COLUMN: When is enough, enough?

Flanked by the SAPS national commissioner and other top brass, Minister of Police Bheki Cele delivered the second quarter crime statistics on November 17.

Statistics were gathered from reported crimes nationally, from July 1 to September 30.

During this period, 6 945 murders were committed, a decrease of 0.8% from last year – meaning that 59 fewer people’s blood was spilled at the hands of criminals. The minister seemed tremendously proud of this statistic.

Cases of attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, however, increased.

Closer to home, it was reported that throughout Gauteng, 136 people were murdered as a result of robbery, while 27 were killed during hijackings and attempted hijackings.

In 884 reported cases, firearms were the weapons of choice.

A day after the release of these stats, Benoni resident and beloved teacher Heinrich Hamm was shot and killed while out cycling with his brother-in-law and nephew.

Hamm’s blood stained the dirt road near the R25, a route that he has been riding for 25 years and that is popular among other cyclists. Hamm paid with his life for a bicycle. His nephew, a matriculant, has been left traumatised.

The trio was shot at as assailants chased them down. An adult man asserted his authority from behind the barrel of a loaded gun, holding it to a boy’s head while his partners in crime shouted and cheered for him to pull the trigger.

Standing on the brink of adulthood, a scholar’s life was threatened before witnessing a cold-blooded murder.

A father watched helplessly as the scene unfolded because an armed gang had their sights set on two-wheeled pedal-powered equipment.

A family will now have to spend hours, days, and even years at a local magistrate’s court to testify against people who live by the sword.

With a population of an estimated 729 952, according to Statistics South Africa’s most recent census, Benoni’s men, women and children are being held hostage by a minority who make a living from the proceeds of crime.

When is enough, enough?

During the recent media briefing, the minister stated: “Fellow South Africans, the drop in murders is reflective of the SAPS’s continued efforts to combat crime, through decisive police action and robust community involvement. I wish to make this point very clear; the second consecutive drop in the country’s murder figures is in no way a claim of any victory by the SAPS. While there are green shoots, one murder is one too many.”

Yes, Mr Minister a single life lost is one too many. I realise that matters relating to crime strongly rely on data, figures and stats, but every number, every percentage has a name and a family behind it.

Every reported case of murder has a significant impact on innocent people and communities.

The death of Heinrich Hamm and so many others will dramatically change the course of many lives.

A twinkling in the eye is immediately extinguished. Dreams of the future are replaced by nightmares and our faith in humanity is diminished.

So what is the answer? Should our constitution revert back to scripture, an eye for an eye? Should our borders be sewn shut? Will breaking the cycle of poverty deter criminal behaviour?

How am I to know? I am only a journalist who sits with victims and their families.

It is my responsibility to correctly and factually recount the incident to my community while remaining aware that I am dealing with humans experiencing very raw emotions.

Do you read the news Mr Minister? Do you hear the names of victims, who will henceforth only be referred to in the past tense?

Perhaps if you paid more attention to the faces contained in police dockets you would realise that the numbers mean nothing.

Every case of rape, murder, assault and robbery is one too many.

Perhaps when you attach a name to every percentage, you will realise that a lot more needs to be done to protect the law-abiding citizens of this beautiful country.

The numbers that are fed into the SAPS system are not a true reflection of the mournful sobs that accompany every act of violence.

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