Crime Reality Check – South Africa
November 29, 2009 4 Comments
In the weeks, months and years ahead I hope to convey what I believe to be an important message to South Africans about crime and incarceration and the effects of these on society. On this blog you will read about the negative aspects and the positive aspects. You’ll read about true stories of crime as told by criminals themselves. You’ll read my own miserable story of abuse, drugs, house breaking, robbery, murder and the characters I’ve met along the way.
Above all, you’ll read about constructive ideas, social solutions to crime in South Africa and a fresh approach to Rehabilitation.
If you’re a member of South African society, you need to read this blog for insights into the prison system which you’ll not hear in too many other places. This blog is about the truth and it may be a bitter pill to swallow, but society itself is to blame for the crime situation in South Africa. It can be turned around. The tide of crime can be pushed back, but we as a nation have to want it enough to change our own attitudes. The change begins with us.
This blog will be updated from time to time. Coming soon … A story of Crime, Drugs, Violence and Murder. See “Confessions” in a couple of weeks and check back from time to time for new pages and additional info on existing pages.
I’ve spent some time with the “Knysna Monster” as Antonie Wessels was known, “The Hillbrow Jawbreaker” (Rodney Axe), Gordon David Joubert (Paedophile and el’ sicko of note) and numerous other notorious criminals. They provide deep insights into the criminal mind simply through speaking with them if one is observant enough.
I know Gordon Joubert and Antonie Wessels well. Antonie was given the death sentence, Joubert picked up 39 years for his rape and child porn crusade. One of them deserved to be removed permanently. See “The Death Penalty” page (coming soon) for my views on the death penalty in South Africa. We all have opinions, but I believe I’m qualified to comment on all these issues which I will raise on this blog.
South Africa needs a new prison system. We need to create a new reality and realise that we cannot remove a man from the norm for extended periods of time and expect him to conform upon his release from prison. A system needs to be created which is based on the norms of society, where a prisoner becomes self sufficient and not a liability to the taxpayer. This page will also be coming soon.
About Crime Speaker
Me again,
It will interesting to read your article on the Death Penalty. My opinion on a better prison system would be: All petty crime offenders i.e. small robberies cell phones etc should not be put into prison. They should be made to work in prison uniform in local areas working with our road agencies, city parks etc where they work everyday for however many days he/she has been punished for. During this punishment, social services should also be involved in the way of advice etc etc. Once the punishment is completed, each person should be taken to one of the worst prisons and must be put into an isolated cell where they can see what happens in prisons amongst the prisoners. They should also be allowed to speak to one of the inmates who has been in prison a long time to hear what happens in the prison. Hopefully this can alleviate the petty crime and these people can go back into society with a totally different view.
The people that rape and are child abusers. Well that is something that most people detest is rape and child abuse. Most of the times child abusers have been abused themselves as children and some of the people make it in life with help and guidenance and others do not make it. I have to think about this a little more on what I think punishment should be. I will get back to you on this.
Murder. Murder can be a genuine murder it can also be classified as self defence. When a person murders a spouse who is abusive etc I think in the moment that he/she murders that person all you can think about is that this person will not longer be around to do this anymore. Maybe they do not think of the consequences thereafter which would or could be prison. Some of these cases are really genuine where he/she has murdered a spouse due to abuse and are sent to prison without a fair trial. My opinion is that instead of sending these people to prison, rather send them to an instituition where they can receive mental and medical assistance. To talk about the abuse and to work through it with a qualified professional person. Give these people a sentence where they are in a facility not a prison for a period of time so that hey can work through the issues they have been faced with.
The person who really deliberately goes out and murders and has no remorse well perhaps the Death Penalty would be appropriate.
Have to think more will get back to you.
Hi Lara,
Firstly, the death penalty … There are many aspects which need to be taken into account when even considering who would be a candidate for the death sentence. It’s a very touchy subject, but I believe that the decision to terminate a life is justified in cases of senseless murder, murder with greed or bloodlust as the motivating factors and repeat child sex offenders … BUT … the decision needs to be taken through a process which establishes without doubt the following:
a.) Intent
b.)Guilt
c.) That the individual is indeed beyond rehabilitation
Social services not only need to be involved, they need to TAKE CHARGE of the rehabilitation process. I can think of a dozen reasons why people ‘murder’ and not all are with ‘bad intent’. Intent is a funny thing. Take a guy who really believes hr & his family will be blessed if he kills innocent people for what he believes is the spiritual truth and his cause. Does he kill with intent to do bad or does he kill with the intent to do what is required of him by who and what he believes to be GOD, and therefore what he believes to be good? Is the world in a position to decide that a man should be rehabilitated from his destructive beliefs or that he should be killed because of his beliefs. There’s much to be considered, but I believe the death penalty has a role to play if implemented correctly. We cannot simply hang every other person who kills someone.
In the case of spouse abuse and abuse and domestic abuse, once again society needs to do more to open channels which are available to women and children to make it easier for them to approach someone. So many victims find themselves stuck in a situation, fearful of what might happen of they leave, because they don’t have anywhere else to go, or falsely believe that the person they love will change. As a male I can’t begin to imagine how it must be to live with constant threat and oppression but I can understand the mechanisms which are sparked and lead to an extreme act. The chances are that a woman who kills in this state will never do so again. Therefore the purpose of imprisonment is defeated. The crime must be punished says the law, but there is much more to be considered in terms of what is best for society as a whole. These women should never see the inside of a prison, but as you suggest, rather a place of counselling and healing.
Society needs to get real and move away from anger, take on a more healing approach and I swear we can put a bandaid on the world. Thanks again for taking the time and sorry for the late response.
I am trying to find more info on Rodney Axe being on death row several decades ago.
Hi Piet. Sorry for my late response. been working my butt off! U had cause to locate Rodney Axe (or Ax). This was about 8 months ago. I am not sure when he is due for release, but the latest is that he is at Boksburg Prison on the East Rand of Gauteng. I hope this helps. If you visit, take some cigarettes or a phone card or something and you’ll have a good discussion. Nothing better than approaching the target itself