Today I was given the news that someone I grew up with, from just down my street, was brutally gunned down in an attempted robbery only hours after his wedding. See http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20070508042256527C468092 for the full story. A few months ago, myself, my school community, Prince Charles, and the world historical community at large were stunned with the gratuitous execution of David Rattray (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=431880&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true) during another botched robbery.

Now, anyone who knows me well knows that I am one of the largest advocates for South Africa and the wonderful things that have happened in that country. I see a bright future for it and firmly plan on returning to have a productive life there one day. But one has to draw the line at a certain point and lose some of the love one has for a country when the crime seems to have spiraled completely out of control. All I ask is, how many more must die before president Mbeki decides to make crime a number one priority in South Africa. Further, how many more of my friends and acquaintances have to lay down their lives in this hidden war before the glimmer of the rough diamond that is South Africa wears off completely and even the people like me, the ones who really do see a future there, are driven away, never to return?

I am shocked, disgusted and losing my optimism very quickly.

More Stories:
Bride mourns as robbers kill man at resort
Honeymoon ends in tragedy
Rattray's death was a hit - report
In cold blood at Rourke's Drift
Finally, the media gets angry about crime