Richard Hipkin, News24 User
I'm sitting here scratching my head wondering what the hell is going on. Five extremely dangerous men have escaped from a police cell in Durban.
Now, I ask you with a tear in my eye, how do five very dangerous men cut through, and I quote, "the exercise area of the prison cells" in the early hours of the morning?
Immediately two things spring to mind: 1) What are five extremely dangerous men doing in the exercise area of a prison cell in the early hours of the morning, and 2) What are five extremely dangerous men doing in the exercise area of a prison cell in the early hours of the morning?
Two of these men are cop killers; they were part of a gang who ambushed a police escort escorting cash-in-transit.
I did a quick study and found that close to 34 000 awaiting trail prisoners have escaped from South African holding cells and that was only up to 2002.
Sad reality
Are you suddenly feeling a little bewildered? That is a staggering figure. Surely, five dangerous men should be locked in a maximum holding facility with 24-hour observation, or are we infringing on their human rights, their dignity and the constitutional rights to be innocent until proven guilty?
Is this a classic case of under-resourced police or a case of "yes I have a job but I'm so damn greedy I will only think of myself and that shiny new jacket I can buy myself" syndrome?
How many "policemen" have been arrested for assisting criminals escape? How many escapees have murdered again? How many more will be afforded a meal ticket and allowed to escape for the cost of a pair of shoes or an expensive jacket?
Now, being an ex-policeman, I am a little reluctant to say it's solely a case of corruption and that the sad reality is that there are simply not enough policemen to look after the insane amount of prisoners in this crime infested country.
But I'm not so sure anymore. I think every state department has rotted to such an extent that I'm positive that corruption and crime pay, and your government salary doesn't.
Watching Third Degree on etv or any other "hidden camera" investigative shows show endlessly the level of corruption in this country.
The sad reality is that this is being committed by people who are employed, who are earning a salary and who are educated and have qualifications.
Work for it
I doubt very much that this is as a result of the hardships suffered under colonial rule or the evil of apartheid.
This is just common criminality and greed feed by the sheer reluctance of certain state organisations that seem either powerless to stop it or are just a rotten as the perpetrators.
What are the reasons for this disgusting act of criminality? It is common greed and a sense of entitlement. They want the flashy stuff, the bling. They want to impress their neighbours. They want to be superior. They want the power. They want the wealth.
Then damn well work for it like the rest of us.
Get published on News24 by sending your article, story or column to us
See who has had a say on News24.
Disclaimer: This article was submitted by a News24 user. News24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24.
- News24
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.