British Burglar says, “I’m ready for my closeup now”

Posted on November 9th, 2009 by Richard Catto 1,323 views

What would you do if you were wanted for breaking and entering and the newspapers published a ratty old mugshot of you that the police had provided them?

Thank your lucky stars that you no longer resemble your pic and go down to the local for a celebratory pint?

OR

Decide this will not do and send in a more recent cheesy snapshot of yourself standing brazenly in front of a police van so that everyone will know how handsome you really are?

A vain Welsh burglar from Swansea chose the latter option. Police have thanked him for his help in tracking him down and the South Wales Evening Post published his updated profile pic on its front page.

I think right about now is a good time for him to turn himself in and decide on a new career choice, because any guidance councilor could tell him that being a career criminal is not going to pay out for him.

via Reuters.

Tags: Crime
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Wealthy sex offender buys his way out of jail

Posted on March 9th, 2009 by Richard Catto 1,195 views

IOL: Rape group accepts money from sex offender

This is how nations collapse, when we allow rich criminals to atone for their crimes by buying their way out of jail.

A wealthy Cape Town businessman, Jan Rabe, 42, has been allowed to accept a plea bargain in which he makes donations of R30 000 to Rape Crisis and Cape Mental Health each.

Rabe is the worst kind of sexual offender possible. He was found guilty of producing and being in possession of over 861 images of children engaged in sexual activities.

For this he received only a 5 year sentence, suspended for a mere 5 years if he makes the payments amounting to R60 000, enters a rehab program and does some community service.

This is a complete mockery of our criminal justice system. They are a joke. A disgusting prank at the public’s expense.

This is how nations crumble into dust.

Tags: Cape Mental Health, Crime, Jan Rabe, pedophilia, rape crisis
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Who is responsible for this toddler’s death?

Posted on January 6th, 2009 by Richard Catto 1,623 views

On Friday, January 02 2009, a Soweto mother, Siphokazi Gontsi, was walking with her sister Zandile in Nyanga when she was accosted by two muggers who demanded her cell phone. She refused to hand it over, and in the struggle that ensued, she was pushed into the road by her attackers and the blanket holding her two year old baby daughter, Akhanya, to her back unwound and her child fell into the road where it was ridden over by a bus, killing it instantly.

Golden Arrow has suspended the bus driver who rode over the little girl and has said that disciplinary actions will be taken against him after their investigation has been completed.

Is this fair?

Was the bus driver really responsible for this tragedy? Shouldn’t the full blame rather be placed on the two muggers whose criminal behaviour led directly to the death of an innocent young child?

Source:
Bus driver suspended after toddler’s death

Tags: Crime, Golden Arrow, Nyanga
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In England, you will be safe, yes?

Posted on December 14th, 2008 by Richard Catto 1,424 views

South Africans sick of “crime filled” South Africa often flee to England where they know they will be safe, because, as we all know, in First World countries, one can walk the streets at any time of night or day and no-one would dream of hurting you. Right?

Of course, this is naturally correct.

It therefore must be completely untrue, the following story on The Daily Mail, where a 55 year old man, terminally ill from cancer, was beaten to death by youths when he popped out to buy some fish and chips.

This must be incorrect. There must be some mistake. I’m sure they meant to report that this attack happened in South Africa. They must have gotten the country wrong.

So, don’t worry, England is waiting for you scared of crime South Africans.

You will be safe there. I promise.

Tags: Crime
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Lessons we can learn from the Skielik shootings

Posted on November 23rd, 2008 by Richard Catto 2,614 views

On January 14 2008, South Africa was shocked by the random shootings of 11 ordinary (black) people in the Skielik settlement near Swartruggens. Johann Nel, a 17 year old white Afrikaner, was sentenced on Friday November 21 2008 to 176 years in prison for shooting his fellow South Africans, whose “crime” was being black.

Dr Irma Labuschagne, a forensic criminologist, testified at his trial in mitigation of his sentence, saying “I don’t think even he knows [why he did it].” I find that to be a disengenuous statement. I think it’s clear why he did it – he formed a deep and implacable hatred of black people, and from an early age too. Previously, at age 14, Johann Nel had shot at Petros Mabe, later testifying that he thought Mabe was a baboon. In hindsight it seems highly likely that this was a lie Nel told the court. Nel most likely knew full well that he was shooting at a black person and what is true is that Nel thinks of black people as being baboons.

What is very sad to me, is to read comments online of obviously white Afrikaans people defending Nel’s actions and justifying them by saying that black criminals routinely murder white people with no consequences. That is false, but it seems many white Afrikaners have decided that in their reality black South Africans get a free pass to kill white South Africans. Nothing could be further from the truth and they would quickly disabuse themselves of this racist and false notion by paying more attention to events which are reported in the media. They could also sit in on trials and witness for themselves black criminals being sentenced to long sentences for murder, rape, armed robbery etc.

No-one of any colour in South Africa is given a free pass to commit crimes against others. That is the truth of the matter and anything other than this truth is mere racist propaganda.

However, it is this ongoing racist propaganda, circulated amongst certain white South Africans that led to the deep disatisfaction and hate that spurred Johann Nel to commit his acts of murder in the first place.

At his trial, Labuschagne listed a number of criminal events that impacted Nel that she feels helped shape his views on black people. Essentially, the crimes perpetrated on members of his family and friends helped Nel decide that black South Africans were the problem and his personal enemy. Killing all black people was his way to solve the problem of crime against his (white) community.

It would perhaps be more forgiveable if Nel had taken the time and trouble to investigate and identify the actual people responsible for these crimes and execute them instead of random people who had nothing to do with the crimes that had touched his life. But this is the shortcut that racists take – they brand everyone with hate, instead of clinically targetting those responsible.

Tags: Johann Nel, Skielik shootings
Filed under Crime, Racism, racists | 5 Comments »