You hear about the high murder, burglary, assault, and rape rates in South Africa and would like to believe it is not true. Since I've been here many volunteers have been victims of burglary, assault, robbery at knifepoint and attempted murder. Thankfully I have not had to deal with this.
An Afrikaans man who I've been working with has said he believes that there are no criminals in South Africa, only poverty-striken people who resort to crime. I can comprehend people who rob and steal as a desperate act to support themself. But if rape and murder are also committed it is absolutely unexcusable.
I went to talk to a woman who recently opened an old age home to see how things were going. I saw a few familiar faces however she told me about her newest resident. She was found in her house on the floor, arms and legs bound, with bruises on her head and neck. A 25 year-old "man" broke into her house, raped her, left her on the floor alone, and stole her pension check. I would like to believe this was something that was made up but I saw the woman and I could see that it was not.
I am not sure who is to blame for this act. It is very commonplace in U.S. courts to hear a defendant claim that they were abused as a child or made fun of too much at school. This person was quite possibly raised by uneducated parents, or in a one or no-parent home because his parents were victims were killed by AIDS. His school was probably under resourced and may have had poorly-trained and demotivated educators. He may have been raised by a gang and surrounded by crime his whole life.
History shows that people of all races and ethnicities can be brainwashed into believing and doing incredible and indespicable things. Nazi Germany, Islamic Jihadists, the KKK, and Japanese Kamikazees all come to mind. It's not because he's black, or because he's African and because all Africans are barbarians (not something that I believe). History also shows that when ignored and neglected by their government people will do some crazy things (any oppressive regime depriving its people of their basic rights).
One thing is for sure is that there is a large portion of the population that is being left behind by their government. I refrain from saying forgotten because they know they are there they just ignore them so they can better serve themselves. The current administration endorses vigilante justice as a compliment to the ineffective (in many areas) South African Police Service.
These problems are so deep-rooted into this society that it is hard to fathom widespread change happening anytime soon. All I can hope is that in my time here I may influence a few children to stay on track and study hard, a few young adults to find jobs or get more training and skills, and motivate community members to make change happen themselves. In this way, change will perpetuate and eventually the changes that I was hoping to make while I was here will be fully realized.
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