As most of you have probably heard by now, I was recently mugged at Marabastad Bus Station in Pretoria, the capital city. Our Peace Corps Safety and Security Officer had been telling us about how dangerous the station is and since I'd been using the station for almost a year I had gotten used to the feel of it and started to relax a little.
I let my guard down and ignored my instincts. The funny thing about following your instincts is that if they are right, it confirms that it's a good idea to follow your instincts. If you follow your instincts and they're wrong, then you have bad judgement; what a crap shoot. My instincts told me that the vague instructions I received were wrong once everything started to look unfamiliar; the three guys who were "helping" guide me to where the taxis had other intentions; and the open field that I was being led towards was not a safe place to be.
Since the piece of my brain that was removed during surgery is responsible for being able to tell directions I often doubt myself when I feel lost. I place too much trust in others and not enough in my instincts thinking that this is an extreme impairment when it probably isn't as severe as I think. Since every time I go there it seems to take me a while to figure out where I need to be and often get help from people without trouble I had a naive sense that this was a good idea.
They walked me into an open field with a million exits but I was wearing a large backpack so I couldn't tell if they had a weapon pressed to my back and they were three guys about my age. I decided that given the uncertainty of a lethal weapon, the fact that I am out of shape, and three angry young men could inflict some serious physical harm on me, I chose to let them steal whatever they wanted and get on with it. They shouted at me "Don't f***ing move!", "Don't turn around!". They rifled through my pockets they asked me what was in my backpack and I said books (which was mostly true). To my surprise, they thought I was honest enough to believe and just shouted "walk away! Don't f***ing stop! Don't f***ing look!".
Tsotsis (means thieves or criminals in isiNdebele) don't really have much use for books. Hawkers don't sell them because they can't hang them on the boards they carry their merchandise on. People don't usually go to pawn shops when they're looking for used books, and people who mug people on the street wouldn't usually put reading on their list of favorite activities.
After it was over they had stolen about 100 Rand in cash and my cell phone (which I think was already stolen from somebody else and resold to me at the store) worth about 300 Rand when purchased new. At the current exchange rate that is about 50 US dollars.
I came to this country to experience a new culture and help the people improve their lives. I don't mean that I think the American way of life is the right life and my goal is to impose it upon them. But since their expressed interest is improving their standard of living through economic empowerment, I can help give them tools to improve their lives for themselves.
When I was mugged I felt that I was violated and that the people don't realize the value of what I have to offer them. I wish I could have explained to the tsotsis and they could have understood and accepted that the long-term benefits of working towards a better life far outweighs the short-term benefits of robbing me of my money and things. They also don't see the value in earning things but only, you have what I want so I am going to take it therefore I will have it. I know that this behavior comes from being uneducated and unemployed but sometimes I feel that even if given the opportunity for a job, some would rather steal than work for their money.
I realize that this experience isn't unique to me or even to South Africa; if it were then you wouldn't ever read or hear about development workers being kidnapped, imprisoned, or killed. I have to accept that I can't expect to help everyone or get them to understand and appreciate what I am trying to do. Crime will persist while I am here and long after I have left but I guess the best thing to do is be vigilant and not become a victim of it and try to help those who want my help.
