Welcome to The Unbroken Barometer
South Africa is Moving. But in which direction? I'm not here to dictate or to scare you. I'm not here to paint a rosy picture. I'm here to add some perspective to what is happening in my country.I'll start by saying that I am a proud young South African. I've started this Blog because of a website which has recently started in South Africa. It is a 'crime barometer', but it appears to me that the barometer is broken. Fortunately, this one isn't.
I have tried to be heard on the website in question, but my comments have been refused. There are probably many other people who have experienced the same discrimination from the website. Put your comments here. Bad or good. I live in a democracy.
This is the full reply I received from Neil Watson after trying to submit a comment to his web site.
"You are living a dream! 20000 people got killed the past 12 months. The entire world is laughing at you!
"We managed to stop 113 tourists the past 24 hours. True South Africans without a (PLAN B) British passport had enough of murder!
"Have a great day!
Neil Watson"
If the entire world is laughing at me because I am positive and believe there is an alternative to moaning about life on a website, please let me know. My comments are open to everyone.
For people who want to see the web site in question, it is www.crimexposouthafrica.co.za
I don't have the money to spend on a domain name, so mine is a little more complicated: southafricamoving.blogspot.com
I will post the first email I sent to the web site later, but for now, in a democratic country, I think it is important that people have the choice to say what they want.
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING ON THIS POST. I AM TRYING TO CAP IT AT 400 MAX. IT IS GETTING TOO LARGE TO READ AND LOAD QUICKLY. PLEASE COMMENT ON ANY OTHER POST ABOVE. COMMENTS HERE ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO READ. - ADDY
posted by Addy @ 9:19 am
405 Comments:
The best thing about South Africa is the people who have a possible attitude. If you don't have one, get one. That's the way to live in this country.
This is my kind of blog!!!! South Africa is the best place to be in the world, it's home and it always will be.
Thank you for setting up this site I agree fully with your attitude towards South Africa, there is alot of thing to be positive about.
Good on you mate,that other website is crap spewed by a guy who clearly is the one living in a dream too bad for him that reality isn't how he pictures it.Yes things are bad but rather than moan about he should do something constructive about it.As I said you my good man are atrue patriot.
you are a disgrace - you should be deeply ashamed of yourself for aiding and abbetting the racist holocaust that blacks are perpetrating in SA
ONE Thing that makes me sad and MAD is NEGATIVE SA people. If you don't like it here LEAVE!!!
Stop moaning, because we are all living here and if you want to do something try and unite a VERY un-united country...!!!
Everyone Moans but no one does anything... They just make everyone else Negative and what good is that??
You live in Africa, It's tough but it's LEKKER!!!
Yes, you are indeed living in a dream. Not a single one of my friends or family have NOT been touched by violent crime in the last two years.
If the website which you are protesting against can move our lacakdaisical government to do something about crime (in stead of telling the people who complain about it to bugger off) then well done to them.
I think you need to have a wake-up call, mate.
I have jsut recently returned from NZ (greener grass yeah right). We have the most amazing history, rich culture, and beautiful country i have been to. Yes we do have a few problems, who doesnt. NZ has the highest teen suicide rate.
Niel, your negative outlook and energy you are creating will not help us build a better SA. If that (crime) is all you see, beware, for we are all the creators of our OWN reality.
I Love this place!!!
You ARE living in a dream and no doubt are not married with children. If you were you would not be so "democratic and postive" about S.A., instead you would worry everytime your children drive somewhere either locally on nationally and say a prayer of thanks when they arrived safely home. Be realistic... the majority of South Africans, of all colour and persuasions live in fear - daily. If not then why the burglar guards, safety gates, guard dogs, closed windows in our cars when travelling... etc etc. I could go on forever... but you get the picture. My family alone have been twice affected by crime, and within our circle of friends every single one of them have had a confrontation in some form or the other with crime. Come on... wake up, smell the coffee and get realistic! Oh, and, I WISH I had a plan B - I would have used it long ago.
Addy, has any of your close friends of family be scarred by the crime in SA?
Mine has, girls that will never ever be the same again. In their own house with burglar proofing, alarms, dogs, armed response the works.
I am not talking petty crime, that sort happens all over the world and materialistic goods can be replaced.
I consider myself to be well travelled and we have a problem, if you want to know it or not.
What is the reality of our situation would you say?
Crime certainly IS a problem in South Africa, but lies, aggression and all the slime poured out on the Crime Expo SA site is certainly not the way to tackle it. Tackled from a positive viewpoint, there is a possiblity of real action being taken.
Talking about crime and highlighting a lack of results by our gonvernment and police force is one thing, dragging south africa's tourism and foreign investment potential through the mud is another. Neil Watson is nothing more than a misguided man, albeit with partially honourable intentions. But as a (seemingly) intelectual man, I doubt his patriotism with this back-handed goal.
I know my overseas friends and colleagues will laugh that website off entirely. And rightly so.
Regards,
Only South African
Well done on reacting to that other atrocious website! I think that it is disgusting that somebody is trying to cripple the economy of the country we live in by reducing tourism.
Stay positive - we live in a stunning country.
Well done, the whole world need people with your positive attitude. If we can all work together and fight against crime instead of moaning about it on siber space we can make South africa a better place.
Mr Watson thinks he's solving the problem by creating a bigger one. What will happen in South Africa when tourism falls?
Answer: more retrenchments, more jobless, hungry and angry peaople and that leads to more crime.
Great - thanks for setting this up. The "crime barometer" site is sensationalist and annoying, with its obvious hyperbole and complete negativity. I have a British passport, but no intention of using it.....
I do believe you are indeed living in a dream. I immigrated to the US 12 years ago and have never regretted my decision..once!
I see you are all against Watson and I do not say he went about it the right way.
But on the other hand, what is this blog going to solve?
Look at what people are saying, crime is a reality, will this blog help save those that fell victim to the vicious circle?
Crime Expo is an ameturish website that "propogates" people into believing that South Africa is a war zone. Yes, we do have a high level of crime, but we are a growing , functioning and robust democracy. All the signs are here... economic development, political tolerance, and a array of united cultres, religions and races. We must only move forward. Pose progressive solutions to problems, don't use 'scare tactics'. Remember, it is the poor people who suffer at the hands of crime the most (fact). My blood type : b positive !
Thanx for this website, I too believe in a positive attitude. Think we are the only ones affected by crime please read further :
There exist two principal methods for measuring crime in England & Wales: police recorded crime and the British Crime Survey.
The British Crime Survey (BCS) shows that a trend of falling crime began around 1995 following the introduction of tougher sentences. The rate of fall of crime has slowed sharply since 2001-02. In 2004-05 the BCS recorded 10.6 million crimes.
Police recorded crime also fell after 1995, but has risen steadily since 1998-99. In 2003-04, the police recorded 5.9 million crimes. Recorded crime is ten times higher than it was in the 1950s.
Other international comparisons exist which measure the crime rate. According to the latest (2001) International Victims of Crime Survey (ICVS), produced by the UN, only Australians were more likely to be victims of crime than people in England and Wales.
According to Home Office figures, England & Wales have the highest crime rate in the EU 15 other than Sweden.
Have a nice day to the non-proudly South Africans out there - a fabulous day to the PROUDLY South Africans :)
The Crime Expose has a point - but then so do you. The best thing about the "new" SOuth Africa is that we can disagree with each other.
On a lighter note, if we want the crime problem to be solved rapidly, we should require all politicians to dispense with body-guards and high security complexes. I'd bet the problem would be solved exceptionally quickly. And while we're at it, no government funded cars! Let the ministers and DG's buy petrol at the same price we do.
Crime stats, what kind of crime? People getting their stuff stolen or people losing their lives? You cannot compare those.
As much as I love the weather and land of South Africa, I would never return there. The way the government tackles crime and aids is despicable. And lets face it, the government will be in power for many, many decades.
I'd rather live a life that is free of stress and worries. I have immigrated, my sister has immigrated to New Zealand. She says to me that her daughter of 6 finally has a place to grow up stress free without the worry of rape and crime that has made South Africa stressful place to live.
....happy ex-pat
I think Mr Watson should reconsider his actions.He needs to think deeply about what he is doing.Negativity is not the way forward.
I want to commend you for the resolve to set your website up so quickly after the useless website set up by Mr Watson. We all know that there is a huge problem with crime in SA and we've all been affected- some less directly than others. What defeats the purpose of Mr Watson's website is the absence of a link or section of solutions that we as citizens feel need to be taken by our government. Perhaps even a section for people to sign a petition or for people to stand against this government and threaten to vote it out if the crime levels are not taken care of... something that is more proactive than just moaning and disrespecting the images of people who have passed on. We are all tired of crime but surely there's a better way to solve our problems than a website dedicated to fuelling negative perceptions that are prevalent not only regarding our country but our continent- with or without reason.
Patriotism is a foreign concept for idiotic and small minded people like the guy who created that morbid "crime website".
He is clearly a disgrace to human kind and a little bitter man... Yes crime is an issue but what good will it serve SA if it's own people don't unite and fight it together...
It is the responsibility of every citizen to fight crime in all fronts but this little man and his ilk are missing the point.. they think government is soley responsible hence "We want to pressurise government to do something about crime".. this is pure hallucination...
We need to stand together with government and fight this scourge. working against each other will never help. I hope he loses his means of survival.. maybe sense will cath up with him cause discouraging tuarism kills job creation and threatens current jobs in this sector... has he thought of this kind of consequences? probably not.. he hasn't got a thougt at all...
Happy Ex-Pat,
Some of us dont want to leave, are more than happy here and are willing to work hard to improve our society. And as a true ex-pat, I am sure you want nothing but the best for SA?
Regards,
Only South Africa
By the way, nice site Abby. And I see you can spell....
:-)
Talk, talk talk, that is all we do. No action another website to achieve nothing. Both this one and Watson's.
I hate having to look over my back everytime I step outside my own house, everytime I stop at a traffic light, everytime I enter a public place. My wife spends a lot of time on the road and I hate having to worry about whether she will be a victim of a hijacking or stoning. We have both been victims of armed robberies on opposite sides of the country. I love this country, but for how long can one enjoy constantly living in a state of fear....
My house is my prison. My car is the bait that hijackers are so eager to take.
I cannot use public transport for fear of becoming a crime statistic, yet I stay.
Why am I therefor not allowed to challenge the government about making our environment safe. I contribute to the economy, I vote to empower them, yet the stats gets worse every day.
I notice Mr Watson's site has a "donations" tab...... Hmmm
thank you for starting this site. i'm a canadian who has lived in this country for a decade and consider it home. yes there are problems here but there are problems everywhere - and it is only those who contribute positively that will make a difference. i refuse to look at the other site because i don't want my curiousity to register as another 'hit' to the website and encourage beliefs and behaviour that will only drive us backwards - not forwards.
Addy, while I appreciate what you're trying to do here, I feel you are very naive. South Africa IS a beautiful country and I continue to tell all my overseas friends about it. But there is something fundamentally wrong with South African society. We have become numbed to crime. Most murders and rapes don't even make the news/newspapers. You may think I have a negative attitude, which is completely wrong. I am realistic. Big difference.
someone hack that crime expo site pleeez.. I mean the site is on CNN...take it down... someone !!
Agree with other comments that it is actually the poorer communities without a voice who are most affected by crime in SA.
Not to discount the crime situation in the country (there clearly is a problem) please take note of Watson's profession - insurance broker - his industry thrives on fear.
As ek in die Kruger Wildtuin uit my kar klim en 'n leeu byt my been af, dan sê mense wat soek ek daar, hy beskerm net sy eiendom.
As iemand by my huis inbreek en my vrou en kinders se lewens in gevaar stel en ek skiet hom, dan word ek aangekla van manslag. My huis, my familie.
Niemand se lewe word as belangrik geag nie, ons land het groot probleme.
I think the idea he had was a good idea however I think what people wanted from the website was an unbiased view and complete details with regards actual crime statistics - rather than hearsay.
Below is an email I sent to him but I'm not sure he'll publich it...
"What I was hoping for when I originally read an article about your website was an impartial, non extreme version of the truth, without exaggeration of the truth, with true and real statistics and stories to back them up.
I was disappointed to find that you have a section on people getting killed on route from the Cape Town Airport, grandmothers getting killed with hammers and so on. The fact that most people who have visited SA have children and very possibly a grandmother who have not been subjected to the horrors you describe gives out the impression that your facts are stretched and lets be honest, not entirely true – they seem silly and immature to say the least.
You have a limited opportunity (through current media exposure) to attract serious minded people to your site, but with extremist views and pictures (way too far and totally unnecessary to the average person visiting your website) you are giving the impression of a biased, and short sited view.
Please take this constructive criticism for what it is – I think you have a great opportunity here and I do hope you look to providing facts, rather than scaremongering people away from your website, and not SA.
Keep it real, keep it simple, get the facts and display those rather than falsities / exaggerations / and by god, pictures. By doing this, you’ll be providing a real service and no one can dispute that..."
Thanks
The fact that Watson is asking for "donations" certainly clarifies some of his motives!
What crime stats? Isnt there a moratorium on police crime statistics in SA?
Half the shit that happens in SA doenst even make public knowledge - case in point my neighbour was shot dead 8 weeks ago in his driveway. It didnt even get mentioned in the papers, tv or radio. Why would it?
My family also hasn't been touched by crime - exept my car was stolen 3x, my trailer was stolen, my brother had a gun point to his head in a hijacking, my wife involved in a smash and grab - but when the family discusses the crime in sa we all say - "for such a big family we have been so lucky not to be touched by crime".
"We managed to stop 113 tourists the past 24 hour" - What a dick!
Thanks for setting this up! While this site is not doing anything to improve the situation we certainly don't need another naysayer like Watson in this country.
Hopefully his Plan B comes through soon and he can f*ck off to Britain.
Congratulations on your site - you beat me to it!
Neil Watson is a typical insurance salesman. They live off other people's fear.
Addy, wake up and smell the coffee, boyo! As someone already said, you are obviously not married with children. The day your first child is born, and you stand watching your wife give birth in a dirty, bloodstained bed (prov hospitals don't supply bedding anymore, unless you're one of the rich privelledged that goes to private), and not feel disgust at what the government (be it black, white or pink) is doing to this country, then and only then you can talk about being a 'true patriot' I work with rape victims under 18. I challenge you to spend one day in court with me and one of my girls, see the way the 'justice' system treats a 13 yaer old rape victim.
I love my country, I was born here. And I believe I speak for many others as well when I say if this is the only way to wake our government out of their selfish slumber, then why not? Talking, begging, petitions don't work.
PS - If this is a true 'crime barometer', then I suggest you open a page with crimes commited on the one side, and justice meted out on the other. Weigh it up, figures don't lie.
I would like to see if you are still positive about SA if our sister has been raped by our democratic friends? Have you lost your parents to armed robberies ... thought not.
i don't think the crime expo site is completely unfounded- there is an element of truth to it *somewhere*. however, all the reactions for and against have been equally extreme with little voice of reason. this is how it tends to be with something new and radical. with time, hopefully the comments will be more fair and discussions will be less emotionallly charged and more focused on solutions. either that, or we'll get bored with unfounded mudslinging and the world will turn their attention to more pressing matters.
btw: "..moaning about life on a website.." is a form of freedom of speech ;) wether we agree with the moaner or not.
however, it does seem ironic that WESGRO's [and others] views towards the site advocate crime as a solution to stopping the site, which is a little unfortunate.
beyond the positive saffer citizenship, we also need more positive law-respecting citizens.
there is an attitude of lawlessness which we all suffer from [anyone jump a stop street lately just because INSERT-YOUR-GOOD-REASON-HERE?]
This is an internal problem which we can effectively deal with if we each commit ourselves to growing our country- time will tell if saffers are indeed just cynical moaners, romantic dreamers or a people of action with integrity.
Ja nee.
Bloody Afrikaners are messing up Again!
Bring back the death penalty!
According to authorities, the SA crime statistics show that crime has decreased since 1994. This is utter nonsense! Everyone knows that statistics can be manipulated to suit needs. Example: a few years ago the Japanese motor industry believed that the worst roads to be found in Africa was in Sandton, Johannesburg. The reason they came to this conclusion was because the highest number of 4X4's sold in Africa happened to be in Sandton! Therefore, Sandton had the worst roads! Statistics are unreliable and can be manipulated or mis-interpreted. Besides, many (if not most) crimes go unreported, as the public is learning that it is all too often a futile exercise. Nobody seems to be listening...
The authorities are arrogant and blatantly deceptive to claim that the stats are reliable, ignoring the voices of the average South Africans who want the death penalty re-instated. We KNOW that crime is on the increase, we have to live with it every day! We have all been affected directly and indirectly by the unacceptably high levels of crime in SA. Enough!!
I support the crimexpo website. Perhaps now those who have the power to do something about the crime in SA will actually take notice!
Bring back the death penalty! The few innocents that may be executed due to errors made is a small price to pay for the many thousands of innocent lives that are currently being lost to violent crime as a result of the quasi-criminal government running our country.
Thanks! I agree 100% with you, we need to stay positive and live with hope and trust, otherwise we may aswell start chewing our own wrists. I love this country and hope to see many more tourist from all over the work coming to experience the riches we have to offer. Viva South Africa!
Jhenephyr does not speak with a forked tongue....absolutely well said!!!!!
Jeezzz what side of "Safe South Africa" are you living in mate???..
I would like to get your address Addy since I want to buy the house next to yours. Clearly you have found somewhere that no one else knows about - a safe place.
Come on tell me.
Neil Watson thinks he's clever. He is contributing to our unemployment figures, therefore increasing crime. Fact of life EVERYWHERE in the world. Hopefully tourists will see his website for what it is. Something really bad must have happened to this guy to make him so bitter about SA. My suggestion is that he travels out of SA to see that other countries also experience crime. I experienced a great deal of crime in the UK and felt very insecure in USA. I feel much safer in SA.
I have a pommie passport but it won't be used. SA is a great place with a lot of problems which CAN be fixed. Neil's website is not going to help. Dom Gat !
I am a tour guide and from the moment my pax lands at the airport I have to warn them about realities.
Everywhere we stop I have to remind them to take everything out of the vehicle and to please not advertise cameras around their necks or take large bills out of their wallets.
About two weeks ago we make our first stop in Adderley Street CT and one of my pax had a gold chain forcefully ripped from her neck. Split lip and traumatised before she even had the chance to acclimatise.
That is the reality of our country.
Go read my thoughts on this. I totally agree with you.
Show me a liberal and I show you a person that has not been hit by violent crime in this country. But don't worry, statistics and the criminals will catch up with you as well....
I have lived in SA for 38 years. I have had my car window broken twice and someone broke into my garage. That's it.
A good friend moved to San Francisco and was beaten into a coma in her own house while nine months pregnant. Thank goodness she and her baby are still alive.
Crime happens everywhere. Yes, it is bad here, but we are not the only place in the world that experiences murders, rapes and hijacking.
I have lived in America and China and visited numerous other countries. There are good and bad aspects to all of them. For me, SA is home and I am happy here.
We all need to work together to fight crime. Keep your eyes and ears open. Report what you see when necessary. Get involved. It is no good sitting back doing nothing and whining about crime.
However extreme Neil's site may be, his intentions are noble. By causing a bit of heat in the media and rustling up a few heavyweights in Parliament, he's certainly succeeding in waking up the complacent amoungst us!
This site and all other
Hi Addy
I have to first of all compliment you on your website. It's people like you that will take the country forward. I saw the website of Neil Watson and i think it is disgraceful. Yes there is crime in S.A but the way he goes about tackling it is even a bigger crime. I told him that yesterday when i send him a sms. I found him to be very short sighted. I asked him what solutions he has and he could not give me any. On his site the only thing I saw was him complaining about the situation. I am currently working abraod because jobs are hard to find in S.A. He (Watson) still want to deprive people from opportunities by keeping tourist out of the country. I am planning to come home soon and to be part of the solution. You're a TOPMAN!!!! Keep it up and never ever allow yourself to become part of the problem rather the solution. Proudly South African
Is Neil Broke or something, does he know how much his site will cost SA? If you can't take the heat, get out of the Kitchen. That goes to all who support his idea. Leave this beatiful country and let us continue to make better for all.
And please, once all is good, don't come back!!!!!!!!!
Dude, you're like 20 years old. And a student at that. Once you live life on your own for a bit, and get exposed to reality, you might sing a very different tune.
Good on you for setting up a forum for blindly patriotic idiots.
Hey you guys, what is this? I love my country, I WILL NOT MOVE, but government is not doing anything to stop crime, violent crime at that. Crime in our country is a REALITY wake up and smell the death. I do not agree with the way NW is going about this, but lets face it all of a sudden government is taking notice and holding meetings etc. We the people of the RSA must not fight about a stupid website or blogspot, we must stand up and unite against crime. ALL OF US
I am ....
...proudly an ex-pat. Living a stress-free life.
The single, best decision I have made in my 40 years of existence, was to find a better life for me and my family.
Since I only live once, I followed my decision...and have not regretted it since.
'Nuff said.
Addy, what you are trying to do is certainly is honourable. But I think what Nick is trying to do is kick some1's a*se into action. There's no point burying our heads in the sand, crime is a real issue for us. Lets face it.
I am very uplifted by this blog, i mean, how can an individual discourage nationbuilding in this way like this Neil Watson fella. What he's tryna do is destroy the nation we are transforming and building, i think the best solution for him would be to find a better place than this beatiful land of ours, working together, we can overcome any obstacle. Both black and white fought together to overcome the apartheid artrocities and realised that to move forward, we must forgive and look to the light. Transformation is very slow though and i would urge goverment to build better educational facilities for all the ddisadvantaged communities as one of the reasons we have crime i this country is unemployment and poverty and no, i don't say that a poor individual has the right to go into crime, but put yourself in their shoes. you wake up in the morning and theres no food, your school shoes have holes underneath, you only have two school shirts, your school socks have holes, and you think, why must i go to school? No one can learn anything on an empty stomach. these are just a few things that need to be eradicated from our societies to ensure a better and prosperous soth africa. the other is racism, i mean in high school i had a friend who hated black people and he told me that his dad told him that blacks are evil beings and you should never associate yourself with them as they will kill you or something like that and this is how we became friends as i confronted him and asked if any of the blacks in his class and school had that sort of behaviour and i had talks with him a couple of days after that just so he could see the world from my side and after that, we became the best of friends. The fact is that parents are planting this racism into their kids from a young age and the child sees their parents as being right, and another thing is dogs, they are racist, have you perhaps seen when walking ina suburban area that the dog doesnt bark at white people, but when a black person walks past, they all come barking--> so people please bring up your children and dogs in the right way, that is the positive way. I submarine
Well since everyonr is up in arms over both websites and ball being hit from pillar to post. I have decided to take it a step further and decided to launch my own blog.
http://tackle-the.blogspot.com/
We all know the crime is not good, but no country in the world is a safe haven as others, like Neil Watson are led to believe. This is my country and I really love this place and hopefully we can work together to make it a better place for all.
Jason Foster's letter to Crime Expo is a realist viewpoint - well done.
Addy, your intentions are noble, but being positive alone will not resolve the crime scourge that has ravaged our beautiful country.
Neil Watson, I commend you for your bold move, however keep your web-site real. Gruesome pictures and scaring away tourists is not necessarily the answer. Get rid of the '10 tips for tourists' - this questions the credibility of your site.
I suggest by start a campaign to boycott Mr. Watson and whatever buisness he finds himself inj
When you lose someone in your family through crime, be it a brother, a child, a parent. A senseless murder that could have been prevented had the system worked, you will then open your eyes. SA has definately got a major problem and goverment needs to sort it out
my wife and ileft South Africa 6 yers ago and regret it daily Yes crime is high but it is here in U.K.and rising S.A.has so much to offer it is very wrong to scare people off visiting such a beautiful country. Wish I was there.
I agree with Jason Foster's comments. I am angered and frustrated at the criminal anarchy this country is living through but something more constructive needs to be implemented. The useless, ineffective, money-wasting, corrupt vermin need to be eradicated from this country and effective, strong, vibrant, no-nonesense "make it happen" individuals need to be put in their places. Yes, many good folk are doing something but the oxygen thieves must go.
In a country where only criminals have rights, I salute Neil Watson.
A friend of mine was shot while he was packing his car to go on Holiday. Luckily he is not dead but owns a lovely wheelchair. To the men that shot him? Who knows where they are.! Neil Watson your site must be more graphical!
"THE TRUTH HURTS!"
Know I know for sure that Marijuana are cheap in Cape Town!..outta my mind...outta my tree..tra la di da..
I am one of those very proud South Africans , i love my beautiful country and all of its people. I am sure that there is a place somewhere on Mars for all those negative people - as they will find fault in another country as well. I suggest that they stop being negative and help to raise this country to a standard unheard of before
I am with you on this one. Is there a point to just highlighting the bad without coming up with constructive ideas to help? We have an amazing country with amazing people, most of whom need jobs, jobs that can be provided through tourism. Please don't scare the tourists away! PS/ Negativity breeds ........
Why are there so many negative people here in SA? I love my country yes we do have problems but that can be sorted out by positive people not the Niel Watson in SA.
If you dont like SA then get out take your negative attitudes to another country.
Well, having seen the furore surrounding the publication of the crime website, I thought I would add my 5c worth.
I am a South African living in the UK and I have been here for 7 years and I dont have any intention of returning.
My reasons for not returning are personal and dont really have anything to do with crime or any other perceived or real issues that South Africa may be dealing with.
I think one of the reasons why this has become an issue is because of the proposed FIFA worldcup in 2010.
I will always root for South Africa and would love it if South Africa recieved the recognition it deserved and was able to proudly host this event.
I think the question that needs to be asked is, "Is South Africa really ready to cope with this influx of people and really ready to host an event of this magnitude?". Before you shoot me down in flames please consider the following.
Infrastructurally and technically I think South Africa would certainly be able to be ready in 2010 to host FIFA wc, regardless of the delats in Gautrain etc. Every place that hosts an event is always accused of being behind schedule.
My worries would be the fans. European fans are used to Europe and I would not trust them to observe the security precautions that are second nature to South Africans. If you have a massive amount of drunk europeans carrying around pocketfulls of cash, it does not take much to see what the possible outcomes may be.
Although I feel that South Africa is making huge strides economically and socially, the reality remains that violent crime is still a big problem and without being negative one has to question the wisdom of hosting the FIFA world cup there for the following reason.
The international media will be all over South Africa during that time, already with the perception, that crime is high. They will not focus on what worked, they will focus on what didn't.
The government needs to think hard and ask themselves if they will be able to maintain law and order at satisfactory level and whether they have the capability,expertise and manpower to deal with it, otherwise they risk doing irrepairable damage to the reputation of the country.
I dont live there anymore, but I will always have a soft spot in my heart for SA and I really wish it well. It has issues, like anywhere but it must be close to one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
Try comming home to find crime scene tape around your house and a family member has been murdered! Positive attitude and postivite talk is for people who cannot afford to leave the country and need something to console themselves with.
At the end of the day the ANC is not delivering on anything. Crime, HIV take your pick.
Console yourself with this fact that the only thing between YOU getting mugged, raped or murdered is time!
I love South Africa. I never want to leave, but if you have been on the receiving end of violent crime, it becomes very difficult to stay positive about the crime rate. Every time I hear of someone being murdered, raped, stabbed, hijacked, I can almost feel their fear - the same fear I felt with my own attack. No matter how we look at it, something has to be done about the crime rate. Simply having a positive attitude does not cut it. This is a country where people have no respect for the law, and no respect for life. We must be the cruelest, most evil, murderous nations on earth! Many countries, even North of here, who are a lot poorer than we are don't have the same attitude to life. Why does a girl of 11 have to be raped and then stabbed 53 times, a woman attacked on her farm in KZN stabbed 40 odd times. There has to be something wrong with people who feel that that type of behaviour is okay
Whilk I neither support nor criticise his idea, at least what Neil's website has done so far is to get people talking about the crime in this country.
We speak of being positive, and proudly South African, but I'm afraid that some of our politician's aren't very understanding or sympathetic - our minister of safety and security, for example, tells South Africans affected by crime that they "should pack their bags and leave". How can someone be so insensitive? Easy for him to be out of touch with the reality of the situation in this country while he's protected by his personal bodyguards and armoured vehicle convoys!
We often talk about doing something rather than just speaking about crime. I think that Neil's indeed gone and done something! It's not pretty, but it was never meant to be something positive. Murder, rape and theft are not positive topics and in this country we cannot continue to sweep victim's lives under the carpet, while criminals walk freely.
I understand that not everyone has been fortunate enough to have an opportunity of a matric-level education, and therefore can almost understand and justify why people would for example steal to survive. But murder and rape - those crimes are unforgiveable! There is no excuse for that to be happening in this country.
We need a wakeup, and we need a moral regeneration! We need harsher penalties for crimes committed; the death penalty has my blessing.
I am sorry to say that I agree with Mr Watson's website if it means that our government will catch a wake-up. We have all been touched by crime. A human life means nothing in this country. People are killed for no apparent reason - people who have wives, children, siblings. In many cases poverty is not even the motivation - people are murdered, but not always robbed. What makes anyone think that it will be any different with tourists? Why would their lives be worth more? In fact, they would probably be bigger targets as they will be perceived as being wealthy by our standards.
I love this country, but I do not feel safe anymore. Maybe if the death penalty was still in place a life would be worth more?
Thank you for setting up this site. You don't realise this, but you are helping Watson in getting people to discuss crime in this country. The Crime Expo site already achieved what set out to do: THE WHOLE WORLD IS NOW TAKING NOTE. It is now over to the goverment to proof to South Africans that they CAN address the crime issue. Maybe, just maybe we can all sit and enjoy the soccer in 2010. Hurry, time is running out, ditto our patience!!
I think that what our Safety and Security Minister was trying to say is that people who are going to tear down the fibre of this country (hope) with negative reinforcement should indeed leave.
Neil good-bye, it is people like you who do nothing to contribute to the NEW South Africa!
What is wrong with you people.. why is it every time someone points out the harsh reality you get all xenophobic and spout drivel like "This is Anti South African"?
It a bit like being Anti War and the yanks all freak out and say you are anti American... no mate we are anti war not anti American.. like the Crime and corruption.. we are anti Crime not Anti South Africa..
And please stop putting your heads into the sand and saying its a beautiful country, we have the best drinking water, we have a great history etc etc....
Grow up and stop acting like spoilt children.... when a responsible person tells you there is a problem, don't throw a tantrum.. try and sort it out and not get all narrow minded and uber patriotic..
We have had 10 years of trying to solve the crime problem the "Patriotic South African" way and it hasn't worked... it has gotten worse.. so now someone try's a more direct approach and you all shoot him down... shame on you..
You/We have a serious problem..... so grow up, stop acting as if you are on Prozac and face it...
Thank God, there are still sane people around here!
I am not going to try and lie either! I have also been a victim of crime, as have my family and friends. No doubt, it is the biggest, toughest problem we have ever had to face!
BUT: I do not understand why South Africans are so willing to hand over that which no thief or criminal can take from them: their country. Their homeland. Their right to what is theirs. And their choice to live as they wish, whether someone else wants to thwart them or not. No criminal can take these things from you--you hand them over willingly.
To you who denounce those of us who are positive as 'deluded' or 'living in a dream land', I say this: I AM NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP MY HARD-EARNED FREEDOM! Not to a criminal. Not to a thief or a rapist. Bitching about the problem does NOT make it go away: it only serves to deter tourists who could provide job opportunities and help us turn the tide on this scourge. Shame on you! you have abandoned your motherland in her hour of need.
Very simply:
This blog is typical of an ostrich mentality: Bury your head in teh sand and yell the crisis is no more.
Don't waste money on new stadiums for 2010.
Build new jails and lock up all crminals for life.
During the past 12 months I had a car stolen, and another one being broken into. Fortunately I've not been injured nor anybody close to me.
Come now. GET REAL!
I am a middle-aged proud south African.,proud of what we have achieved, and can achieve,given the chance.Growing up in the worst years of apartheid was brutal mate.I had my fair(?) share of the state`s kak.In short ,a prime candidate for counter-terror, or emigration.I CHOSE to stay .I chose the academic route.
Those of my “ilk” know what is coming, our country having passed a few of the danger-signal milestones.
I am saddened that my highly-skilled daughter and son-in-law had to leave ,instead of helping to rebuild our country.I do understand why though.
PLEASE WAKE UP!
R.V.BAATJES
Parliament we have a problem. You are causing our country to crash and burn.
No use trying to stop people having freedom of speech, you know the truth, all of you.
Face it, DO something about it. We have a right to say that it's touching our hearts.
I've been living abroad now for 3 years.
My folks live in an affluent area with armed guards, high walls; a so called security village. I can honestly say that I'm concerned about their safety. 3 break in attempts over the past 2 weeks sealed the deal.
I can leave my front door open during the night if I want, I do not have to be concerned about my wife's safety during the day or on the road.
The city I live in now had a total of 56 murders last year.
Fix 20 000 murders with a positive attitude...and while you are at it, walk on water.
Mr.Watson is an idiot with good intentions. We are all affected by crime and yes I watch out for my family everyday. It's high time the Govt catches a wake up and stops these idiots with good intentions by following through with their own good intentions. I'd rather live with the idiots than the criminals.
So many positive and negative comments. Wonder why Neil's website has only one post disagreeing with his aims?
We feel so sorry for all of the law abiding citizens of South Africa. We left Cape Town a year ago and we are now living in fantastic Auckland, New Zealand. It is rather difficult telling people back home how wonderful the lifestyle is here and to not see any burglar bars on homes or to throw your bag next to you on the seat while you drive with your windows open or to walk anywhere you want at any time the day or night and to see children playing in the parks all by themselves and to be able to use a clean, safe and efficient public transport system.
It is a liberating experience. It astonishes me to hear that there are 20 million people earning less than a dollar a day in South Africa and then the Government spends billions on that white elephant, the Gautrain, as well as billions on new stadiums for the Soccer World Cup when instead they can use the money to uplift those living in poverty and a lot of the money can go towards crime prevention initiatives. I guess that is Africa for you.
May God be with all of you.
Sydney and Craig
I sent this e-mail to Neil's website, "I am 31 years old and have lived in Cape Town since I was born, except for 3 years that I spend in London. I have never experienced any violent crime in South Africa, even after travelling around our country extensively. I have also travelled to a lot of countries around the world and I feel a lot safer here in South Africa than I ever did living in London.I find the perception here is just that, a perception. I run a successful guesthouse, and in the 4 years we have been open none of my tourists have had any problems with crime. The only thing your website is going to do is fight everything that people are trying to do to make SA a safer tourist destination. It really should be a case of doing something positive, not negative for our country.
You will undoubtedly get a lot of hits with all the exposure of being in the news, but really you are just hurtung our country. Quite obviously this sort of thing effects investment and our economy, thus less job creation and growth in our country. Crime only starts going down when people have jobs not when the govermnet starts chatting about more police...If you really cared about South Africa you would try to make a difference...
He sent the following reply,"We managed to get tourists deciding to stay away from SA. Thats the aim and the site with my supporters is working well to achieve that. If you have to close down shop, blame the Police Commissioner, not us!
WATSON Neil"
Just remember to be positive about the country when you are robbed or forced to watch a loved one getting raped. I suppose that you dont mind seeing news headlines with "Bloodbath" in? Good for you, you sick little twisted loon. No really I wish all of you "positive people" the best because one day when the big wheel turns and you have a loved ones brains blown out, I too will turn a blind eye, sit back take a swing of my Castle because hey I agree this is a great country, let the crime be somebody else's problem. Honestly would you be complaining about the website if you had lost a loved one to some psyco who wanted to steal something trivial like a cellphone? Remember to wear your Proudly South African badge to the funeral, and dont complain because if you complain you are better off leaving the country. Amazing, wow are people really that thick. You are living in a dream! Im a South African and proud to be one as well, just because I am fed up with living in fear does not mean I am not proud to be a South African. People that complain about the website obviously have never been affected by crime, but wait.
I see someone close to me suffer in some way every day of her life from just one isolated violent attack, her pain compounded by an inefficient justice system and corrupt police. Her pain is just a drop in the bucket. Consider the vast oceans of pain felt by our country men and women who's lives have been touched by violent crime.
I emailed that watson chap as well, I actually feel sorry for the dude - he seems to actually believe the crap he's spouting. my objection was over the total lack of facts or references to his articles/headlines. it's just good old fashioned scaremongering. his replies were extremist, badly written and half-witted; i got much the same response as the blog's writer.
i think this reply from him pretty much sums up his one-sided, closed mind attitude: "I ignore negative letters and do this for those praising my efforts."
the most comming thing i see from the south african detractors is the lack of stats and that government is hiding the truth from us. the stats are on the http://www.saps.gov.za/ website, which by the way, support mr. niel's figure of "20,000 deaths a year", so he obviously trusts these stats, which clearly show murders on the decline.
Adam,
It is because people like you still dare to dream that I have hope in our future. Thanks for this website and your sentiment!!
J
Well done, hopefully this blog gets as much media attention as Neil Watson's site. I think most people in SA agree that crime is a big problem, but just complaining about it and discouraging tourists to come here solves nothing. How will destroying our economy help anybody?
Thank you for starting the blog - I've been hoping there would be a way to counteract the harm done by the "crime" website, which serves no other purpose than to trash my country. I am white, female and have lived in South Africa for 55 years - but I have never been raped, hijacked or shot at, nor have any of my family members or friends. I know crime exists like everywhere in the world, but I have only experienced safety and harmony. Yes, we do have extremly challenging social problems related to poverty that also manifests itself in crime, but so has America, Europe, India etc etc. Rather than add to the poverty problems by dscouraging investment in South Africa, the crime website would have done more to invite innovative solutions to solving the problems caused by poverty, like children growing up on the streets.
When I went overseas (to the isle of man) 3 years ago, I was VERY negative about south africa: Affirmative action, crime, high prices blah blah blah. When I came back after six months, I had a totally new outlook on our country.
This is the most beutifull place in the world, espacially the cape. everyone so working hard to get this country working and then this one uneducated hatemonger comes and destroys everything I work for? Shame on him!!!! Tourism brings the country money and he is denying many people a descent job. The selfish biggot! I can possibly safely assume that he also still uses the word "kaffir" infront of people.
We don't need people like that in this country.
VERY Proudly South African.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never
begin.
Addy, you clearly have not been a victim of violent crime. Well, I have. I was robbed in my home and held there for 6 hours. How do you think it feels to see your fiance being burnt repeatedly with a steam iron and suffering 3rd degree burns thereafter? It's not a nice feeling being hit with a gun. I was once proudly South African, but I am not anymore. Crime does affect the president and ministers as they have entourage to protect them, hence the comments that the normal South African whinges about crime. I fully support Neil's website and i would like to congratulate him on launching it. At last, the reality of this country will be shown to the rest of the world. Addy, if you are a proud South African, it truly shows that you support the crime that is being perpertrated. I would love to hear your views, when someone you love is brutally attacked. Would it still stay the same?
WAKE UP!
Crime is real, if you have not experienced it you have just been more that lucky!
Unfortunately, by any standards of objective comparison, South Africa is a crime hell hole, in which more people are killed every year than in many of the world's worst war zones.
Whne one considers:
1) the zero future (for White kids, I of course mean) driven by anti-White affirmative action;
2) the ever growing squatter camps, which mean that the crime and social deprivation cycle just gets bigger and worse);
3) the collapsing infrastructure (are you sick of power cuts yet? Don't worry - there's more to come);
4) the continously increasing radical political demands from the (non-ANC-elite) masses, driven by their no-hope demands for 'ekwalitee'; and
5) the inevitable collapse into Zimbabwe style 'land-reform' (did you know that 52% of all farms in South Africa already have 'land claims' against them?)
Then any White person who thinks they have a future in South Africa, is indeed dreaming.
Happy dreams you lot -- 'cos I'm off!
I have to disagree with you.
It seems that we bang our heads against a brick wall in trying to get the government seriously interested in dealing with crime.
As the son of a mother brutally murdered, stabbed multiple times in the chest, in Cape Town, I am prepared to support most measures aimed at focussing the government's attention on the plight of normal citizens.
I wish it wasn't necessary. It is hurtful to support a campaign that disses our country but this malaise has to stop somewhere.
I don't know how extreme the crime website might yet get, so I am reluctant to give it wholehearted support but I most certainly appreciate it's stated intention of getting the ANC's attention.
It is too often forgotten that the very first duty of a government is to ensure the safety of it's people. All other issues are secondary and a luxury in the face of being murdered.
We know there are societal causes but nothing excuses the veritable orgy of rape and violence visited upon victims by these criminals.
For those of you untouched by serious crime, I fervently hope your situation remains that way. Believe me, you can do without the heartbreak and tearing apart of your family that accompanies it.
Just a warning, it happens so suddenly, so quickly and from out of the blue.
I too had never experienced crime until I received that fateful phonecall.
Go well.
I'm a young and proud South African who loves this country for the main fact that we are unique and have such a great mix of cultures and spirit.
I've been affected by crime - two cars broken into, one stolen, thankfully nothing more serious. But crime happens everywhere and we must learn to live with it and fight against it.
>I do believe you are indeed
>living in a dream. I immigrated
>to the US 12 years ago and have
>never regretted my decision..once!
Yea, right - which is why you visit SA websites and take part in SA debates, wake up and smell your homesickness.
Wow! This blogg moves fast. I wonder when our good Minister of Safety & Security is going to post something. Maybe if he's to busy and can just ask his bodyguard to do it instead.
Hey Addy.. Thank you for restoring my faith in my fellow South Africans. I was starting to think that I was the last positive person left in this country. It’s funny how positive people always get accused of being Naive! I am a mother of 3 wonderful children who also love this country. Because of work commitments, I lived in the UK for 3 years with them, and I was FAR more concerned about their safety there! I have been directly and indirectly affected by crime here, and I know it is a huge problem. But we need solutions, not some web site causing more problems! Good for you dude!! You are a True South African!
to date most efforts to resolve the crime problems in the new SA have failed, we can all agree on that. I therefore don't see any reason not to give this web site a go, let it run its course. For those of you who watch the news regulary, you would surely have seen the many many BBC documentaries that show the bleak side of SA, so this website is not an entirely new idea. I too am SAfrican, proud of it, but also tired of the cr#p we put up with - it should not be like that. Don't for a minute our crime is not unique, and that it's like that in other countries - it most certianly is not, and anyone who has spent time in other countries will realise that.
Where are all the solutions on this site that everyone is congratulation old Addy on? I have not noticed on single one...
Like every story there are two sides. Neil obviously feels strongly enough about the crime situation in South Africa to do something about it unlike most South Africans. Instead we calm our minds into thinking we are safe because of our high fences and burglar alarms, its a false sense of security because while the fences get higher and alarms get more sophisticated, the crime is spiralling out of control. I am a South African living in London missing home more than anything and to look at the Crime Expo site scares me. I am not sure I wish return to the country I know and love because of it, but I see the point. Neil's strategy is to hold the South African tourist ecomony to ransom which will affect the pockets of most South Africans but more importantly the pockets of those who are intent on making excuses and who play down the crime situation in South Africa. In my opinion the only way to make the numb minded polictician listen is to do something that affects their greedy little pockets. South Africa is the best country in the world it is my country and yours, but we have a problem why arent we standing together to fight this if the politician cant help us we need to force him/her out. I remember watching TV when I was younger, people were toi toi'ing standing together as one in order to achieve freedom, I remember thinking why do we white people just accept things and not fight for what we believe in, because we dont want to. We accept it and let the wool be pulled over our eyes. I am proud to be South African and I believe all South Africans are being robbed not of their possessions but of their freedom, the freedom to walk the street with your children and feel safe, the freedom to shop for groceries and feel safe, the freedom to buy whatever car or house we want and the freedom to share our beautiful country with the rest of the world. I have not read all the blogs here but I think most of you are blinded by this false sense of security, you are probably sitting quite safely in your studies fenced in on your computer. But what about those people that do not have computers the ones in the Townships who have no way to voice their opinion here. I think they will say their is a real problem in SA because they are the ones that live next door to gangsters, murders and rapists and do not have the money to build high fences. Perhaps Neil has right idea in showing gruesome photographs I hope it shocks you because I can garauntee you that somewhere in a Township in South Africa there is a 5,6,7 year old child that has had to face an image like that for real. Time to wake people positive attitudes are no good if they are not focused on making a difference. I wish you all the best and I hope to return to my country soon also with a positive attitude.
Mr Watson is entitled to his opinion. I am also. I am of the opinion that his site is a load of rubbish. It will cause no good, only harm. How many criminals are going to say "Oh. I see. I feel bad. Think I will Stop". So his approach is going to stop nothing. I wonder what other things he has done to help ? Joined the Comunity Police ? No... thats like getting involved and maybe something good will come of it. Rather let me make some quick cash from some advertising on a contraversial site. Nice. You are the worst kind of criminal. You are stealing my children's future by not doing the right thing for the right reason. The end never justifies the means.
Just a pity, a positive attitude is not going to stop murder, rape, theft....crime. Or did it work for you?
it makes me sick to hear people complain and who are bein negative instead of doing something about it. well mr watson if you dont like the country then lease us in peace. every where in the world there is crime it just varies from country to country. dont make south africa to be like the worst place to be on earth.i am proadly suoth africa and if you dont know local is lekker!
4 those that joke about africa been tough, and lekker, please wait untill you have lost a loved one due to senseless crime and then try put that point of view across!
South Africa is a god-awful, crime ridden sh*thole and the sooner we all leave the better.
Dear Addy,
You have obviously never been a victim of crime in South Africa or you maybe singing a slightly different tune.
I have just two points to make, firstly, I remain incredibly positive about SA. I sincerely hope for a day where my kids can play outside, I need not lock my front door and I feel safe in my own home.
BUT, everyone must admit that there is a very serious crime problem in SA. No matter how positive you are, we have to face the facts. The goverment has proven over and over that is totally out of depth when it comes to fighting crime,
There is no better place in the world to live than Cape Town, but we have have to stop accepting this level of crime as the norm,
Congratulations Mr. Watson, you have SA and the rest of the world talking. We can always hope that the crime will improve ... or than again maybe not.
Proudly South African,
If we don't kill those who kill others, it will never stop!
Hi Addy
We at TrafficSynergy.com Affiliate Network believe in the future of South Africa too.
In showing our commitment to those who further the prospects of our nation,
we would gladly sponsor the purchase and hosting of your domain.
Please contact us supportSA@TrafficSynergy.com to get you and the country the respect you deserve!
Looking forward to helping our country grow, positively!
Gavin Levin
TrafficSynergy.com Affiliate Network
This is not about being proudly South African....It's about living in constant fear of your life and of your loved ones. Obviously the people who are praising this "SHAM" have not experienced any relatives or friends that have been murdered, raped or highjacked. We pay taxes for policing...not for Metro cops to only target cell phone users!! I wont even mention 10111
The Crime Expo website has the intention of forcing the government to act. In part, I agree with this.
However churning out exaggerated and insulting content like their 10 tips for tourists is just unacceptable, and completely eliminates the legitimacy of the rest of their website.
For those without a family, kids, you really do not fully comprehend the situation from that point of view either. Worrying about your kids been away frmo you every moment of the day, at school in shopping centres, in the road, playing in the park. That is not what a democratic society should be about.
Lets see when i was in pre-school i saw a guy get stabbed in the back 20 metres from me. In my lifetime i have been at the scene of freshly murdered acquintances THREE TIMES ! I've lost at least 5 other friends to crime ! Personally i've had an attempted break in and was hijacked with a knife at my throat. I'm still here and trying to change things - i'm involved with community projects to try and help young kids get the same opportunities our / MY country has to offer. I had the opportunity to work in London a couple of years ago but I decided to rather contribute to MY country ! Yes we have problems yes crime is out of control yes we have problems with public transport BUT why don't we use this World Cup to all contribute and try and change these things ?
Do you all think that any tourist that reads this blog will feel positive about SA? It's achieving the same as Mr Watson just with a different front.
Go on, read the comments.
Addy, I belive that yr website and Neil's each have a point - but GROW UP - Crime is all around us - people (rich & poor / Black & White) are getting killed everyday. Tell me - you and all yr friends with yr positive attitudes and smiles about South Africa - when a guy is standing next to you with a gun against yr head and about to pull the trigger - ARE YOU STILL GOING TO HAVE THAT STUPID SMILE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE ON YR FACE ????
We were going to stay in SA to see if the World Cup might make things better .. but face it, this place is slowly going the way of the buffalo ... we are out of here ...
We have a crime issue in this country...but it's something we will overcome...
What is Watson trying to prove? He has proven to a lot of people that he is an idiot!!!! F off to Britain!!!
To all of you who think Crimexpo is a load of rubbish - take your blinkers off! Thats what is REALLY happening, so i agree - YOU ALL LIVE IN A DREAM WORLD IF YOU THINK THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND EVERYTHING IS HAPPY AND SUNNY AND PEACEFUL!!!
True South Africans my ass - more lilke slaves to the government wth zombie-like mindsets. Mayeb you guys should start a cult too...
You all say that everyone needs to do something, but everyone is just too scared to do it, then they carry on with their daiy lives, then a family member gets killed and they wake up from their 'nice little dream'
Watsons website is one aspect of something we should all have been doing years ago.
Sure, his 'ten tips' are ridiculously sensational. Granted, his 'stats' page contains more conjecture than actual statistics but you cannot take away from him the fact that our country is more violent than a war zone, sound like a figure of speech?
Check this out:
Number of US soldiers killed during 3 year occupation of Iraq: 2,539 (http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/)
Number of South Africans murdered in 1 year: 20,000 (that is 10 orders of magnitude more casualties in day to day life when compared to an actual war zone with tanks, foot soldiers, missiles ect.)
Incidentally, the apes not only disrespect the value of human life but also the value of human dignity and our youth, why would I say something like that? Read on...
South Africa holds 2 fucking morbid world records:
1.) Highest number of women raped per second: 17 (http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:DYLZlX01pWgJ:www.soulcity.org.za/downloads/wawsaarfj.pdf+south+africa+rapes+per+second&hl=en&gl=za&ct=clnk&cd=4&client=firefox-a)
Try this with me now buddy: 1 (hot potato) 2 (hot potato) 3 (hot potato) 4 (hot potato) 5 (hot potato)... 100 women have just been raped in our country, thats one hundred women and girls from toddlers to grand mothers whose lives will never be the same (if they survive the brutal beatings that usually go along with such violent attacks, often resulting in the necessity of reconstructive surgery to the tracheal, genital and anal areas).
2.) Youngest rape victim ever recorded: 9 months old, gang raped by 6 men aged between 24 and 66 (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/444213)
...still think life a the tip of Africa is peachy? Seriously buddy, WAKE THE FUCK UP!
Its long overdue that someone stick it to the fat cats taking 15 minute flights that cost R70000, stealing (yes thats what corruption actually is) tens of millions of rands from you and me and leaving the people who voted them into power destitute, homeless and desperate to the point of homicide for survival. Its long overdue that those in power be made to look at what is happening in this country and the only way to do that is to threaten their latest cash cow: World Cup 2010, and how to do that? Kill tourism. Simple. Effective. Necessary.
I disagree with those who have posted comments about our 'beautiful country', sure table nountain is cute, the beaches rock and the wildlife is one of a kind but this is not a beautiful place, do me a favour - watch the news at 7 tonight then tell me again what a beautiful place this is.
It may not seem like positive action to you, but as the saying goes: It is sufficient for evil to prosper that good men do nothing."
M
YES, we know the crime in SA is bad!!! BLAH BLAH BLAH
My wife and i have been living in the UK for 4 years now BUT in 2 weeks time we are moving home to johannesburg. We have been pretty much all over the world now including OZ and NZL and there is still no place like South Africa.
We both decided that we are PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN and therefore we are going to come back to SA and have PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN children !!!!
See you all soon !!
Watson's intentions are questionable. He takes pride in saying that he managed to stop tourists from coming to the country - is this helping reduce crime in the country?
Thank you for doing this. The crimexpo website is full of biased, hysterical writing and seems more interested in cheap emotive attacks than in presenting an accurate picture of the crime situation. I'm not surprised that they don't accept any comments except unconditional praise.
Yes, we have a crime problem. Yes, it is serious. Yes, something needs to be done about it.
I can even accept that trying to shame the government into doing something about it by criticising them on a webpage may be a good idea - but such a website would have to be *honest*, unbiased, offer accurate statistics, and most importantly provide a forum in which people can challenge its claims. If their information is correct, then they should not be afraid of criticism, and they should be prepared to defend it.
Some healthy debate here. The nation has awoken from it's passive slumber. Well done Mr.Watson, Just keep it real and honest.
This blog is indeed an applaudable attempt at a far better forum than Mr Watson offers - one built on heresay and scaremongering of the worst kind that offers no attempt to be a part of solving a situation that we all know is out of control and would rather did not exist. I agree though with a comment that said safas have become numbed to the attrocities that surround them - the extent of violent crime in our beautiful country should NOT exist, should not be tolerated and should not be accepted as part of daily life in Africa; as hopeless as it appears we must continue to deny such behaviour as a naturalised part of our lives. Such extreme cases of crime do not take place in most civilised countries and should not be tolerated here. My condolences go to those of any creed or colour who have experienced the effects of such actions. SA is a beautiful country of wonderful diversity and hope, but our patriotism should not blur nor deny the ugliness of what occurs within its borders and at the hands of certain of its citizens; rather we should continue to put meaningful pressure on those with some power to change it and provide viable alternatives for those who would so easily turn to criminal ways.
Good job on the site.If doesn't like it here he can go somewhere els and anoy the people there.
I think that Mr Watson sees the figures coming over his desk everyday as he is in insurance, so, in many ways he is in a much better position to see how bad crime really is, not like all of us, waiting for the media or our friends to tell us.
Sure, it is not great to belittle our country in the eyes of the world, but let's face it - Nothing else has worked, maybe this will get the fat cats to get off their ever increasing bottoms, and do something positive instead of muttering and paying lip service to our grief
Those of you clinging to the worn-out panacea that "everywhere in the world there is crime" are living in a fool's paradise.
Most countries do NOT have 2 year olds brutally raped.
Most countries do NOT have octagenarians raped, strangled, assaulted with foreign objects.
Most war zones around the world do NOT have an annual casualty rate of 20 000+.
Most countries around the world do NOT accompany the theft of a handbag with the callous rape of the victim as well, or a cellphone accompanied by a bullet to the head.
Get real people.
Keep it up Watson. Addy has not given us a solution yet, only started another lot of lip flapping.
My name is Lodie de Jager. I want the world to see my name because I am speaking.
Yes, South Africa has a crime problem. Not a single sane person living in SA would dispute that.
Yes, our government certainly can do more to fight crime.
Yes, in my plattelandse town Naboomspruit a policeman on duty was killed last week and buried today.
Yes, I cry with those who have lost loved ones.
No, I am not going to leave this wonderful country. I was part of the problem and I will be part of the healing process.
If the government won't listen to me, I will speak louder.
Even with the reality of becoming a victim of crime again I will stand up for this country. This is my flesh and blood.
And dude, no, I am not a student and not 20 years young. And yes, we have the right to be lekker gatvol, but whether the crime expo is the way to go, I doubt it.
Gooooooo S.A
We live in an awesome country!!!
A colleague tells me that before Greece hosted the world cup, Greek expats (not all of them, some of them) started a whine campaign about how Greece could never handle it. Homesick people are bitter. So are racists - they lost. SA does have problems but it's not the warzone depicted on that site. The places tourists and travelers go are fairly safe.
Thank you and congrats. I am also very proud to be a South African. Watsons actions are as criminal as the actions he is trying to highlight. Those 113 tourists he boasted have been turned away will result in 10 unemployed South Africans resorting to crime to feed their families.
To all those living in the UK or elsewhere who keep saying how proudly south african they still are... seriously, WAKE up! You are so out of touch with the realness of the situation.
Ironic that while Table Mountain etc is so beautiful and picturesque, you can't even climb the bloody thing these days without getting mugged/attacked! Crime's trickled in EVERYWHERE!
How do we do
I am not even living in SA as I have a work contract in Scandinavia but I sell it every chance I get. Its a wonderful country thats open and allows peoples opinions and debate...this would have been shut down in the US and Mr Watson arrested but he enjoys his freedom paid for by many other people in SA!
Can we all rather start talking about what we can do to work together? Seriously what can we do?
Lodie de Jager.........
Now you are the kind of person we need to get SA back on top !!!
Well said you are a legend !!!!!!!!!
Its amazing how many of those people voicing their support for the Crime Expo website are wishing bad things on anyone positive about this country. "Wait until something bad happens to you.. We won’t care because you were POSITIVE!!".. Shows you what kind of people are supporting that web site! They are as bad as the people committing the crime because they would never lift a finger to solve the problem as it will deprive them of something to moan about!!
We have the mountain, we have the sea and don't forget the forest. Do you dare visit these places, no not without a can of mace, a big rotweiler and you muscly boyfriend. Even with all of the above, to greet friends and family, chances are you will never be seen again.
maybe the racists in fact, won ????
idiot
Positive attitudes and pride do not save lives. Positive attitudes and determined action do.
Reality - South Africa has a very real problem with crime and no positive spin can be put on this fact; however positive action in highlighting this problem can. Your Blog and the Crime Expo site help to highlight the need for strong action to be taken to reduce the crime in SA. Be positive but also be realistic.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember carnage, death and mayhem in the country when we hosted the rugby or cricket world cups? Soccer world cup is certainly bigger, but the crimes that we're talking about here (life threatening) have been on the decrease since the other world cups, I'm not totally unaware of the crime problem in this country, but there are right and wrong ways of tackling a problem, and putting up a 100% negative scare-mongering website is unquestionably the wrong way to do it.
Well I suppose we could all stop whinging and leave the country....
I agree - you are living in a dreamworld. There is too much crime in this country. People need to be aware.
Both Websites life in a dream world.
The one talking about crime take things a bit to far.
This one is way to possitive.
We do have a problem in this country and it really feels that nothing is getting done, I am scared every day of becoming the next statistic.
People always say do something, then please tell us what!!!!!
We don's make the law the government does, we don't catch the criminals and prosecute them because it is not our job, the goevernment should supply this for us, and they are not doing enough.
I love this country, but are so affraid of what might happen next.
Some of you are querying Neils motive but in fact he is doing something. He is using his own money, his own time and we all can see, his own writing. The facts are there, he just hasnt presented them in the correct manner, they are partially immature and lack decent grammer but Face it though, this is the country we live in. Don't deny what is happening around us by "acting" positive. How can one be postive when the news is filled with murder and corruption. I fear for my life daily just because I use public transport, I try support my country but my life is more important.
i dont think what you or Mr Watson is doing is correct – in-fighting about an issue that clearly effects everybody around us and asking questions about whether we are "proudly south african" or whether we have a "plan b" is not addressing the issues at hand.
we have all been affected by crime in recent months by the senseless murder of a very proud south africans - Bret Goldin and fellow designer Richard Bloom. now i have never met these guys in person. i have no idea of their values, who they where etc, etc. but the thing that i do know is that south africa has lost two very special and very talented young men.
the interesting and very sad part about the above statement is that this happens to countless people living all over the country on a daily basis. which in our context will never get to the front page of the argus or the star or the 7 o'clock news, which in itself is more of an indicator as to what we as "proud south africans" value and desperately need to bring into question.
in my humble opinion i think that the way that crime is going to become an primary concern for our currently elected government is if we as a people united go to the streets - that is how we have the democracy that we are all are so proud of are living in have.
peace, freedom and democracy are things that need to be taken hold of - they do not just arrive and until we as people do something we will continue to blame shift and inevitably get nowhere.
p.s: you can email me at - guy at parton dot co dot za with any feedback.
The crime situation in SA is hardly a secret, if the site makes foreign tourists pay a bit more attention to their safety while in SA rather that than telling them they will be 100% safe and then having to deal with the negative press when they do fall victim to crime because of their naivety.
Go Addy. What Niel Watson is doing is completely negative and contributes to the terrible South African illness of talking ourselves down. You do not see Americans or Europeans deriding themselves and their abilities like we do, and it contributes to a acceptance of secondrateness. I would also suggest that Mr Watson go on a literacy programme, as not only is his website incredibly biased, he also shows that spelling is a mental challenge too far.
I have to agree with you we have a lot of good in this country. A lot of good people that is. Just a pitty that people feel so strongly against Neil's website. I agree with the website... Would you want to take your family, Your baby , wife , husband, parents siblings or anyone for that matter to a country where 20 000 people are being killed every year and hope that you will get back to tell of your trip I DONT THINK SO!!
I think Neil is doing a good Job somewhere someone's eyes has to go open so that they can see the reality of the state that our country is in.
For all the good things we have in this Beautiful country we have 3 bad things... We need to work together and do something about it. Why should we let tourists come here if we cant even survive here???
I too am adament that South Africa is a Truelly wonderful country.I left South Africa 8 years ago ive been back at least 3 times a year,yes there is crime and ive experienced it 3 times in the past year and a half each time i was robbed or had my car broken into i truelly felt helpless because the police would say there is no hope of catching the culprits,we bought a house on the coast and have spent thousands on security only to be told the more security we put in the more likely we are to be targetted.when we are in south africa law enforcement comes at a monthly premium of R180 which is paid to private security firms to patrol our home,escort us at night to our gate and respond to breakins.The local polce say they are not able to patrol the area but will come when there is a break in.The people of south africa are great,friendly and all that but the criminal element within south africa is huge I was in south africa during the zuma rape case and it amazed me how the poor and uneducated are being used to fuel the hatred and anarchy by the ruling class.If you think South Africa is good let me tell you it can be so much better if only the leaders would truelly clamp down on crime and not use it as an excuse to attack opposition politicians.I love South Africa as muchas you do and I believe it can be better than it is now.
Good broer,we need more positive people like you. I SURELY support your stand.Keep it up.
Great idea!
This blog thurther exersises the constitutional right we all enjoy; the right to free speech!
We just have to be wary of crossing the line into hate-speech...
As such I support the idea of the
www.crimexposouthafrica.co.za site. It's obviously giving voice to MANY frustrated South-Africans, many with whom I agree, many not.
Just be mindfull of the irony what's happening here...
You might not like the abovementoined site, but by ranting & raving agout it, you are giving it more power; promoting it in effect...
I also posted somethign to Crime Expo SA that wasn't teken up. Here it is:
I think it's important to highlight crime and not sweep it under the carpet as the tourist board, government and everyone else wants to do.
It is absolutley unacceptable that South Africans, regardless of race or class, are not safe from murder, rape and violent robbery. Sure, you're not safe anywhere in the world, but the level of violence in SA is unacceptably high and people have passively accepted it for too long.
However, I don't like your website as it is dishonest.
To tackle crime, we need to give an accurate potrayal and analysis, not a sensationalist one. Statements like "your grandmother will be killed with a hammer" and "your children will be raped" are rubbish; while these things do happen, but they don't happen to most people.
In the end, you come across like a disgruntled white South African using crime to justify attacks on the new regime. You discredit yourself, and end up being just as bad as the government which is in denial.
Regards
It saddens me to think you are so naive to believe this country is moving forward!!!!
Wake up dude, smell the blood on your doorstep, or do you want to wait until your wife/ children are gang raped in front of you?
You Silly man.
Well it is obvious that the Crime website did the trick. People are talking out now and I fully agree that we should tell people what is going on. Poeple who do not have a problem with crime in South Africa is in for a surprise. You will not be singing the same song when you are attacked or mugged. Let us know how it feels when something happens to you. I really look forward to that.
but such a website would have to be *honest*, unbiased, offer accurate statistics
How? How can any site offer 'accurate statistics' when this government took it upon themselves to stop releasing regular crime figures?
Would you believe their figures anyway? I know I would no longer believe them and suspect they are heavily massaged to reflect a less crime-ridden society.
This blog is indeed an applaudable attempt at a far better forum than Mr Watson offers - one built on heresay and scaremongering of the worst kind
'heresay'? Having your mother brutally murdered, splashed across the newspapers, is hardly 'heresay'.
'scaremongering'? You are right it is scaremongering and hopefully it might prevent some other innocent being cut down in the prime of their life.
I suppose now I'm a 'biased' commenter because I happen to have personal experience of what thousands of families suffer every year in a crime infested South Africa.
We ALL love our country, some people have simply grown sick and tired of an incompetent government living in denial.
That website is disgusting. I realy can't understand the motive behind it. For people like Neil to be in this beautifull South Africa is just a waste of space. Yes we have some problems as A country which crime is one of them but thats not the way to tackle it. Who does not have crime any way, America? England? Germany?
I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND ITS POSITIVE PEOPLE (MINUS NEIL)
From an IOL article about Mr.Watson's website....
The website criticises MEC for Community Safety Charles Nqakula. His department said it was "not the responsibility or interest" of the MEC to comment.
Is'nt that just beautifull?
I love South Africa, I hate this steroetypes of myself as a white SOuth African as a moaner, a whiner - but as a privileged educated person I would really like us to do something about crime - because we can't deny it - it is a problem.
Let's start listing stuff we could do to try and tackle crime. I like the idea of getting politicians to give up their bodyguards - is there at least one party we could persuade to do this? We could start campaigning to pay police more and have more police - if we could find the money. But what else? Our alkohol is the cheapest in the world - and I believe alkohol leads to violence. Let's force govt to make it more expensive. We also have to look at the absence of fathers in many families where boys have no role models and start moving in packs and get involved with violent crimes. Can we start an education campaign about this? But the biggest problem is our prisons - where small chickenthiefs get raped and recruited into murderous gangs and perpetuate a cycle of violent crime. Let's put the spotlight on our prisons.
The anti crime website is so disgusting. How can a selfrespecting citizen discourage tourists from visiting our country. Is it because he has an income and proper shelter that he doesn't care about the unemployed people of this country. Is he bitter about the increase in the number of tourists visiting the country and that SA has been steadily climbing the rankings as a preferred toutist destination in the world? I suspect that he is one of those people who never thought that our country will go anywhere after our democracy. I think that he is taking freedom of speech too far.
I think that this man should be put behind bars with his supporters because they are sabotaging the economy of our country. During the apartheid government he should have been in jail as we speak.
Yes, there is crime in the country and it's a problem. I have experienced it myself but I have hope for the country. It's not only government's duty to stop crime but every citizen has a duty to stop it. There are communities here who have teamed up with the police to combat crime and doing a good job.
I have been overseas many times( London, France, Spain, China etc.) and crime is a problem everywhere and SA is no exception. I have been warned that when I am there I should be on the lookout for criminals. Has this man read about criminal activities that have taken place in Germany during this world cup? A bank has been robbed, people have been mugged.
Who doesn't have problems. I wonder if he has a family because if he does, I pity them. All the time they have problems he will go to the neighbourhood and badmouth them.
Let all patriotic countrymen stand up to this senseless idiot.
Maybe it is a dream to be positive. But I'd rather be a dreamer than someone with my face stuck in the mud complaining about how bad it is!
There are problems. But moaning and running away won't solve them. Get active. Help in the community. Work with people who create jobs. Volunteer for the polive reservists.
There is a positive future if you want one. And a negative one if you would prefer it.
MR WATSON (whoever you are). DO YOU SEE THE RATE OF THE TRUE SOUTH AFRICAN RESPONSES IN REGARDS TO YOUR UNFOUNDED INTENTIONS OF 'TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM'. YOU HAVE CLEARLY MISSED THE BOAT! YOU HAVE THE WRONG END OF THE STICK. AND YOU SEEM TO BE IN THE WRONG SECTION OF THIS EARTH. THIS IS A COUNTRY WITH A LOT OF PATRIOTIC CITIZENS WHO ARE CLEARLY SUPRISED THAT YOU ACTUALLY RESIDE HERE. MOST OF YOUR MATES WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES HAVE IMMIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE? CAN'T YOU SEE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A COUNTRY? WE ARE ALL IRRITATED BY CRIME OF COURSE, BUT MAKING IT WORSE LIKE YOU ARE DOING DOES NOT SHOW ANY PATRIOTISM. WHO IN HIS RIGHT MIND WOULD TAKE THE OFFICE OF MINISTER OF SAFETY AND NOT GIVE A DANM ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS. WHAT DO YOU TAKE OUR MINISTER FOR. PLEASE PUT YOUR PLAN B BRITISH PASSPORT TO GOOD USE AND LEAVE. DON'T FORGET TO CLOSE YOUR DISGUSTING WEBSITE ON YOUR WAY OUT. OUR ECONOMY HAS REACHED PEAK LEVELS AND ALL YOU WANNA DO IS TAKE US BACK. YOU DEFINETLY DO NOT BELONG HERE. GO AND LEARN THE BASICS OF WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO CRIME AND SEE HOW MUCH (MORE THAN CRIME ITSELF) DESTRUCTION YOU ARE CAUSING TO THIS COUNTRY. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWING POSITIVE COMMENTS ON YOUR WEBSITE IS EVEN MORE DISGUSTING. PLEASE LEAVE THIS PROSPEROUS COUNTRY AND NEVER COME BACK!!
South Africa needs no people like this Watson. He cries crime and yet he promotes it. He cannot be trusted as he behaves like a criminal. He needs to be questioned in the court of law for his intentions. Blocking tourists keeps the level of unemployment high. This is incahoots with what South Africans need. JOBS. When people get hungry, they resort to crime and lawlessness. As sober -minded South Africans lets speak and act aginst crime instead of badmouthing our only country.
i know we have our problems here with crime but putting a site that will "stop" tourist to come to south africa is only going to create more problems....
its depressing to see all this bad news, but keeping a sane and good mind will drive this young country into a beautiful place.... with all the South africans who are willing to put their hands together and work to fix it... don't compare it to 1st worlds like britian and usa.... we are young and now its time that we shape what we all want our beautiful country to become....and DO SOMETHING than put up site that "stops" tourist to come here.
There have been more negative than positive postings on this blog so far.
You lot with your heads turned the other way, your turn will come.
Thanks for creating this site. Any decent hackers out there know how to add a link to this site to the other one? I had a look at the other site. I know there are a lot of negative people out there who can't see the wood for the trees, but I never imagined someone would be so disturbed that they would create a website with the sole purpose of putting down our fantastic country. Crime is bad but it is part of life everywhere, and far outweighed by the good we have. If you have been personally affected by crime and feel overcome by negativity, seek counselling. Don't write off our country just because you are depressed.
Well done, great site and a wonderfull message
If you were a tourist about to visit South Africa, wouldn't you like all the facts about the crime situation upfront, rather than being subjected to overly rosey marketing???
Government is failing us:
1) Too worried about the rest of the continent.
2) They are corrupt and un-accountable; only concerned about themselves.
3) They have 'plans' to deal with crime - they've had more than 10 years to address it. When pushed for an answer, they don't have one.
4) Want to spend millions of Rand to rename Pretoria to Tshwane - redirect that valuable money to poverty alleviation.
Watson's website made me very angry indeed until I read all the comments on this site. Maybe he has stirred things up enough for an anti-crime uprising to begin......let's hope so!
48 years alive and 33 years a "Proud South African"
I am a proud South African, who loves my country but am extreamly conserned with the high levels of violent crime and rape. I think it is very nieve to ignore this increasing problems.
What is more disturbing is when politicians tell those that are concerned about crime and express their concern to leave the country instead of winning. How about we all work together regardless of race to make SA a safe place because most of us agree its the best place in the world.
STOP hiding behind the excuses that its the legacy of apartheid. Apartheid is dead! We are all free, MOVE ON and work together instead of crying about the Past. The PAST will NEVER change, the FUTURE CAN change.
I agree that the crime exposing website will present a negative image of our country, but its not lying. These problems do exist and if your married and have children you have a greater sense of worry knowing if your family will be safe from murderers and rapists.
While this crime exposing website brings a negative image to our country, i hope it will wake up those living in a dream (ie. politicians and rich blokes that hide behind security). That website could create a new awareness and actually be a positive impact as we all work for change. You need events and things such as these websites to give us a nudge and cause a stir which could potentially lead to change.
Now saying this I also agree that we need to keep improving our country and when police thwart crimes and solve them, we need to let the world know that things are happening to help improve the situation.
WORK TOEGETHER...WHY CAN'T our MAIN PARTIES WORK TOGETHER ON THESE ISSUES...
Crime is a problem and needs to be dealt with and by saying that SA has a crime problem does not make me unpatriotic and a racist. It makes me a South African that wants to make SA a place where all people regardless of race can live together in peace and continue the rainbow nation which is the best place in the world....
LETS WORK TOGETHER.
Crime is indeed a problem in South Africa. One only realise that crime is rampant when it happens to oneself or to someone close.Crime does not have colour, no one is immune from it.
Having said that, I do not think it is the solution to boast about the number of persons you have managed to scare away from visiting and hopefully investing in our country. Imagine one tourist falling in love with south african and buys property.That toursit will employ domestic workers, who in turn would be able to feed his/her kids, who in turn will go to school, who in turn will be taught the lesson at school that crime does not pay and be away from the streets where the "role models" are operating.
To moan without taking your destination in your own hand will not take us anywhere, Those who left for "greener" pastures go for them because their destiny is in their hands.The millions who left behind, it must be our duty as law abiding citizens to join the reservists services, the community police forums, form civic or street committees etc.When we involve ourselves in all this structures, we may make a huge difference.We must not forget that we are ourselves the government. Government is not those 400 and something representatives in parliament, It is us the taxpayers, the victims, the criminals in our midsts, the children, the aged, the judges, politicians etc.Those representatives are not staying in heaven but wher we live they experience crime the same way and they themselves are victims. We need to refrain from bribing, buying stolen goods because that is want brew crime.
Ordinary law abiding citizens must claim back the streets and not wait for someone to do something for you.
South Africans we are on our own, we ourselves must break the crime shackles and cannot wait for Nqakula, his deputy, commisioners and about 200 something police officers to do something for each one of us.
Well done Mr Watson on unveilings SA's true ugly head. I applaud your site and hopefully all the 'rainbow happy' ppl wake the fuck up and realise that the country is slowly rotting away.... We need to make this an issue so that the government will actually do something about it! All those who moan about ppl moaning, Mr Watson is getting the attention it deserves!
>Statements like "your grandmother will be killed with a hammer" and "your children will be raped" are rubbish; while these things do happen, but they don't happen to most people.
Indeed. Similar facts:
- Don't go into a tall building in america, you'll be killed by a plane flying into it.
- Don't use the subways in london, you'll be blown up by terrorists
- Don't walk in the streets of spain, you'll be trampled by rampaging bulls
- Don't use the subway in New York, you'll be attacked by someone with a cordless power saw (cool story, just seen it on CNN)
You are delusional to think that all is well in South Africa. It is going to hell on a handcart and even those who are too stupid to see it now, will realise it, just as the Zimbabweans did -- let's hope it's not too late for you though.
WAKE UP PEOPLE, THIS COUNTRY IS FINISHED AND FAST BECOMING A THIRD WORLD SLUM.
This just in:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20060707133906947C502526
All I'm hearing is gorvernment needs to sort out the crime issue, but who is the gorvernment and where does he stay. Isn't government the people, who elect the office bearers. Better yet all the these car that are being hijacked and the goods stolen are bought by someone. Makes you think doesn't it?
Instead of just sitting comfrotably in your offices and stealing your bosses time writing on the websites be it positive or negative you should do something about the crime. Get involved in means too fight crime and stop the finger pointing (but then again isn't that we are all goo here in SA)...it's always the government, the Blacks, etc, yet participation in community policing forums is non existant..
I am ready to help to change South Africa who among us has a plan if not let us continue to pray asking God to heal this Wonderful nation.When SA became a democracy many were afraid that the country would be plunged into civil war between the Black and the White that never happened to God be the glory,our leaders seem unaware of their duties and responsibilities they will not change so lets pray to the Lord of all Creation that he would move once again that we may all live in peace and look forward to see our children's children
It's truly amazing that a large proportion of the supporters of Neil Watson's site - who have commented on this blog - feel the need to resort to foul language to get their message across!
Quite typical I believe of people who cannot civily express their opinions objectively, nor have the ability to present possible solutions to (any) problem.
Pray? Now that is a good one.
So come on guys, now that we have some passion and emotion driving this, what can/are we going to do???
breaking positive news!
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20060707133906947C502526
I was initially interested in what Neil Watson was trying to do, but it rapidly became apparent that it was pathetic. If it was a plight to highlight crime as a problem and a forum to actively address the problems, I would have accepted and supported it, but it is a blatent, destructive useless site. Yes, crime is a reality and a big problem, but we as SA citizens need to assist our police in the fight against crime.
If you read some of the "10 tips for tourists" you realise just how childish and pathetic it is... to generalise and say "Leave your Granny at home... she'll be killed by a hammer!!" is calumnious.
I'm really sorry to see that people hate a country that has provided them with such opportunity.
Let's actively and enthusitically promote and welcome all tourists and visitors to South Africa, let them know that crime is a big problem, but assist them in ways of avoiding becoming targets, while enjoying their stay, all the while we join forces to fight crime!
All you have to do is read the articles on any SA news site to make up your own mind. They dont even report half of what is actually happening in SA.
Watson can't spell. His site looks like s**t. He wallows in hyperbole.
But he might have a point.
hey great site, I checked the other site this morning and could not believe the rubbish spewed on it.
Keep it up.
PS: Put some Google AdSense on the page so that you afford a real domain name :)
SA is part of me, it’s in my blood and I love this place but what I don’t care for is the “people” that rape murder and steal with no fear of prosecution (because there is none) and even less for the Government which insists on protecting the rights of the criminal while the law abiding tax payers are told to leave the country for asking if it is normal to have to adjust you way-of-life to not trust anything or anyone as you may be robbed, raped or murdered. I think not. But that is life and you have to adapt, and that is my point we as South Africans know about all this, but these poor tourists who are used to countries with little crime, and where these things are the exception rather that the norm will be walking onto a battlefield and they WILL NOT be prepared
take off your damn blinkers! the way crime is handled in this country is pathetic! stop living in your own little dream worlds and catch a wake up man!
your sugar coated bullshit is nuaseating. I moved back to the UK and have no regrets. I have completely denounced my SA passport. I have written off what history I have there. Its a shithole, human life has no value what so ever. govt protects the criminals. Govt are criminals. Those of you posting the happy messages have probably not experienced some form of violence. Not to wish it upon any of you, but your opinion would change drastically.
Wake up, its a joke. I hope they lose the worldcup, that its all over the world news as to why they lost it. As for those that tell us to leave because we bitch... I did...no regrets.
Well done on this website. I don't think you're living in a dream world...you seem to be accepting of both negative and positive comments. I just feel sorry for people like Niel Watson. Yes there's crime, and yes its higher than most parts of the world, but attacking the economy like he is doing will just make it worse. There is nothing sadder than someone who hates his own country...Niel should emigrate to Australia and join all his mates who sit there and slag off their old country to anyone and everyone who will listen. What? They won't let him in? Oh no...now what's he going to do...poor Niel.
Post a Comment
<< Home