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SOUTHAFRICA …
C ou n t r y o f C o n t r a s t s.
Johannesburg, South Africa
… … Continued from last issue: … ...Here are a sampling of newspaper headlines just a few days ago:
“Woman dies in bus crash”; “Three die in pickup crash”;“Hijackers shoot man after auto collision”; “Sergeant over powered and shot with his pistol”; “Twelve hurt, five killed in Johannes-burg bank robbery”; “Taxi drivers cause highway chaos at freeway overpasses”; “Road blocks are everywhere”; “Three boys shot inerror in police raid”; “Teens killed in night club shoot-out”; “Man lying in road, shot in the head”; “Woman killed for her intes-tines—Human trafficking—Body parts Sold—children used for prostitution”;
Innocence is being ripped away from children whodeserve so much better.
Incessant Crime
Crime is reported daily, dominating the headlines in S. Africa, not America. Because of the rampant crime, many incidencesfail to be reported. Because of the poverty, many see stealing as the only option to gain materialistic wealth or survival. One personbroke the window of a car for a slice of pizza. A man was killed in Cape Town by an angry shop owner after stealing two bags of potatoes and a pumpkin to feed his family.Visitors arriving, travel weary at the main international airport are confronted by beggars, who demand money. After touristspolitely declined, they continue to stare — with eyes cold and piercing. It makes one think, that many in the depths of poverty mustface the temptation to
demand money
, instead of ask for it. A very fine line crossed by thousands—at the expense of thousands. Whatmakes this problem worse is the
senseless
violence that accompanies it. People not only steal, they commit horrific crimes,
because
they can,
often killing the victim and often get away with it.We know that the streets and slums are filled with drugs, alcohol and guns. Reportedly, one can buy an AK47 without anyproblem. You can also “rent a gun” with ammunition for one-time “needs”. Out of the 14 million guns that are estimated to be on thestreets, only 4 million are legally registered. (SA Police statistic). As for rape, many don’t even consider it a crime. To protect citizensfrom the rampant crime and to make people secure, South Africa has built what has been termed the “architecture of fear.” Houses aresurrounded by high walls, razor wire on top of that and high voltage fences, burglar bars and security systems. Lives are shrouded infear. If they are ever tempted to forget the circumstances they are in, fear is a continuous day to day nightmare.
Limping Infrastructure:
On the highways in So Africa there is a sense of disregard for certain laws. Adults and children huddle around a burning truck tire on the side of a busy highway, to stay warm. Children in the back of pickup trucks speeding carelessly. In some instances, cars donot stop at signs, they simply slow down (afraid of car jacking). This leads us to ask, “Where are the Police? Why can’t more order &security be achieved?”. (Sadly, police & criminals are in “co-hoots” together).A recent story in the newspaper highlights the problem. “SA drivers
high on the highway!
” reporting
drug drivers
arebecoming a greater problem than
drunk drivers.
“Although the SA Road Traffic Ordinance prohibits people from driving while drunk or ‘under the influence of a drug, having a narcotic effect’, drugged drivers have little to fear…The Police simply do not have theresources to routinely test motorists for narcotic use.” In effect, we cannot even know how big this problem is, because the police areunable to monitor it. The S.A. Automobile Association claims that 1 in 16 motorists are drunk after dark, and as many as 1 in 10 arehigh. Since a system is not in place to charge individuals,
if
caught, they are required to sit alongside the road until sober !Many times, we heard that an entire section of the city was without power. It so happened to be in an area we visited just afew days earlier. The newspaper reported that chaos erupted in the streets and shopping malls as the outage and other isolated outagesstruck the East side of Johannesburg. This is just one example of the countries overtaxed electrical system. While, in some regards,the nation is booming, other areas of infrastructure are faltering. Some say this is the legacy of the previous government. But SouthAfrica simply went from one form of government to another form of government that has it problems—period. The end result:millions still suffer.Does this mean that the government is standing idly by as all this crime occurs? No. Certain crime is declining. Theeconomy is improving. Public debt has been cut by 50% since 1999. Electricity is being directed into townships that never had power.South Africa remains a large player on the world scene and the dominant force in Africa, often mediating conflicts between countrieson the continent of Africa.
Searching for Hope
Despite the obvious problems, the individual South African, just like any other person on earth, desires and is seeking a lifeof happiness and fulfillment.
Many in South Africa turn to alcohol and drugs
but do not have satisfaction to their own problems.Suicide in S.A. amongst teenagers and senior citizens who have no prospect for work in the future, face poverty and inevitable death.It is the greatest and most alarming statistic amongst whites and blacks alike. On the other hand, many claim that South Africa’s crimeproblem is insoluble. Others claim there are still inequalities between races. But how will equality be achieved?A question must be asked: What can solve the social scourge of violent crime in South Africa? Where is the Hope and Hap-piness for that child playing in the dirt? A street youth said “I was born in a cruel world, I’m living in a cruel world, and I’ll die in acruel world.” The answer to that boy—and to every other child—is that there is hope.
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