Hi Sue
Sorry I didn't see your thread earlier, have been trying to fight my own battle.
All the best, your strength is shining through in your posts, as usual.
I will do 2 things, I'll phone you tomorrow (maybe sms first, to see if you are able to take the call) I presume your cell number hasn't changed. Being in the same town as you, I'd better make the effort. Our beloved Durban, where my battle has been taking place.
Secondly, if you haven't heard of "Reach for Recovery", you should have. My mother-in-law has been through this and has come out the other side. She was supported through it by the organisation, and now goes to hospitals supporting others.
My story is a positive one, one full of hope. I see Matt Damon is playing Francois Pienaar in a film about Mandela and the winning of the world cup rugby in 1995 soon. Joined by Morgan Freeman. Please, please get the South African accent right, you two, don't do to it what Val Kilmer did to it in "The Saint"...
My battle has been one many of us have been fighting in South Africa.
My posts some time back were describing an increase in crime here. I'd like to tell you that since then things have got better, but not really. [bear with me, fairly happy ending]
In fact, 2 weekends ago, the people across the road from me, and 2 doors along from me were victims of crime. Them, and another 10 houses in the area, in 1 weekend...
I've upped the proactiveness, attending Community Policing Forums and getting people to join SunCellWatch (http://www.suncellwatch.co.za) I've mentioned it before, but tonight it hit home how powerful it is... Basically a system set up by an individual where info is shared amongst cellphones (mobiles, handy's) I send an sms to the number, it gets sent to lots of others in my area.
Anyway, a suspicious car was seen at a house, someone sent an sms. It went to lots of people. Some police reservists responded, armed of course. A shootout ensued. As I drove around my area looking for the suspicious silver car, I saw a few cars and lights all over the place. The robbers had driven off after taking fire. When I got there the car was down a bank, on it's nose, wedged between the garage and the bank. This was only a hundred meters from my home. This gang has been robbing homes for the last few weeks in broad daylight. They smash through the gates and then enter the house by crowbarring the doors. It always seemed that there was nowone at home. It is thought that they were ringing the doorbell, no response, go for it.
As I approached there were some police and other guys pulling one of the suspects out of the car, he lay there moaning, another one had fled on foot. There was a paramedic there but I don't think anyone looking on would have rushed to get help for this hardened criminal.
A few people came around (about 30 cars stopped along the road etc.) some, saying that this was the gang that had broken into their homes.
I'm not sure whether they have caught the other guy, but many of us will sleep better tonight...
The story has one last twist. I was phoned by the chap that runs the system. He has been contacted by the press. They want to run a story, but he is out of town. He has asked me to go to the interview with the journalist, no pressure... he says I'm good with words... Aish... He trusts me to keep his name anonymous. That's what we're all about on this website.
I saw his wife at the scene earlier, maybe I'll get her to come along. For the last few years he has been responding to all these sms's and forwarding them on. You can imagine at what hours this was happening and with what frequency... Wish me luck, they want to run the story by Monday.
Fight your battle Sue, win. We are, and it's a winning formula that will spread like wildfire. We are not alone, and you are obviously not as well....
The Tsunami of crime in SA will be met by a Tsunami of goodwill and co-operation. The rugby world cup was a miracle back in 1995. SA has not seen the last of it's miracles....
Sorry I didn't see your thread earlier, have been trying to fight my own battle.
All the best, your strength is shining through in your posts, as usual.
I will do 2 things, I'll phone you tomorrow (maybe sms first, to see if you are able to take the call) I presume your cell number hasn't changed. Being in the same town as you, I'd better make the effort. Our beloved Durban, where my battle has been taking place.
Secondly, if you haven't heard of "Reach for Recovery", you should have. My mother-in-law has been through this and has come out the other side. She was supported through it by the organisation, and now goes to hospitals supporting others.
My story is a positive one, one full of hope. I see Matt Damon is playing Francois Pienaar in a film about Mandela and the winning of the world cup rugby in 1995 soon. Joined by Morgan Freeman. Please, please get the South African accent right, you two, don't do to it what Val Kilmer did to it in "The Saint"...
My battle has been one many of us have been fighting in South Africa.
My posts some time back were describing an increase in crime here. I'd like to tell you that since then things have got better, but not really. [bear with me, fairly happy ending]
In fact, 2 weekends ago, the people across the road from me, and 2 doors along from me were victims of crime. Them, and another 10 houses in the area, in 1 weekend...
I've upped the proactiveness, attending Community Policing Forums and getting people to join SunCellWatch (http://www.suncellwatch.co.za) I've mentioned it before, but tonight it hit home how powerful it is... Basically a system set up by an individual where info is shared amongst cellphones (mobiles, handy's) I send an sms to the number, it gets sent to lots of others in my area.
Anyway, a suspicious car was seen at a house, someone sent an sms. It went to lots of people. Some police reservists responded, armed of course. A shootout ensued. As I drove around my area looking for the suspicious silver car, I saw a few cars and lights all over the place. The robbers had driven off after taking fire. When I got there the car was down a bank, on it's nose, wedged between the garage and the bank. This was only a hundred meters from my home. This gang has been robbing homes for the last few weeks in broad daylight. They smash through the gates and then enter the house by crowbarring the doors. It always seemed that there was nowone at home. It is thought that they were ringing the doorbell, no response, go for it.
As I approached there were some police and other guys pulling one of the suspects out of the car, he lay there moaning, another one had fled on foot. There was a paramedic there but I don't think anyone looking on would have rushed to get help for this hardened criminal.
A few people came around (about 30 cars stopped along the road etc.) some, saying that this was the gang that had broken into their homes.
I'm not sure whether they have caught the other guy, but many of us will sleep better tonight...
The story has one last twist. I was phoned by the chap that runs the system. He has been contacted by the press. They want to run a story, but he is out of town. He has asked me to go to the interview with the journalist, no pressure... he says I'm good with words... Aish... He trusts me to keep his name anonymous. That's what we're all about on this website.
I saw his wife at the scene earlier, maybe I'll get her to come along. For the last few years he has been responding to all these sms's and forwarding them on. You can imagine at what hours this was happening and with what frequency... Wish me luck, they want to run the story by Monday.
Fight your battle Sue, win. We are, and it's a winning formula that will spread like wildfire. We are not alone, and you are obviously not as well....
The Tsunami of crime in SA will be met by a Tsunami of goodwill and co-operation. The rugby world cup was a miracle back in 1995. SA has not seen the last of it's miracles....
Minister for the Motherland