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A report in Britain indicated that vulnerable children as young as 10 years old are sexually exploited by paedophiles. Last year alone, more than 1 000 toddlers were sexually exploited in 20 of the 209 local authorities in London and a group monitoring the situation expressed concern that more children could be at risk.
The figures released in the survey also reveal that personal identity documents such as passports and drivers licences are stolen in 74 per cent of burglaries. Knife crimes constituted 22 000 recorded cases, but based on the private survey, they estimated the figure to be as high as 130 000.
Of 325 616 criminals sentenced last year, 28 per cent had a criminal history running to at least 15 previous convictions or cautions. In 2000 the figure was just 17 per cent. Despite the growing problem, only 40 per cent of those with long criminal records were jailed for their new offence in 2009.
Most frightening to me as I went through the figures, and perhaps more chilling, was the fact that more than 73 000 of serious and serial criminals walked away from the courts with as little as a fine, a community sentence, a discharge or a suspended sentence and they go and commit another crime.
An indictment about the British police force was claims that the UK police forces are failing to record more than 40 per cent of rape cases! This although the rules state that only allegations verified as being false, reported to the wrong police force or recorded in error, can be removed.
However new figures show that some forces have a high number of cases removed from their records in a practice known throughout Britain as “no-criming”, while it had been established that rules are not being properly applied in some regions when it comes to data capturing of crime.
In case you have been wondering whether this column had become a crime statistic update, relax, you are in good company. I thought I would let you on a little secret. The British media seem to think that they live in paradise while the rest of us live in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Last week, I watched in disbelief as some prejudiced British journalist with his Cockney accent offered his expertise on Al Jazeera as to the reason why more than a million tickets for the Fifa 2010 World Cup are still available four months before South Africa gets the contest underway against Mexico.
In his jaundiced view, he claims crime in South Africa is the underlying factor and the prime reason why the Pommies are not buying enough tickets for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and will not be coming to a terrifyingly crime infested country like South Africa.
Without batting an eyelid, he claimed 20 000 people a day die in South Africa and that is the reason why many people across Europe are not buying tickets. He claimed all this as the gospel truth, adding that Europeans are scared of coming to South Africa because of his imagined crime, which he claimed has spiraled out of control.
He spewed out figures about HIV/Aids, lack of transport, accommodation and everything else negative about South Africa and expressed “fear” that many matches would be broadcast to billions of television audiences, while stadiums stood empty, largely because of this “sickening” crime epidemic in South Africa.
Now, the figures I have released at the top of my column are not thumb-sucked. They are a true reflection of the situation in his own country. What is worse, the British hide crime figures behind percentages and come out with reports like: “death by knifing has dropped by 7 per cent; rape dropped by 12 per cent, etc, etc.
I am not trying to play down crime or HIV figures in South Africa. The British have come up with a saying that “people in glass houses should not throw stones” and in Africa we caution against one pot calling another black, because it runs the risk of suffering from the same fate of being scorched by the cooking fire as well.
I would like to ask the journalist a simple question. When he continuously harps on about HIV/Aids, is he perhaps worried that the British players would be coming here for much more than playing football and he fears that they would be contesting to see who would bed more girls than others, taking into account the latest reports about their former captain?
I suppose, if the British players will be coming to South Africa to concentrate on playing football and perhaps winning the World Cup, then they have nothing to fear from the HIV/Aids scourge because that is our (South Africans) collective problem that needs our collective efforts to deal with it.
I honestly found his falsehoods and assertions that the British would not come to South Africa very stupid and inaccurate. Why, only recently, during the British and Lions tour, the Pommies drank some of the country’s pubs dry! Were they not scared of crime in this country then?
Fifa has admitted to facing serious challenges as far as the application of tickets in Africa is concerned. There are reports of places across the continent where they do not have Internet facilities and for heaven’s sake, how are people in some villages that form part of Ouagadougou for instance, expected to apply online when no such facilities exist?
We have a saying in Africa that a baboon likes to tell others that they have protruding foreheads, without taking into account, whether through stupidity or ignorance, that its own forehead is perhaps larger than the rest. The funny thing is that LOC 2010 records indicate that England is leading the race as far as ticket sales outside South Africa are concerned.
Whether the Pommies like it or not, the shosholoza is going ahead full steam and the World Cup will be staged in Mzansi in four months. I promise them that we will stage the best ever World Cup tournament in the more than 100 year history of the event. This is Africa’s time!
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Philani Zikalala (Bergville(SA)) - Friday February 26 2010 - 10:42
I think that SA does not publicly receive the appropriate credit for being such an outstanding country. Much has been done in recent times to improve the quality of our security and infra-structure and we can rightfully claim to be leaders in innovation. On almost any operational measurement SA and the whole Continent have collevtively lifted its game and continue to impress ;this is a credit to the outstanding LOC and the government. Like all other countries we have our own downfalls, we welcome any constructive criticism as we are not perfect. However I have no doubt that we have the quality of personnel and strategies in place to achieve our objective of moving from good to great. May I wish you the very best for the future and the world cup and thank you for all you have done to make me so proud of being part of history and this wonderful even. Let us forget about people who want to destroy us and let's not allow them to shift our focus as we are in the crutual stage of hosting such a wonderful event.
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Babs (Lagos) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 19:20
Good Reply my African Broda! T.K U rock for telling it to there Face.
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Noel Muchimba (Chipata, Zambia) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 17:22
TK, that was a great story. You have given the world a true picture of South Africa hosting the world cup. To hel with that British Jounalists telling about africa. We know we have crime problems in africa but the total crime rate in africa is far below that of europe and america. far less than that of Britain alone. I am a Zambian and I have been to South Africa. I never experience an crime. many sports tournaments have ben hosted by SA but we have never received hair raising crime stories during the torunaments. The journalist is completely dull on SA.
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Reginald Nyaphuli (Qwa-Qwa (South Africa)) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 16:12
T.K , your reporting is undoubtely the best piece of journalistic writing I have read in a long time. First of all when one ponders about the rising tide of British right wing politics and nationalist agendas, it is no surprise that we (Africa) will be the target of that section of the British society. After all, we ( African continent ), have been called the dark continent for a long time by those past masters and as such nothing good may never come out of us, as they believed. Surprise, surprise the year is 2010 and the dark continent is hosting the soccer world cup. Well here is another twist in all of this debacle. A lot of British companies have invested money into our mines and in particular our precious stones and metals and as such on any given day, millions worth of profits leave this continent to fill the coffers of the British imperialists. On the other hand these people see S.A's hosting of the 2010 tournament as a cash injection back to the mother land instead of the usual one way traffic of cash flow in the world (mainly to the western world). Let us face it, the west is losing its influence on the global financial systems and like any bad loser, England wich has become the shadow of its former self, will try any bad tactics to gain leverage and discredit any new competition, more especially when the competition used to be the slave. So in essence, this not just about the little that is kicked on the field of play but more about commerce. But having said that, it is now our resonsibility as Africans to build on this momentum and once and for all stand head above shoulders above all the other nations on issues that the matter the most - health care, education, rule of law and development as a whole. AFRICA this is your time to rise up, RISE UP !!
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Benjamin Machuta (Kitwe - ZAMBIA) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 15:30
I dont understand the hype about crime in South Africa. I live in Zambia and a regular traveller to JOZI! i have never experienced any criminal incident in South Africa. I welcome the English, the Germans, the Spaniards, the Argentines, the Japs and indeeded every one to come and experience the FIFA WORLD CUP the African Way. indeed its Africa's time!!!!!!
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SOJAH PHIL. F. (LIMBE- CAMEROON) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 14:27
All this statistics that there are giving is just because there are finding it difficult to accept that Africa is going to host the World Cup which Britain has never dream of such to happen. As to some of them Africa is no place to host the World Cup. But all is that we will make it and for sure will make it big.
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Brian Mathebe (Johannesburg (SA)) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 12:32
All the English are doing are excuses as they see they won't even make the semis.
I own a business in Sandton || was a victim of crime 7yrs ago while still a student. Living in Alexandra township (JHB) since 1998 that must count for something. I know someone who came back from London because of 3 house robberies in 2 yrs there.
Msanzi will stage wonderful tournament 4 all to remember. WOZA WC 2010....Bafana || Baba Perreira 4sure
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F.K. Rukwaya (Gikondo, Rwanda) - Thursday February 25 2010 - 00:04
That was a marvelous piece TK. Just tell me when you will come to Rwanda so that we share a glass of cold beer. The drinks will be on me of course. I've visited South Africa on three occasions and I've been in all parts of that country and unless you go looking for trouble, trouble will not come looking for you. What a beautiful country! Together with the British, are other Western European so called African experts at the forefront of running a smear campaign against SA 2010. Their fear that leads to their negativity, lies in the fact that they are in awe and are fearful of what their fellow countrymen might see when they come en mass to the tournament. In other words, they are trying as much as possible to discourage their compatriots for fear that they will find themselves all of a sudden second best. A fact that they are not used to and thus a bitter pill to swallow.
I was going to watch the tournament on TV but thanks to you TK and more especially to your article, I have decided to come physically to the tournament as a show of solidarity.
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kubyane (Pretoria) - Wednesday February 24 2010 - 22:04
It is really not about football. World cup is a massive project that injects cash into any economy, sophisticated or not. prior to the event lots of money is injected into infrstructural developments. Then there is the aftermath, sectors such as tourism benefit.
Morethan that, this is the time when Africa will be projected positively and they fear that.
Anyway, we all know who were the coloni... Like somebody said; Keep your England and I will keep mine.. you know what. Good article TK.
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Rugusuki de Gusucci (Gasarenda, Rwanda) - Wednesday February 24 2010 - 21:19
TK, I am really disturbed by the stats that you have pointed out in your excellent blog. Guys forget about football! We are talking about serious human rights issues here! Are you telling me that the British who like portraying themselves as the most cultured society are doing the unthinkable? Are your facts telling us that the British indulge massively in violating children's rights? What the hell is UNICEF, UNDP, UN and all those so called go gooders doing in Africa? As a father of two, i can not even begin to contemplate what i would do if i found those sick people.... please remain in england and let civilised people attend the world cup
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PoorWestAfrican (West Africa) - Wednesday February 24 2010 - 21:16
The best counter write-up I have read in months!
TK...You are the man. I have been spreading this post/article of yours like an H1N1 virus (never mind HIV) to all and saundry on the web.
The only thing I regret is that you didn't metion that we are all expected to book our flights to that land of frightful knife crimes for the 2012 Olympics...Well, I have added that as an opener to the tons of emails I have sent out.
These guys are really making me sick now. Did they consider that we may be poor that's why we can't buy tickets? Do those English folk remember that a chairman of the Cameroon football federation spent a few months in prison in 1998 because he was accused of putting tickets meant for Cameroon in the blackmarket? His reason was that there were not many buyers or the buyers just weren't getting visas...There so many reasons why Africans are not buying tickets than fear of "South African" crime figures.
Have these western-zealots forgotten that the World is in the middle of a recession caused by their flawed economic system - thus people think twice before planning leisure trips? Do we have to blame that on South Africa too?
Holy Moses!!!!!
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Bonaventure (Gaborone) - Wednesday February 24 2010 - 13:45
Very true TK. We need to show them that indeed we can stand on our own and run the show(like you are doing). KEEP IT UP. lol
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kc nwauwazurike (Mi USA) - Wednesday February 24 2010 - 03:43
Thanks Rashed you cant say it any better than that
Anybody that dont like Africa can go to hell.
up super eagles
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Rashid (Monrovia, Liberia) - Tuesday February 23 2010 - 20:13
Hey Africa is the most hospitable continent in the world and I strongly belief we are going to make the best out of our time by an African Nation clinchilg the trophy.
Don't forget this is a competition among African countries as the Elephants, Lions, Bafana Bafana, Eagles and the shinnng stars of Ghana waiting to bring great change in history of football
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tiago gustavo (luanda) - Tuesday February 23 2010 - 18:53
hey guys, in the end of the days, violence is not just in Angola. i dont understand why some african guys still saying bad things about others african contries. for some few people, stop being tribalist. AFRICA, AFRICA, AFRICA... thousands of time AFRICA. ANGOLA, ANGOLA, ANGOLA... thousands of thousands of thousands ANGOLA. hey, ANGOLA won the AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS (HAND BALL) one more time. it is our 10th cup. I am so proud of me
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tiago marques (Luanda) - Tuesday February 23 2010 - 18:43
OLA ANGOLA 2010, WOZA SOUTH AFRICA2010.
for those who havent buy the tickets because they believe AFRICA (keep black and proud) is not safe, just don´t come. we have lots of lions eager to eat you. stay in your home contry or where you feel confortable, and don´t say anything about Africa, that you don´t know, that you don´t understand. let us stay in our long trees, let us enjoy our 2010 world cup with the girafes, with our crocodiles, our snakes, spiders, mithes, fairy tales, our mithology, our blactude, our AFRICANTUDE(when I refer about black, I am not talk about black. i am talking about all of those who were born, or not, in this BLACK PEACE OF THE UNIVERSE).
OLA ANGOLA, WOZA SOUTH AFRICA
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Michel dengu (Francistown) - Tuesday February 23 2010 - 02:59
Hie TK
The reports in the British media(The Sun newspaper) about the England world cup base camp in SA is very disturbing! TK can you please update us on your soccer africa programe this thursday about that training camp. We are sick and tired of these negative reports from the british media about SA.Last time it was crime || HIV AIDS today its facilities and who knows what they will be writing tomorrow.....
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waheed oguns (lagos) - Monday February 22 2010 - 22:04
sensible talk ,world cup must surely hold in africa
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Andile (George) - Monday February 22 2010 - 14:57
TK, are the 32 teams base camps construction work or renovation completed? I read very disturbing article in the uk based football website alledging that the base of the England team is far from completion, the Bafokeng Sport Campus
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Boetie (Pretoria (South Africa)) - Monday February 22 2010 - 09:33
Amen to that, naked truth! Thomas, thank you very much my brother. Nothing will ever change the fact that africa is about to stage the best world cup ever. Now is about time that those holligans come and experience and fill what Africa can offer. African has arrive, shapa Bafana Bafana shappaaaaa!!!
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David (Lusaka) - Monday February 22 2010 - 00:39
Please keep up with yr great work. 2010 world cup here and will be a great success for sho...Bafana Bafana your turn to go further.
As Zambian I will always be behind you guys.
Can you tell us of a country on this planet earth where a president of a national football spends 90% of managing football from outside his country? by remote. Ps assist Z. Our football is going no where? This you wd agree with me. In recent AFCN Zambia wd have gone far but alas.
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Tladi Ledibane (Bloemfontein) - Sunday February 21 2010 - 18:54
Beautiful article TK. You made my day!!
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Ronald Deerling (Winburg) - Saturday February 20 2010 - 23:46
Eish T,
I watched the same show on Aljazeera n I was fuming with maddness. I guess its the same factor like any other African country, the so called "giants" of the world fear for people to really discover what Africa's got to offer. they would like to be the bosses of this "black continent" according to them, as long as they can bully it, harass it, spit on it and try to show to the world how "good" they can be by bringing LOW quality aid to Africa. they know that unlike any other African country, we do not rely on their aid, we do not have UN on our doorsteps. We so different that they wet their pants everytime they face reality that they can't just come come and take. I work in west Africa n I see things here.... So how easy is it to say we are the country with the highest crime rate, this because they think Africa must remain poor. they must come and spend 10 pounds and go away with 5kilos of gold, des wat they want but they cant get it from our country.
So try harder you Pommies, this country is among the best, u like it or not. I am still gon send dis guy on aljazeera the statistics so he can catch a wake up call. South Africa is blessed....u like it or not....so suck it up
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Patrick (Doha Qatar) - Saturday February 20 2010 - 21:49
I love you Thomas You are doing a very good job.Don't mind those enemies of Africa. South Africa will host the Worldcup their destructive criticism is too late.
Nzansi for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOZA
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zenzele (kemptonpark) - Friday February 19 2010 - 12:10
yes we will stage the best world cup ever becouse the gods of africa gave us this world cup, thomas I work at OR THAMBO AIRPORT and I will tell you that the airport is so accomodating but still the so call BRITHISH are still complainig and telling us that it will be a disaster during the world cup and it is funny becouse it is only the british peaple who are complaing phambili nge shosholoza phambili
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