When you're sitting comfortably in your home and prefer not to be depressed by news bulletins, you simply use the power of your remote controller. It's that easy to shut the whole world out of your life, for that moment. But I'm starting to believe that you're not a typical South African family until you experience a few episodes of crime. That's the moment you don't get to choose whether you want to experience it or not. Members of your community will invade your space, cause pain and leave you hopeless.
Few weeks ago my elderly mother was kidnapped on her way from Thursday traditional women's prayer service. In her full church uniform, she was a target to people who wanted a quick buck. Thankfully she was dropped off a few kilometers from home unharmed. That did not deter her from walking alone to the Spaza shop to get bread, airtime or whatever she needed. But that incident left us in pain. Pained by this confirmation that we cannot trust members of our society. It dawned on us as a family that we had a potential to feature in the depressing news bulletins about the rot in our community.
A few days ago, my 69-year-old father was attacked, beaten up and left for dead in Mabopane. Every Saturday without fail, Papa takes his car to a car wash. That's how he starts his preparation for his Sunday at church. Car was, then goes to the market for fresh veggies for Sunday lunch. This build-up landed him in ICU. The church fundraising cash he had on him stolen while lying there helpless. This was something I had seen on TV or heard on the radio. It was always another family. This time it struck ours. A 36-year-old man was arrested. Appeared in court and denied bail. His future probably doomed, because he fell into the cycle of many young men in the township. Jail, drugs or die of Aids. My father suffered pain, humiliation and a near-death experience, but somehow I still felt pity for the young man who now seemingly regrets his actions.
He almost killed the man who sacrificed everything to make sure his five sons do not fall into the vicious circle that emasculated men in the townships we grew up in. This young man becomes a reminder that there are many individuals like him who will beat the crap out of a defenseless man in his late 60s.
Maybe we are all victims of a system that widens the gap between the members of the same community. We also can't make excuses for criminal acts. But it makes you wonder why so many people opt for this shortcut. Crime.
This is a heartbreaking story. My father will probably never be the same man he was after this traumatic experience. But with the best medical care, he may recover and go back to enjoying what he calls "his last days". With a possible criminal record Sylvester Bafo Mashigo may never find employment. He's hurt so many of us I doubt karma will have mercy on him. There are no winners here.
