Progress is being made

Don’t get me wrong, these things do happen and we need to know about them, but I do so enjoy reporting on a huge arrest or decreased crimes.
Bringing people to justice is one of the perks of working at a newspaper. I get to see it firsthand. However I am not an action hero and anyone that tells you the pen is mightier than the sword, either uses really long and sharp pens or really small swords.

That is why I admire people who get into the thick of things to get the job done, people like Witbank 911. We hear about them apprehending criminals every week and although they had a rough start with the SAPS and Community Policing Forum (CPF), they are starting the slow process of building relations with the SAPS, touch wood.

Seeing those guys jump into action legitimately reminds me of an 80’s action TV show like MacGyver or Knight Rider. I can imagine the opening sequence now.

An annoyingly catchy single starts playing, as the stereotype case members stare into the camera with an oh-so-80’s cool yet classy look. The cast roll is cut with a care chase, a shootout, and a private jet in the background.
We have the cool stylish leader, the blond bombshell, the quirky comic relief, the old wise mentor, the rough around the edges hotshot, I can go on. As we let ourselves sink into the radical world of 80’s crime fighting super team we forget what it really takes to do what they do.
Brian just realised this was kind of last week’s point as well, but if we have an exaggerated idea about something, it could potentially turn out bad for a lot of people.

The next time you decide to summon the untouchables, remember that everyone involved with Witbank 911 or your local CPF are just normal people that decided to stop sitting around and do something.

I just hope they don’t abruptly get cancelled by television networks trying to keep up with changing cultural trends and then release a limited edition re-mastered box set 20 years later.