In the light of all the crime we hear about on a daily
basis, it makes one worried about the future of South Africa. It doesn't seem
to be getting any better no matter what the statistics claim.
The news is full of hijackings, murders, rapes, robberies,
atm bombings, armed robberies and different forms of crimes. Yet the government
give us the stats that crime is decreasing.Can any person say they feel safe
anymore? leave alone in the streets, no one feels safe even in our own homes.
We are like prisoners in our homes, and like paranoid people
out of the house, always looking over our shoulders.How many a person can say
they haven't been affected by crime. Be it a hijacking, an armed robbery, a
burglary or any other crime? I think, no South African, besides the president
and his cronies (with their high security and guards) can say they haven't been
affected.
Yet, when we as law abiding citizens become a victim, then
its just another statistic. Its like just another crime not given much
attention. It just gets reported and that's it. My problem is with the upside
down justice system.Ill give you an example that many have experienced, If you
were robbed or hijacked and you shot a criminal during the incident.....You got
lots of lawyer fees and lots of justification and proving to do in court to
prove it was in self defense.
Then, if a criminal involved is arrested and there is a
court case, you will stand face to face against the person that robbed,
hijacked or killed a loved 1 of yours and better still you will be fighting
against his lawyers who will try and prove his 'innocence' and the need for him
to get bail. Is this justice???? Where the victim has to prove things against a
criminal.
And many a case the
criminal has other convictions against him. And they are still given bail at
the end, so that they can continue with their jobs of robbing and killing.From
a personal experience in my family. They were armed robbed at their house by
guys with R5 rifles, burnt with boiling kettle water, assaulted with the butt
of the guns and locked in a sealed van. 2weeks later the criminals were
arrested.
Guess what? 2 of them were out on bail for a previous
robbery and rape. And better still, the case went to court. My family who
identified them correctly had to prove in court that those were the guys.
(finger prints weren't enough!!) and better still, 2 of them were granted bail
as they turned state witness. Now how safe can one feel after that, knowing
that the guy you identified will not come back for revenge??So, in short, we as
law abiding citizens are stuck with little rights.
There are technicalities regarding our legal firearms and
how we defend ourselves but there are so many illegal firearms out there. And
the criminals are given too many rights. What is the government doing besides
digging their heads in the ground denying that South Africa has a crime
problem. And its only getting worse.
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.
