EYEWITNESS - INCIDENT REPORT
As per previous blog, Jean is away (she’s in Swaziland right now – Maputaland is close to the border and one of the people she’s training drove her across). She usually drives me to work and picks me up and so I’ve had to make other arrangements for this month. Thankfully, the CLC’s Director lives close to me so I’ve gotten a ride with him. But that means I’ve only gone to work on days when he’s been going in. He was going in late today so I decided to try to figure out how to get to work on my own.
We live in Gardens, which is a trendy white neighbourhood in the “City Bowl” (i.e. downtown or city centre). Jean’s regular volunteer job is in Mowbray, a dodgy neighbourhood close to home. I work in Bellville, which is a northern suburb of the City. About a half hour drive without traffic on the highway. The first mistake I made this morning was deciding that I’d try to avoid the rush hour and leave home after nine. It didn’t occur to me that suburb-city travel is usually during rush hour so there’d be less frequent buses etc after rush hour and the stations would be more desserted.
Anyway, I asked the caretaker in our building how to get to the taxi rank. Minibuses are called taxis here. These overflowing, recklessly driven minibus taxis are a staple in any African city although known by different names (Matatu, Danfo etc). The taxi rank is usually located next to the Golden Arrow bus station. The Golden Arrow buses are similar to the TTC buses. I think they are municipally operated but I’m not certain. I hopped in a taxi close to home and made it to the rank and all went smoothly. The bus inspectors were very helpful. I had a stroke of bad luck and arrived in Mowbray as the Bellville bus was leaving so I had to wait an hour but the bus inspector was happy to keep me company so I didn’t feel unsafe. Anyway, the bus arrives and I get on. The bus ride was really pleasant. Usually we drive on the highway so it was nice to weave through the city in the bus. Just when I was starting to think ‘wow, this ain’t too bad, if I can get my timing right I could do this on a regular basis’, we come to a stop and the following happens:
On Thursday, 16 November 2006 at around 11am I was on the Golden Arrow bus heading to Bellville from Mowbray. I do not know exactly where we were but we had just come over a bridge and passed a sign pointing in the direction of Athlone. The bus stopped at the next bus stop and I observed three people waiting to get on the bus. One is a middle-aged woman. In front of her is a young, dark skinned “coloured” woman, appears to be in her early 20’s. The young lady was wearing a long white gypsy skirt, with a fitted white shirt, big white belt, white slippers and (unfortunately) a large white tote bag. Standing behind her was a young “coloured” man of around the same age. He is about 5ft 10inches tall, clean-shaven. He was wearing a red polo shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. He had an earring in one ear and a pimpled face.
They were standing so close together that I assumed they were a couple heading to campus together. Just as she was about to enter the bus, the young man reached into her purse. She seemed a little surprised but she wasn’t screaming or anything so I assumed he was just kidding around. He grabbed her phone and turned around and ran off. He wasn’t running very fast but it took a few seconds for everyone to realise that the girl had just been robbed.
Afterwards, the woman was so distraught. I was stunned. You hear often about how people get mugged in broad daylight and how nobody does anything. Well, today, I was one of the people who did nothing. Besides the bus driver, I was sitting closest to the door and I’m sure I could have outrun the stupid guy (although he probably wasn’t running fast cause he didn’t need to. No one was chasing after him). However, I now realise that these things happen so fast that it’s over before you can even think to respond. I just couldn’t believe the nerve of the guy to steal from her in plain view of everyone on the bus, the bus driver, and the other woman waiting on a high traffic main road. He was just so smooth. It was such an eye-opening experience for me. I didn’t see a weapon but the girl didn’t protest when he stuck his hand in her purse, she probably didn’t fully comprehend what was happening. I offered her my phone so she could call her mother. Anyway, I give this report here for the following reasons:
1) Even though I saw the entire thing unfold and can describe the guy, this is the only place I will get to give my statement. These things happen so often here that no one even bothers to report it and the police will probably laugh if you called to report it. This is probably one of the reasons the idiot guy felt so emboldened. It didn’t even matter that someone might recognise him;
2) I have decided to retire all but the Swiss Army city bag that I wear around my body and that has several zippers for the entire duration of my stay here. No more bags matching outfits;
3) I must keep said bag strapped around my body at all times, even at restaurants and the movies. My co-worker’s best friend had her bag stolen from between her legs at the movies last night;
4) Contrary to what I had assumed, these thieves aren’t always drug-addicted people that you can spot. Sometimes, they are nice, even good-looking people who are very calculated and very skilled;
5) I will not in fact become a regular Golden Arrow or other public transit rider. Luckily there was no weapon involved this morning but after the incident people on the bus were sharing their stories of similar broad day light bus station and street corner muggings. Most involved knives. A guy who tried to chase the mugger soon observed that he had backup and gave up the chase. The trains are the worst. Gangs target them and there are several reports of rapes and murders on them. I may ride the bus again on occasion but probably not alone;
6) I will only carry cards and things that are absolutely necessary;
7) I could do all these things and still get robbed or mugged;
8) Should that happen, I will gladly unstrap said Swiss Army bag and hand it over.
9) I will resist the urge to chase.
I’m feeling a bit freaked out today. Not crazy about being by home alone tonight. I know I’ll get over it but right now I’m feeling vulnerable. I’m not sure why I was so affected by it, but I think I’m not crazy about the fact that there are people walking around doing whatever the hell they please confident that they won’t get caught…AGGHHHHH. Maybe I’m having security consciousness fatigue.
We live in Gardens, which is a trendy white neighbourhood in the “City Bowl” (i.e. downtown or city centre). Jean’s regular volunteer job is in Mowbray, a dodgy neighbourhood close to home. I work in Bellville, which is a northern suburb of the City. About a half hour drive without traffic on the highway. The first mistake I made this morning was deciding that I’d try to avoid the rush hour and leave home after nine. It didn’t occur to me that suburb-city travel is usually during rush hour so there’d be less frequent buses etc after rush hour and the stations would be more desserted.
Anyway, I asked the caretaker in our building how to get to the taxi rank. Minibuses are called taxis here. These overflowing, recklessly driven minibus taxis are a staple in any African city although known by different names (Matatu, Danfo etc). The taxi rank is usually located next to the Golden Arrow bus station. The Golden Arrow buses are similar to the TTC buses. I think they are municipally operated but I’m not certain. I hopped in a taxi close to home and made it to the rank and all went smoothly. The bus inspectors were very helpful. I had a stroke of bad luck and arrived in Mowbray as the Bellville bus was leaving so I had to wait an hour but the bus inspector was happy to keep me company so I didn’t feel unsafe. Anyway, the bus arrives and I get on. The bus ride was really pleasant. Usually we drive on the highway so it was nice to weave through the city in the bus. Just when I was starting to think ‘wow, this ain’t too bad, if I can get my timing right I could do this on a regular basis’, we come to a stop and the following happens:
On Thursday, 16 November 2006 at around 11am I was on the Golden Arrow bus heading to Bellville from Mowbray. I do not know exactly where we were but we had just come over a bridge and passed a sign pointing in the direction of Athlone. The bus stopped at the next bus stop and I observed three people waiting to get on the bus. One is a middle-aged woman. In front of her is a young, dark skinned “coloured” woman, appears to be in her early 20’s. The young lady was wearing a long white gypsy skirt, with a fitted white shirt, big white belt, white slippers and (unfortunately) a large white tote bag. Standing behind her was a young “coloured” man of around the same age. He is about 5ft 10inches tall, clean-shaven. He was wearing a red polo shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. He had an earring in one ear and a pimpled face.
They were standing so close together that I assumed they were a couple heading to campus together. Just as she was about to enter the bus, the young man reached into her purse. She seemed a little surprised but she wasn’t screaming or anything so I assumed he was just kidding around. He grabbed her phone and turned around and ran off. He wasn’t running very fast but it took a few seconds for everyone to realise that the girl had just been robbed.
Afterwards, the woman was so distraught. I was stunned. You hear often about how people get mugged in broad daylight and how nobody does anything. Well, today, I was one of the people who did nothing. Besides the bus driver, I was sitting closest to the door and I’m sure I could have outrun the stupid guy (although he probably wasn’t running fast cause he didn’t need to. No one was chasing after him). However, I now realise that these things happen so fast that it’s over before you can even think to respond. I just couldn’t believe the nerve of the guy to steal from her in plain view of everyone on the bus, the bus driver, and the other woman waiting on a high traffic main road. He was just so smooth. It was such an eye-opening experience for me. I didn’t see a weapon but the girl didn’t protest when he stuck his hand in her purse, she probably didn’t fully comprehend what was happening. I offered her my phone so she could call her mother. Anyway, I give this report here for the following reasons:
1) Even though I saw the entire thing unfold and can describe the guy, this is the only place I will get to give my statement. These things happen so often here that no one even bothers to report it and the police will probably laugh if you called to report it. This is probably one of the reasons the idiot guy felt so emboldened. It didn’t even matter that someone might recognise him;
2) I have decided to retire all but the Swiss Army city bag that I wear around my body and that has several zippers for the entire duration of my stay here. No more bags matching outfits;
3) I must keep said bag strapped around my body at all times, even at restaurants and the movies. My co-worker’s best friend had her bag stolen from between her legs at the movies last night;
4) Contrary to what I had assumed, these thieves aren’t always drug-addicted people that you can spot. Sometimes, they are nice, even good-looking people who are very calculated and very skilled;
5) I will not in fact become a regular Golden Arrow or other public transit rider. Luckily there was no weapon involved this morning but after the incident people on the bus were sharing their stories of similar broad day light bus station and street corner muggings. Most involved knives. A guy who tried to chase the mugger soon observed that he had backup and gave up the chase. The trains are the worst. Gangs target them and there are several reports of rapes and murders on them. I may ride the bus again on occasion but probably not alone;
6) I will only carry cards and things that are absolutely necessary;
7) I could do all these things and still get robbed or mugged;
8) Should that happen, I will gladly unstrap said Swiss Army bag and hand it over.
9) I will resist the urge to chase.
I’m feeling a bit freaked out today. Not crazy about being by home alone tonight. I know I’ll get over it but right now I’m feeling vulnerable. I’m not sure why I was so affected by it, but I think I’m not crazy about the fact that there are people walking around doing whatever the hell they please confident that they won’t get caught…AGGHHHHH. Maybe I’m having security consciousness fatigue.
posted by omoplusjean at 10:46 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home