Toh Unplugged

Reflections on South African Police Service Support for Crime Victims I BECAME a victim of crime the other night (March17, 2010) when a group of about seven low life oxgen thieves, stopped me in my tracks, took my cellphone, wristwatch and the bangle I was wearing. One of the thugs dipped his hands in all my pockets hoping to retrieve whatever possession he could pillage. Another stood “guard” with a very big knife that spotted a shiny blade, while the “boss” commanded them to: “Take off his watch, take his phone, search all the pockets.” I stood there hopeless, knowing very well I could not fight such a big group and in all possibilities the “guard” thug was perhaps waiting for me to “perform” so as to feel justified by stabbing me or slitting my throat or even worse. This incident occurred in the CBD’s Evatt Street at the back of Mercator Chambers, which is situated next to the Terminus taxi rank. I was walking to my Richmond Hill residence after a workout at Humerail’s Virgin Active...