Comments on: Brandon Huntley: Canadian sans sore thumb

By: pistolero

pistolero — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:23:47 +0000

That statistics show that white males are 100 times less likely to be victims of crime is all fine and well. The rich (black and white) tend to live in low crime, protected neighbourhoods. Nevertheless, it seems fairly obvious to me when a crime is racially motivated, as Fred illustrated:

“Mr Trapido, with your experience and knowledge of criminal law, if someone breaks into your house, wakes you up, rapes and tortures you, and then leaves taking nothing but your car, what were they there to do? Can you remember many cases like that where the criminals were white and the victims black? Can you remember many cases where the criminals were black and the victims black?”

Why torture–why not just take? Why only take the car? Of course, these types of crimes aren’t considered hate crimes because that is just inconceivable to many “African SAns” or whatever. But I don’t see any hard evidence either way… I only see dubious statistics for REPORTED crime published on an SA gov’t website with several spelling errors.

I agree that crime isn’t a rich white guy problem. It’s PROBABLY a poor problem and maybe to some degree, a racial one. But ignoring the racially motivated character of these crimes or neglecting black-on-white crimes altogether is counterproductive. Transparency, fairness, etc. … that’s what’s needed.

By: Rose Morrow

Rose Morrow — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:52:04 +0000

What Madiba wants for RSA is what we all want – it is the ideal and it is his dream just as much as it is ours. However we are living with a reality born out of a fractious, unjust past and whilst we strive for the ideal we must be realistic – no one knows that better than Madiba. If during a pregnancy a mother takes drugs, smokes, drinks and gets smashed around not even she could hope for a healthy, joyous, normal baby…. and so it is for South Africa – hard work and commitment from every citizen, justice, shared wealth and a fine education amongst other requirements are the ingredients required to heal a nation fractured by its past. As for the Canadian organization that gave the guy asylum (it wasn’t the actual government – they are opposing what was done for Huntly – sanity prevails!) – I say to them – get real! What a bunch of idiots!

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:28:12 +0000

I love the Canadian Goverment for what they are doing. I believe there is a lot of truth in Hutley’s story. I believe the SA goverment is corrupt and definently racist. Think about what Madiba wanted for all of us and ask yourself is this what we are seeing in SA today. Definently not. Go Canada I believe you have done a great thing.

By: Themba Ndlazi

Themba Ndlazi — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:21:52 +0000

A lot has been posted, but less has been said to upbring our lovely Country. What a Country ? All true SAns who lives in it. Crime has no colour bar, we need to know this. Not unless u left the country long before 1994. To all refugees from other countries, sooner or later we will be able to overcome you all, when you inject racism in our country. Time differences confirms your actions.

I’m glad that I’ve peace in my life, I have friends through out any colour skin you may think in SA. When I say friends I mean friends where we all share interesting life matters relevant to our family and personal lives.

I have fought my own black community as well as white community, chines, indians the list goes on. At the end of the day, SA is for the people who live in it, not to sure of people who left the country.

To all of us who believe in this country let us stand tall, and not keep quite, and shame who ever speak or badmouth this country. Theres’s a place for all of us. For those who want to leave let them do so, let them follow their own rainbow not ours.

Do not be fooled with what they say. My dream is to have a country where we’re all equally. For the record, Thanks to our white community who acknowledge that apartheid was the cancer and this’s the end

By: Melanie

Melanie — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:23:51 +0000

NO way you spin it TRAPS can cahnge it. You have actually made the perfect argument to justify his asylum.

By referring to the affluent you have created a class of persecuted persons – it is not mere crime
attributed to this group- but rather – targeted and the systemic failure by law enforcement to docket and investigate is tantamount to being complicit in its commission. This class of persecuted is further endorsed by the Government and leadership refusal to protect its citizenry through their respective ommissions.

By: Engela J M Britz

Engela J M Britz — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:47:24 +0000

It is time that Zuma realises that more and more people (white and black) is getting fed up with the Mr A.N. Criminal Party.
The never stopping underestimation of the intelligence of the citizens of this beautifull country is something that should be understanded.
One must have some sort of measurement to make any form of an estimation!
The petty bourgeousi should stop blaming the capitalist and imperialist (who fed them in the past) and start to their jobs!

By: Robert L

Robert L — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:32:41 +0000

Wasn’t it the ANC who said that anyone whinging about crime can leave the country? So why should the ANC whinge when someone gets refugee status in another country?

By: Michael Francis

Michael Francis — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:33:12 +0000

While it is true that discrimination was legislated under Apartheid, is it not also true that the constitution expressly allows for discrimination in the form of affirmative action? And that the burden of proof for the need to discriminate lies with the discriminator?

I would support some form of affirmative action but have yet to see basic fairness in its application. At universities jobs go to Africans with Masters degrees over whites with Phds. This is killing graduate programmes and the ability of SA universities to create Africans with PhDs. The irony is excruciating.

By: Avhatakali Nenungwi

Avhatakali Nenungwi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:10:50 +0000

I agree with the author when he says that there is a perception that Blacks are targeting Whites. It is also important to note that black people are also victims of crime. For an example, I get people breaking into my house from time to time. Some people point guns at me. I can not move around freely without criminals getting at me or cops trying to get bribes from me but yet I am not White.
Although I am not a criminal let alone a racist one, I know that even if white people were any other colour (e.g. green); they would probably still experience relatively high levels of crime. This is not necessarily because they are white. I think it would be due to their social class and racial history. I think that if black people were a minority and had enjoyed privileges like whites did during apartheid, they would be probably be experiencing and perceiving what whites are experiencing and saying now.
Black and white relations have historically been very negative in South Africa; hence everything else has a racial trend. Given that black people count for over 70% of the population and over 90% of the people in RSA, it is obvious that nine out of ten criminals will be black. Victims are also black in the majority; it is just that white people complain a lot. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that. Most white people do not have a reason

By: Avhatakali Nenungwi

Avhatakali Nenungwi — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:51:31 +0000

I agree with the author when he says that the perception that there is “Black” on “White” crime in RSA. Black people are also victims of crime, I get people breaking into my house from time to time, some point guns at me when I am going about doing my shit. I can go everywhere I want to in my modest car.

Although I am not a criminal let alone a racist one, I know that even if white people wre green, they would still be targeted. It is not their race, it is their social class and racial history that is the cause.

Black on white relations have historically been very negative, given that b;ack people count for over 70% of the population and over 90% of the people people in RSA, it is obvious that nine out of ten criminals will be black. Victims are also black in the majority, it is just that white people complain a lot. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with that.

I I was white people I would ask myself “why”. Why are black people targeting me?. What do I need to change to correcthe situation. I know that this approach requires a much bigger man with a lot of petience.

But guys, you are not alone, these criminals are also hurting me, maybe I am also white.