What a horrible weekend this was... attempted car-jacking

[Willem Fick]

Was so looking forward to the weekend, but what a mess it turned into!

As you may know, we have a massive problem with violent crime in South Africa, and we hold the unenviable record of being the country with the most armed car-jackings on earth. My brother really has had some bad luck in this regard, and has had two very close calls - once in 2002, when he was accosted in our driveway at home, and then again in 2003 when shots were fired at his car with an AK47. He came away from the first incident completely uharmed, and from the second with only some bullet holes to his car as well as a shot-up tire and suspension arm.

Friday night he was subject to his third attempt, and really had a very close call this time. He stopped at a garage on the motorway to get some petrol, and as he was leaving decided that he wanted to get something from the shop, so parked his car in the rest area, and walked back.

On his return to the car, he was accosted by three black guys, with guns, who forced him onto the ground, holding a gun to his head, and threatening to kill him. He complied, at which point they took away his keys, phone and wallet, and one of the robbers told one of the others to kill him.

This is then fortunately where his luck changed, as a person who just happened to be armed drove by, saw what was happening and stopped. He proceeded to shoot dead the chap that was holding the gun to Johann's head, which caused the other two to try and run for it. In the process a large number of shots were fired, and a second of the robbers fatally wounded. The third one got away. I wanted to attached some pictures that were taken shortly after the police arrived at the scene, but they are unfortunately rather gory.

Fortunately no harm came to anyone else in the process, but as you can imagine my brother, and our whole family for that matter is in a hell of a state. All in all I guess we have a lot to be thankful for, but I am getting rather fed-up with having to be thankful for surviving crime so often.

If nothing else, this has most definitely stiffened my resolve to get my backside out of Africa...

[tabs]

Geezus it doesn't pay to leave the house......

[Les Paul]

And some guys here whine about getting a ticket.

[350HP930]

My recommendation for people that live in an extremely crime ridden area is to move somewhere else.

Even though this scumbag was properly dispatched I have a feeling that the legacy of apartheid has done a pretty good job at creating thousands of other disadvantaged blacks with no opportunities who will take that guys place.

[Willem Fick]

You miss an important point - this took place at a busy fuel stop, on a busy highway! It's not about bad neighbourhoods, or just moving from them, but rather about being surrounded by unimaginable levels of thuggery, no matter where you find yourself in this country.

As for apartheid:

The two dead guys were identified as Zimbabweans, so I guess apartheid isn't really the issue here. Apartheid is in any case becoming a bit of a weak excuse for the lapsidaisical approach being shown towards actually doing something about spiralling crime in this country.

[Jeff Higgins]

So is it still legal to carry personal arms in South Africa? It sounds like it must be if a passing motorist was willing and able to stop and provide armed assistance. What a horrible thing to live through, though. I would personally, however, derive great satisfaction from seeing two out of three go down. I would certainly continue to worry about the next time; for myself, my family, my friends, and anyone else I care about. It just might be time to get out.

[Moses]

Problem is that when you leave South Africa, you leave with NOTHING. You cannot take your money with you.

A handful have smuggled diamonds in toothpaste tubes, but most of our South African immigrants left homes and bank accounts in Johannesburg.

Also, South Africa leads the world in violent sexual assault and is near the top in HIV infection rate. Frightening combination. Hope you get out safely.

[creaturecat]

Guard dogs - South African style

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally posted by Moses
Problem is that when you leave South Africa, you leave with NOTHING. You cannot take your money with you.

I can't remember all of the details, but one of the doctors in the practice where my wife works had a son living there up until about five years ago. He was in a secure, gated community, but had to commute to downtown Johannesburg. His wife and kids never left the neighborhood. It had its own school and the neighborhood association provided shopping services and the like. He sent them to New York and remained behind for a year or two tying up loose ends, professionally and financially. In the end, he walked away from the house and some other assets. It was worth it to him, though.

[Superman]

Leave. Get out of there.

[}{arlequin]

glad your family is ok, this is an amazing thing.

I have no idea what your brother has to be going through. It's his THIRD time!! Very scary.

Although it seems difficult, I think you should move, especially if you have the means. It sounds like a lot to abandon, but you'll keep a lot more too, like your life and your family alive.

I've read about the carjacking problems ever so often and always wondered how people get through them.

Your brother is very very lucky (maybe not if it happened 3 times, but I cannot look at this any differently). I'd arm myself to the teeth and still feel unsafe. Shoot first ask questions..... can't imagine that life.

[Hugh R]

Wow, un f'n believable. Time to get out of Dodge. Those are some mean looking, dogs, at least I guess that's what those are.

[Dantilla]

Thanks for sharing. I wish you and your family well.

[Willem Fick]

Jeff,
Yep, we are allowed guns, although government is trying it's damdest to end legal firearms ownership. They say that legal guns get stolen and used in crime, but themselves can only account for around 80% of guns issued to the police and military. The gun found on the first dead attacker was incidentally an army issue handgun...

Creaturecat,
Not exactly South Africa (yet?), but not exactly far off either!

Moses and the rest,
Abandoning some stuff isn't that much of an issue - finding another country to go to is! Let's face it, most 1st world countries don't exactly roll out the red carpet for people trying to get out of Africa, do they?

I am however as we speak looking at my options as far as Australia is concerned, since their points system for immigration is doable, especially given that I am a graduate engineer and IT professional. Am trying to get some info on the UK too, and for balance will even enter the US Green Card Lottery...

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Willem Fick
(... )and for balance will even enter the US Green Card Lottery...

Your best bet would be to change your name to "Carlos Hernandez," fly to Tijuana, and cling to the frame of the next truck coming over. Once you get here, we'll hook you up with a driver's license and all that

[bryanthompson]

My recommendation for people that live in an extremely crime ridden area is to move somewhere else.

Yes, it's time we pull out of California.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
My recommendation for people that live in an extremely crime ridden area is to move somewhere else.

Yes, it's time we pull out of California.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out; can you do us a favor and take Ahnold with you? Thanks!

[Jims5543]

A neighbor about 1 block over moved in and was from South Africa. He was amazed that his son (same age as my son) could leave toys, bikes, etc.. out in the yard and they were still there in the morning. He explained that anything and everything gets stolen in SA.

When it came time for his oldest boy to enter middle school he moved a couple of towns over to a predominantly white area. He was upset that if he stayed where we live his son would have to go to middle school with black kids. He was very open about his displeasure with black people and I found it a little disturbing. I was amazed he would pick up and move because the new school zoning would encompass a small black neighborhood.

After reading your story and putting together what my neighbor had told me I cannot imagine what you must endure there. I thought New York City 20 years ago was horrible your story makes it sound like a cake walk.


Hugh R - I think the Dark Brown animals are Baboons and the spotted are Hyena's.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Moses
Problem is that when you leave South Africa, you leave with NOTHING. You cannot take your money with you.


You do it like this:

Greetings Friend! My name is Willem Fick, I live in South Africa. I have a large sum of money I need to move out of the country as soon as possible, and I need your assistance. In return, I will give you 10% as a gift for helping me...

[Neilk]

We share office space with a South African. He left SA three years ago because of the crime. He left a fair amount of $ behind, but was somehow able to get a lot out. He said that someone had put a gun to his head but he got lucky and the gun jammed.