Actor talks about dad's death

2008-01-02 08:27

Eugene Gunning

Cape Town - "How many more people must be murdered before the government will say enough is enough?"

These were the words of well-known actor Pedro Camara (Carlos of 7de Laan), about the murder of his father, Abel Camara, on Saturday night.

The 69-year-old Camara was murdered while locking up his business in Rawsonville.

Camara was organising the funeral on Tuesday when Die Burger called. The funeral will take place at the NG Kerk in Rawsonville at 11:00 on Saturday morning.

Four men, between 17 and 32 years old, will appear in the Worcester Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on charges of murder and armed robbery in connection with the incident.

An unacceptable death Camara said he often acted as motivational speaker. "It is usually to convey a message of hope." But he was cruelly disillusioned by the murder.

"I'm tired of violence. How many more innocent people must be murdered?"

"Our moral values are becoming superficial. If we want to be successful in South Africa, where the World Cup soccer tournament will be presented in 2010, we will have to be more tolerant."

"People pay tax and are then murdered, like my father. The government is not fulfilling its basic responsibility regarding human rights, like protecting its citizens."

The heartbroken Camara said the murder had shocked the family, and it was particularly difficult for his mother, Driekie Camara.

He said a remark by his mother after the murder best described the family's grief: "These barbarians have robbed us of our most precious possession."

They were a very close-knit family and his father was their anchor. "He kept the family together and it will take a superhuman effort to overcome his death."

His father arrived in South Africa as a 17-year-old boy. He started with nothing and over the years carved out a place in the sun for him and his family.

He moved to Rawsonville 15 years ago because he wanted to improve his quality of life in this peaceful town. "He would never have harmed a fly. He was a normal person who paid his taxes and put bread on the table for his family."

"Why did these people murder a 69-year-old, innocent man? It violated a noble existence. The cruel way in which he died is unacceptable."

Ryno King, member of parliament for the area, said safety in rural areas needed more attention. Pressure by security services on criminals in cities forced them to turn to soft targets in rural areas.

The murder apparently not only shocked the Camara family. Residents in the town were also shocked. Piet du Toit, ward member for this town in the Breede River municipality said the murder was incomprehensible and tragic.

- Die Burger