Pistorious - The Home Invasion was an Inside Job

This is a lie.

It's a mind-bogglingly whopping criminal lie, uttered in total surety of never being challenged on it or asked to account for having made this knowingly false statement in open court, during a murder trial.

Counsel know it is a lie, the court knows it is a lie, Frank was never considered as either a potential suspect or a potential witness, and to this day, Frank has NEVER been formally interviewed, or asked to provide a formal statement, all concerned KNOW that Pistorious is innocent and the entire televised court process is just an absolute complete charade.

On this simple, objectively true  and uncontested fact, herein lies the entire case.

As of 2013, South Africa's public institutions, including it's courts and police are perceived as being less corrupt than approximately 60% of the world's countries.

However - this full total includes independent States such as Rump Ukraine/Nulandistan, Columbia, Panama and Georgia, as well as Tuvalu, Vanatu, the Marshall Islands, Vatican City and the Federated Republic of Micronesia.

The Republic of South Africa does apparently occupy the top tenth percentile amongst post-Colonial African States, in terms of minimising the corruption in public life - it is perceived as being roughly as corrupt as Saudi Arabia, but slightly less corrupt than Rwanda and significantly more corrupt that Botswanna, it's neighbour to the immediate North.

The Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security rates Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban as Critical crime threat posts. Crime continues to be a key strategic concern for the government and for U.S. government employees and visitors. In general, crimes range from petty muggings to ATM scams to armed residential home invasions. These crimes occur with frequency and in all neighborhoods. U.S. citizens are not specifically targeted but are frequently victims of crime.

Crime Threats

Violent, confrontational crime -- home invasion robberies, rape, burglaries, carjackings, street muggings, smash-and-grabs, organized attacks on commercial and retail centers (shopping malls and outlets), ATM bombings, and attacks on cash-in-transit vehicles/personnel (i.e., armored car/personnel) -- is a major concern. 

Of particular concern are home invasion robberies. These crimes are often violent in nature and can occur at any time. In many cases, criminals prefer to attack when the occupant is home or arriving/leaving because the residential alarm is off and the occupant can identify where valuables are kept. Recently released South African Police Service (SAPS) 2012-13 crime statistics indicate that the number of home invasions remains alarmingly high, with a total of 6,598 reported in Gauteng Province (which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria) alone. However, more than 60 percent of these invasions occur in disadvantaged areas or “townships” and not in more upscale neighborhoods frequented by expatriates or corporate personnel.

6,598 x 0.4 = 2639 Home Invasions in White, upscale neighbourhoods in a single year.

South Africa also has the highest rape rate in the world – estimated at seven times higher than the rate in the U.S. While not specifically targeted, foreigners are victims. This crime occurs everywhere and against all age groups, including infants and grandmothers. An identified trend is the use of Gamma Hydroxybutyric (GHB), the “date rape drug,” by criminals to facilitate overpowering their victims. Many rape victims are killed or severely wounded either in the initial attack or afterward. Brutal mutilations and immolation of live victims is a disturbing, recent trend. 

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=402145

CRIMINALS do not like surprises and prefer striking when their victims are home. These are just some of the scary realities contained in the book Home Invasion penned by a senior lecturer at the University of South Africa’s College of Law, Professor Rudolph Zinn.

The book, which hit the shelves three weeks ago, shares the former cop’s insights into the criminal mind and shows how to avoid becoming a victim.

The book was inspired by a report – after two years of research into criminal activity – for the Institute for Security Studies. The research focused mainly on house robbers, and spells out the dos and don’ts when victims find themselves in a potentially dangerous situation.

In the book, Zinn tells how suspects can spend months surveying properties of their would-be victims – spending nights in yards watching their every move.

When the thugs have enough “intel”, they pounce – but most commonly when the victims are home.

“They know that when the victims are inside, they can be made to assist them disarming alarms and giving safe codes where cash or jewellery are kept.

“If there is no one inside the house, they feel vulnerable as they could be surprised by owners or security companies.”

Zinn’s knowledge of the criminal psyche comes after extensive interviews with 30 convicted house robbers in the Gauteng area.

All the robbers told him they wanted their victims to “behave” when they were looting houses.

“I can’t say robbers are friendly, but they don’t like surprises. They like victims to co-operate when they are doing their job.

“Surprisingly they even give tips on how victims should behave when confronted,” said Zinn.

“Time is money with the criminals and the minute there is a delay they can be easily caught.”

Talking about why some are likely to turn to a life of crime, Zinn said unemployment played a big role.

“Some say they treat what they are doing as a career as they are supporting their families with the money they get, or in some cases they are doing this to send their siblings to school.”

On the topic of farm robberies, Zinn said in some cases criminals would do piece jobs to get onto the property and would rely on inside information from farm workers. There they would observe proceedings to get information like when money is taken to banks, or when the farm owner has money to pay wages to employees.

Zinn said what was important to understand was that criminals do not only target white residents and that anyone was vulnerable.

“They don’t care what the colour of your skin is. If you’ve displayed what they want, you are next. So to me, it’s a myth to say that they are targeting only the white community,” he said, stressing the importance of a neighbourhood watch.

“People must be vigilant. They must make sure they read the tips that are given and always report any suspicious things. The book will be very helpful.” 

The book is to be launched in Pretoria on Tuesday and a week later in Cape Town. It is published by Tafelberg and can be found in most major book stores in the country at R150 . - By BONGANI FUZILE 

Crime Reporter bonganif@dispatch.co.za