I am a white female South African who has been living abroad since 1999 and would like to share my experience of South Africa in the 90s with you. I will not be providing specific dates as I do not clearly recall when they occurred.

My father lived in a small town (a farming community) in the Free State and wanted his children to have a great education therefore he placed me in a private school in Pretoria. I would regard my life at the time as very sheltered because I was confined to the school grounds and only went home for the holidays. During this period, the school arranged a day excursion to Johannesburg where we went to the flea market and watched a play at the theatre in the evening. That day, we witnessed a stabbing at the flea market and on our way back to the school, a man was laying on the side of the road in a pool of blood.

I then studied at the Pretoria Technikon however I did not stay onsite but in a youth hostel, Ararat, in the Sunnyside area from where I needed to walk to downtown Pretoria in order to take the bus to campus. There I heard of assailants who attempted to rape 2 girls living in the hostel; one in a public bathroom in Sunny Park (a mall) which is practically around the corner and the other was dragged by a group of youths under a bridge in front of the hostel but noticed she had her period so they let her go.

A black lady stopped me one day asking for directions. I suggested that she walk with me as I was heading in the same direction. We started talking about black and white men. She expressed to me that she wished black men would love like white men as to them it is all about manhood.

On one occasion, I had a dress on and a backpack, walking from the bus stop to Ararat. A group of youths tried to mug me in front of the hostel however I turned around and shouted at them so they left me alone. In another incident, I decided to go to the downtown library in jeans and a leather jacket early in the morning. On my way there, 2 occupants in a vehicle stopped in front of me so I asked if they needed assistance. All they said was that a criminal was stalking me however before I could get any details, they sped off around the corner. This must have been a real bad criminal if they were following this person as the police were already not responsive to reports of criminal activity at the time. After this, I decided to wear my old warn t-shirts, a track suit pants with a hole at the bottom (chewed by a bicycle chain), placed my money in my pocket and I never had issues after that. I probably looked poor enough to be left alone but, you could say, I learnt to adapt and survive in South Africa.

My stepmother was also attacked with a brick and screw driver in her home in Pretoria one evening in the 90’s. The attacker waited for her in her house until she got home as he intended to kill her, load the stolen items in her vehicle and drive off. Fortunately, her neighbour heard her screams and came to her rescue. The assailant fled the scene without a fight and her neighbour then called the police before taking her to the hospital. The next day around 3pm, he went to the police station to get a policeman in order for them to take her statement. The doctor mentioned that she was fortunate to have survived as the screw driver missed her heart by 2 1/2 cm. The world tends to cry that guns kill people but people kill people. Ultimately, the cause needs to be treated and not the symptom.

During this period, there were also farmers and their families my father knew who were brutally attacked and/or murdered in his community. He later moved to a different area.

We are truly grateful to be currently living in a society where one can experience true freedom where civilians are protected and criminals are brought to justice. It is just wonderful to see people being able to leave their cars idling with the air conditioners on at the shopping center while they do their shopping and not having to be concerned about them being stolen. Initially, we just stood and watched in amasement and disbelief… Not sure if it will remain this way.

Out of choice, my husband and I do not have children as we know how cruel this world can be and will not be able to handle the loss. My heart goes out to all the law abiding South Africans who cannot leave or decided to stay as it is clearly far worse these days!

As I came to this country with just my suitcases to rebuild my life, I plan to return to South Africa to rebuild the country when all this nonsense has ended. I believe Siener when he says that South Africa will become one of the safest countries in the world as the Boer heart is still strong in our people like during the Anglo Boer War and God has placed so much love in my heart for you!

God bless all and be safe!