South
Africans are living in fear, fear of the violence that
all too often accompanies even a “straightforward”
robbery or mugging. The recent spike in the crime rate
has added to already high levels of anxiety among
ordinary South Africans.
Special
Assignment spent a weekend at Joburg General Hospital,
not far from Hillbrow, the epicentre of violent crime in
the city. Here we meet an overworked, dedicated medical
team led by Dr Goosen. He says roughly 60 percent of the
2000 severe injuries that they admit a year are the
result of either gunshot wounds or stabs.
Crime
analysts say the vast bulk of robberies involve threats
rather than actual violence. But recently one such
incident turned violent. Clay Pierre-Louis, a Qatar
Airways manager, was driving on the N1 in Johannesburg
near the Rivonia off-ramp. He was on his way to meet
friends when he got lost. He was shot twice in the head
and only his cell phone was stolen.
The
notorious Rivonia off-ramp has been the scene of four
attacks in just over a month. Two motorists have died.
Jenny Kearney was one of the lucky ones after a smash
and grabber took only her cell phone and left her with
an injured hand.
Police
have made promises to redouble their efforts to fight
the crime scourge. But the culture of fear remains…
paralysing ordinary citizens…restricting their lives.
Welcome to area 163
is
produced by Johann Abrahams and was filmed by Jan De
Klerk.
