalets'occupants were robbed at gunpoint one evening. The chalet was 50 meters from my house.
I put a small article in the local newspaper informing the residents of what happened. Only the facts and requested any person with information to please contact myself or the local police station.
Samacor fired me for "divulgence of confidential information".
Now my point is,
If big business like Samancor can fire a person for taking umbridge and for being outraged at crime taking place on his or her doorstep then honestly what chance do we have of reducing the crime levels, let alone eradication!
Comments (10)
Crime
10
Saturday, 05 June 2010 14:37
Aidan
I lived in South Africa my whole life and fortunately have never been a victim of a serious crime. Only two pickpocketings late at night have affected me and the people were not armed. However, I lived in Garden Route. Do not live in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, certain areas of Cape Town or a township and you might be fine. Crime is a problem here but a lot of it depends on where you live.
JOSE DIAZ
9
Sunday, 02 May 2010 08:44
Nathan Fisher
Like Kruger said in his statement, Jose Diaz you were kidnapped, there is no such word here in South Africa. To give an example just last night in my road a friend of mine came to visit me, he wasn't even standing outside for 5 mins, when 3 armed man came to hijack his car, he gave them the keys, cellphone, wallet and even asked for his watch, he pleading with them thats everything and still shot him in the stomach just for fun, this is a reality everyday that happens in South Africa, we have an average of 50 murders a day, Crime is extremely violent in this country and very real and unfortunately its not going to go away anytime soon especially not at the World Cup, the criminals are going to thrive during the World Cup, cause the foreigners cannot do what they do in their homelands, South African's have to make sure when they park their car, No one is around, the Gearlock and sometimes steering lock is on, our car alarms and Anti-Hijack devices are armed and that a decent looking Car guard is around cause sometimes even they are the culprits. CRIME IS REAL IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!! Your eyes will be opened when you arrive!
Are you really giving Up??? Jose Diaz
8
Wednesday, 07 April 2010 14:53
Kruger
You stated the very obvious fact in your first sentence - you WERE kidnapped - clearly you are home safe now.....in SA you are not kidnapped and dropped off at home a couple of days later - here you are murdered in your bed whilst you sleep !! Try recovering from that - Big difference !!
And yes I agree this site is nothing but filtered drivel.
South Africa - a sick society
7
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 13:36
J Fox
What all South Africans wish for in their heart vs the reality of a society that has reached deep levels of depravity and lawlessnes - is the true reality of the situation.
Sadly the Malemas and Zumas of this world will never rest until the last white leaves the country. The irony here is only at that point will they realise that their very existence now hangs in the balance with the law of the jungle only remaining.
My concerns are with those who do not have the means or ability to leave, there ARE places in the world where normal societies exist.
I a former passionate South African - another country now benefits from my professional input.
Crime
6
Saturday, 27 March 2010 02:24
jaydee
Until S Africa gets rid of the Marxist terrorists of the ANC S Africa will be on its way to third world status. Like one poster look at Zimbabwe to see the future of S Africa. 'Majority' rule has worked so well there especially after all the white farmers were licked off their land. Don't look for help from the west-they are too busy being 'politically Correna' and trying to find excuses for ANC atrocities.
Are you really giving Up???
5
Wednesday, 24 March 2010 03:17
Jose Diaz
I was kidnapped in 2004 in Guatemala, and after reading this blog, can't help being dissapointed on human nature to give up. I am about to travel to South Africa this summer for the 2010 world cup, and instead of reading about optimism and greetings.....all I read is about people lamenting themself about how bad ia there.......STOP the whynning......and move forward in the direction you need to make things better: BUT CRYING OVER!!
SA crime
4
Wednesday, 03 March 2010 15:47
dawid
Guys, its sad to read through all the blogs about the affect of crime back home. I have been working overseas for 14 years and always wants to move back home when its commercially feasable.
How can we affect change?
How can we take ownership in a positive way to affect change?
I know that being away from home for so long isolates me from the true horrors that happens but I cannot believe that there is no way forward. From most of the mails and blogs I see and feel only hopelessness and acceptance and anger!
There must be a way to affect change, even if its starts small. How can we look at a future where we dont feature in?
Crime has destroyed my life
3
Monday, 11 January 2010 16:34
Jeff
I don't think people who have left the country have any reasonably intelligent contribution to make toward the crime debate. People like James who have left the country for "greener pastures" should keep their prejudiced comments to themselves. Australia practices apartheid even to this day in a polite manner that belittles those of colour in their own country. So it's no wonder James feels so at home over there. Stay there James, in that wilting pot of ignorance. White and black people are ravaged by crime. Crime is not a respecter of people. And those who feel this way obviously have racist views which they are not ready to acknowledge.
Governments do not end crime, nor does a police force. People do. South Africans do not trust one another enough yet to fight crime together, hence it is still rampant. Once we truly feel proudly South African, change will come.
crime out of control
2
Tuesday, 14 July 2009 16:50
orpa potgieter
yes the government said crime is down which i think is untrue . we had 3 house brakes in 3 weeks and 2 more attempt in 6 weeks in arrow.the govt is blind folded at-temps to make sure that 2010 is not gone be jeopardize i dont believe any crime reports. as we had a few caces which we didnt report due to security and saftey reasons .as soon as it si possible iam leaving my beloved country because of endless sleepless night and crime
Crime Has Destroyed My Life:
1
Wednesday, 17 June 2009 13:45
James hatfield
Mr Grobler, I feel for you and all of the other South African's who have been so painfully affected by violent crime.
My father was shot in the arm through his car door while leaving a golf shop in Bryanston in Johannesburg. It was a Sunday morning and he was on his way to play golf with his freinds.
This was a month before I moved my family to Australia, away from a very sad and helpless situation.
The sad reality is that the police emergency call center sent the reaction unit to the wrong address. The police investigating officer never went to the scene and have still made no attempt to contact my father to get a statement.
I believe they were dealing with 7 violent incidents at the same time in the affluent Northern suburbs of Johannesburg, and I have since heard that the officer had 96 such files on his desk! There is no way he or anyone else - even if they were competent individuals can cope with that.
Sadly the writing has been on the wall for a long time and white South Africans need to take a good hard look at their future. To do this is not hard - just look North to Zimbabwe! If you decide to stay then brace yourselves for a long lonely road.
Sadly White South Africans have never, and will never, pull together in order to make a difference. It is now too late anyway.
In order for there to be any meaningfull change the government has to acknowledge and take ownership of the probelm. There needs to be a concerted effort to understand what drives the deep hatred that drives such savagery. There needs to be better training and selection of policing staff capable of doing their work effectively with the support they need to do it. There needs to be massive effort by everyone to root out corrupt and corruptable officials and security members.
And there has to be a blanket attitude of no tollerance.
Sadly I do not see this happening, simply because no one has the will or the ability to pull it together - and the people and main person who need to drive such an effort - The president of the country - cannot and will not do anything about it. Crime pays, they are doing well out of it, and they are in power because of it.
Tell me - who does the president intend to shoot with his machine gun? Who are his enemies? Why is there still an active Mkhonto Wesizwe and war vets linked to the ANC while they are in power and have the SANDF and SAP? Why are between 20 000 and 25 000 people murdered in South Africa every year?
I am sorry but if you are white or if you are a farmer - regardless of your intentions, or your racial beliefs, you are simply not wanted.
Move folks - the grass is greener on the other side!
Kel I believe that not all SA is unsafe but places that people need to see are. When I visited home-SA few years ago I was VERY DISTURBED by the level of prabory the police are involved in. It IS SUCH A DISGRACE AND the government need to put some form of law, otherwise if someone need JUSTICE around... Read more/Comment
As I am a student, I don't have much time, apart from my holidays, to do research and write articles. I would appreciate if volunteers e.g. blog owners, freelance journalists or criminologists would allow me to place their articles (credit will be given to the author). Articles just need to be in line with the mission of the website (see About). Contact me
Want your website or blog listed?
If you want your website to be listed in the Links Section of my website, you're welcome to send me an e-mail with your link and a short description of your website. Any websites related to Crime in South Africa, Tourism and the 2010 Soccer World Cup are welcome. For more information on the amount of traffic on my site click here.
Getting behind the statistics to offer a sober and sobering account of the scale of the crime problem and its evolution, the book describes how government has sometimes sought to deal with the crisis and sometimes sought to deny its existence. The book ends with some suggestions of what needs to be done to deal with this scourge. Buy
And yes I agree this site is nothing but filtered drivel.
Sadly the Malemas and Zumas of this world will never rest until the last white leaves the country. The irony here is only at that point will they realise that their very existence now hangs in the balance with the law of the jungle only remaining.
My concerns are with those who do not have the means or ability to leave, there ARE places in the world where normal societies exist.
I a former passionate South African - another country now benefits from my professional input.
How can we affect change?
How can we take ownership in a positive way to affect change?
I know that being away from home for so long isolates me from the true horrors that happens but I cannot believe that there is no way forward. From most of the mails and blogs I see and feel only hopelessness and acceptance and anger!
There must be a way to affect change, even if its starts small. How can we look at a future where we dont feature in?
Governments do not end crime, nor does a police force. People do. South Africans do not trust one another enough yet to fight crime together, hence it is still rampant. Once we truly feel proudly South African, change will come.
My father was shot in the arm through his car door while leaving a golf shop in Bryanston in Johannesburg. It was a Sunday morning and he was on his way to play golf with his freinds.
This was a month before I moved my family to Australia, away from a very sad and helpless situation.
The sad reality is that the police emergency call center sent the reaction unit to the wrong address. The police investigating officer never went to the scene and have still made no attempt to contact my father to get a statement.
I believe they were dealing with 7 violent incidents at the same time in the affluent Northern suburbs of Johannesburg, and I have since heard that the officer had 96 such files on his desk! There is no way he or anyone else - even if they were competent individuals can cope with that.
Sadly the writing has been on the wall for a long time and white South Africans need to take a good hard look at their future. To do this is not hard - just look North to Zimbabwe! If you decide to stay then brace yourselves for a long lonely road.
Sadly White South Africans have never, and will never, pull together in order to make a difference. It is now too late anyway.
In order for there to be any meaningfull change the government has to acknowledge and take ownership of the probelm. There needs to be a concerted effort to understand what drives the deep hatred that drives such savagery. There needs to be better training and selection of policing staff capable of doing their work effectively with the support they need to do it. There needs to be massive effort by everyone to root out corrupt and corruptable officials and security members.
And there has to be a blanket attitude of no tollerance.
Sadly I do not see this happening, simply because no one has the will or the ability to pull it together - and the people and main person who need to drive such an effort - The president of the country - cannot and will not do anything about it. Crime pays, they are doing well out of it, and they are in power because of it.
Tell me - who does the president intend to shoot with his machine gun? Who are his enemies? Why is there still an active Mkhonto Wesizwe and war vets linked to the ANC while they are in power and have the SANDF and SAP? Why are between 20 000 and 25 000 people murdered in South Africa every year?
I am sorry but if you are white or if you are a farmer - regardless of your intentions, or your racial beliefs, you are simply not wanted.
Move folks - the grass is greener on the other side!
2010 - I won't be going!