Starting the year with a bang

The year certainly started off with a bang. And it’s not a good bang at all.

Not only was there severe animal abuse in the neighbouring area of Krugersdorp, but two gruesome murders shocked Witpoortjie residents as well.

I spoke to the editor of the Krugersdorp News, Janine Viljoen, who confirmed that they have been inundated with animal abuse cases. They reported on a resident who hanged his dog by the neck until he died. In another incident, the SPCA had to confiscate horses, tortoises, owls, chinchillas, snakes and many more exotic and domestic animals from someone who was neglecting them. Are we not supposed to take care of animals? Are we not supposed to protect, love and keep them safe?

On our own turf, the two gruesome murders were no joke. First there was a man who was killed and dismembered, apparently because he owed his housemate money. What gets me is the thought behind cutting someone up, which is apparently no small feat, and dumping the body in a nearby veld.

And then there was the 64-year-old woman who was killed for no reason at all. Our condolences to the family. Read our front page story for the details.

We hate reporting on such events. We hate having to call the family and ask them to talk about their loved who was just killed. But, unfortunately, it is part of the job.

We all know crime is out of control, it’s getting worse and the acts are cruel, more than ever. So, my question is, what can we, as law-abiding citizen do the help fight crime? That is, apart from taking the law into our own hands?

We feel helpless, fighting against a system that seems to be broken. A system that seems, in my humble opinion, to care more about the criminals than the victims.

What can we do?

Until next week, take care of one another.