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Cars – a lethal business!
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E-mailMade Popular Apr 10 2008
South Africa :
A few years ago I went to the BMW plant in Dingoldfing, outside Munich. You can order your car down to the tiniest details. The assembly line spews out thousands of cars every week. No two cars during that week are identical. It’s really astonishing! For the first time in my life, I bought a brand new car recently after my own specs. That means it’s time to sell the old car…
Friends and family are suddenly telling me I have to be careful. I’m just trying to sell my car?! Since when was selling a car associated with any danger? I might risk selling it slightly too cheap, but careful?!
“You must NOT meet potential buyers at malls or other places they suggest! They must come to your house, but don’t let them inside, and never ever let them take the car for a spin!”
It’s a new type of crime, the hippest car-crime method in the crime capital of the world, Johannesburg! If I can’t let them take the car for a spin, then how the hell can I sell the car? I’ve been in sales for eight years, but this is looking tough now! I would not buy a car without a test-drive!!
Another, NEW thing is that you can order your 2nd hand vehicles with detailed specs also now. The waiting time is amazingly short! “These cars are not coming out of any assembly line”; I’m thinking. A guy at work tells me he can talk to anybody in his neighborhood, and they can get him the car of his liking in no time. A registration number shortens the delivery time apparently. He sounds well connected!
Just outside Johannesburg, a man ordered his new 2nd hand car, and was waiting in anticipation recently! He was major impressed with his sons car and decided to get one like that too! The car was delivered a few days later, the same day that his son was killed in a hi-jacking incident! The car even smelt of his sons cologne, that’s how meticulous they are about matching your specs 100%!
Obviously, whether you are buying or selling a car – it’s a lethal business! Don’t ever use that term; “I’m having what she is having” when it comes to cars, unless you have a serious grudge against that person! After thinking things over, it’s probably safest to let the old car rust in the back yard. The new car will NO doubt follow me from cradle to the grave!
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It is quite unbelievable indeed. Truly shocking and sensational. Johannesburg was always known for its high crime rate. It was once the city with the dubious record of highest number of murders a day. I don't know the current rankings but the name of the city is synonymous with violent crime.
This new crime trend involving carjacking for resale that might involve fatalities is truly shocking. I can only imagine what the poor chap, whose son was killed, might have gone through seeing his dead son's car delivered to him as his much anticipated second hand buy.
This new crime trend involving carjacking for resale that might involve fatalities is truly shocking. I can only imagine what the poor chap, whose son was killed, might have gone through seeing his dead son's car delivered to him as his much anticipated second hand buy.
(Global Perspectives)
It is quite unbelievable indeed. Truly shocking and sensational. Johannesburg was always known for its high crime rate. It was once the city with the dubious record of highest number of murders a day. I don't know the current rankings but the name of the city is synonymous with violent crime.
This new crime trend involving carjacking for resale that might involve fatalities is truly shocking. I can only imagine what the poor chap, whose son was killed, might have gone through seeing his dead son's car delivered to him as his much anticipated second hand buy.
This new crime trend involving carjacking for resale that might involve fatalities is truly shocking. I can only imagine what the poor chap, whose son was killed, might have gone through seeing his dead son's car delivered to him as his much anticipated second hand buy.
(Global Perspectives)
>> Don’t ever use that term; “I’m having what she is having” when it comes to cars, unless you have a serious grudge against that person!
HE HE! But seriously what is the S. African government doing to control this? I mean if there is a strict regulation for buying and selling old cars then it can be controlled. For example, if it is made mandatory that buyers and sellers of used cars must first register with an authority and the sale and purchase should go through it and only it failing which, there will be a strict penalty and possible imprisonment then honest buyers such as the guy whose son was killed maybe deterred to seek help from unscrupulous characters.
HE HE! But seriously what is the S. African government doing to control this? I mean if there is a strict regulation for buying and selling old cars then it can be controlled. For example, if it is made mandatory that buyers and sellers of used cars must first register with an authority and the sale and purchase should go through it and only it failing which, there will be a strict penalty and possible imprisonment then honest buyers such as the guy whose son was killed maybe deterred to seek help from unscrupulous characters.
(Global Perspectives)
Just after the apartheid regime ended in South Africa crime got a sudden spurt. Whites were terrified to let their women go to public swimming pools for the fear of being raped. Rapes, murders, armed robbery, carjackings, mugging etc have since taken epidemic proportions.
The newest way to do business through crime as you have mentioned goes a long way to suggest that criminals are constantly innovating. Carjacking is a crime that involves high degree of violence at times that often result in fatalities. Not for nothing the car security equipment manufacturers are trying with a security system that throws flames sideways towards the attackers from under the doors. This has got approval from the government. Such a system may prove to work out well.
The sad thing is that America has not approved yet of such a security system that might actually set on fire an attacker. This is despite the fact that America has the world's highest incidents of carjacking.
The newest way to do business through crime as you have mentioned goes a long way to suggest that criminals are constantly innovating. Carjacking is a crime that involves high degree of violence at times that often result in fatalities. Not for nothing the car security equipment manufacturers are trying with a security system that throws flames sideways towards the attackers from under the doors. This has got approval from the government. Such a system may prove to work out well.
The sad thing is that America has not approved yet of such a security system that might actually set on fire an attacker. This is despite the fact that America has the world's highest incidents of carjacking.
(Global Perspectives)
We can expect such a thing from South Africa only. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in a survey between 1998 and 2000 placed South Africa in 2nd position on all par capita assault and murders and 1st on rapes.
It is such a beautiful country with so much promise. Crime has taken the charm of South Africa. I am yet to meet a single person from South Africa who or whose friends or relatives has not been in the receiving end of crime.
It is considered to be one of the most dangerous country in the world to live in if you take out Iraq and Somalia where more people are dying because of the ongoing conflicts...
It is such a beautiful country with so much promise. Crime has taken the charm of South Africa. I am yet to meet a single person from South Africa who or whose friends or relatives has not been in the receiving end of crime.
It is considered to be one of the most dangerous country in the world to live in if you take out Iraq and Somalia where more people are dying because of the ongoing conflicts...
(Global Perspectives)
Hijacking is a significant problem in South Africa, especially in cities like Johannesburg. The problem is so severe that they had to make a body called South Africa's National Hijack Prevention Academy. The public is educated from time to time through government sponsored ads or programmes on how to prevent hijacking apart from identifying hot spots or high-risk zones where the probability of such an incident taking place is high.
The best way to save your life is if you notice any person or vehicle in a high-risk zone that makes you suspicious REMEMBER TREAT AS HOSTILE and just speed away from the place even if you have to break traffic rules. ALSO REMEMBER, if you are in a situation when the hijacker has a gun trained on you JUST SURRENDER AND MOVE AWAY from the vehicle without acting smart. Keep your hands out in the open and visible else you might be shot without a second thought should the hijacker feels even minutely threatened. REMEMBER YOU LIFE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN YOUR CAR.
Small things and presence of mind goes a long way to save lives.
The best way to save your life is if you notice any person or vehicle in a high-risk zone that makes you suspicious REMEMBER TREAT AS HOSTILE and just speed away from the place even if you have to break traffic rules. ALSO REMEMBER, if you are in a situation when the hijacker has a gun trained on you JUST SURRENDER AND MOVE AWAY from the vehicle without acting smart. Keep your hands out in the open and visible else you might be shot without a second thought should the hijacker feels even minutely threatened. REMEMBER YOU LIFE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN YOUR CAR.
Small things and presence of mind goes a long way to save lives.
(Local Perspectives)
This is happening because of high rate of corruption within the police and law enforcing bodies in S Africa. Highly organised gangs that includes members from the police force are into this business. Else, how would you explain the delivery of second hand cars matching specifications to the minutest detail so efficiently and so fast?
I remember in 2005 when on a trip there a major story evolved after the police busted a crime syndicate. It has a few police officers working hand in glove with the gangsters whose main target were women drivers.
I remember in 2005 when on a trip there a major story evolved after the police busted a crime syndicate. It has a few police officers working hand in glove with the gangsters whose main target were women drivers.
(Global Perspectives)
It's a sad story, really. An old man wants a car like his son's and gets the son's car delivered to him after killing him. May be the man could get a few arrests because he had the evidence to show to the police. May be this was just an one off incident where the criminals didn't do their homework completely.
If the problem is so large scale in SA why isn't the government doing enough? What is the top priority of the South African government now? AIDS, poverty, crime, unemployment? Controlling crime has to be one of the topmost priorities of the government. Wonder how many tourists visit there and don't end up being victims of criminals.
If the problem is so large scale in SA why isn't the government doing enough? What is the top priority of the South African government now? AIDS, poverty, crime, unemployment? Controlling crime has to be one of the topmost priorities of the government. Wonder how many tourists visit there and don't end up being victims of criminals.
(Global Perspectives)
Hi-jacking is not new in South Africa where lives have been lost. It has taken epidemic proportions in the last 20 years or so. There are even urban legends on hi-jackings. I remember seeing one doing rounds in the Internet many years ago. It was something like this -
A woman was driving in her 4WD SUV one evening when she saw a man lying on the middle of a narrow road near one of the junctions where many hi-jackings took place. Instead of taking the bait and slowing down she got her SUV off the road where there was thick growth of grass and reported to the police. When the police arrived at the spot they didn't find any body on the road. What they found however was more startling. They found 3 dead armed man in the overgrowth that she took the detour from the road!!!!!!!!!!!
If that is true then 3 cheers for her!
A woman was driving in her 4WD SUV one evening when she saw a man lying on the middle of a narrow road near one of the junctions where many hi-jackings took place. Instead of taking the bait and slowing down she got her SUV off the road where there was thick growth of grass and reported to the police. When the police arrived at the spot they didn't find any body on the road. What they found however was more startling. They found 3 dead armed man in the overgrowth that she took the detour from the road!!!!!!!!!!!
If that is true then 3 cheers for her!
(Local Perspectives)
Stephan & Craig:
Hijacking is not a new phenomenon in South Africa, not at all. It’s just that they reinvent themselves and find new tricks all the time, like with all types of crime here. If they used all that creativity to something positive... then SA would thrive!!! The annoying thing for me is that how the hell do I sell my car now?!!
Hijacking is not a new phenomenon in South Africa, not at all. It’s just that they reinvent themselves and find new tricks all the time, like with all types of crime here. If they used all that creativity to something positive... then SA would thrive!!! The annoying thing for me is that how the hell do I sell my car now?!!
(Local Perspectives)
Sherif:
Yes, can you imagine?! I’ve got kids myself. Still some time before they will start driving, but still! You know that you indirectly caused your own sons death, and now you have to live with it for the rest of your life!!!!! It would kill me!
Andrew:
I seriously don’t know what the authorities are doing about it. They’ve had years to do something, so the fact that I can’t tell (even though I don’t claim to know everything!), is maybe an answer in itself! Not enough in any case!!
I had the movie in mind that I can never remember the name of... but transferred to a second hand car market, you could easily end up like the father in this story, don’t you think?!
Michael:
I’m surprised to hear that you beat us on the carjacking rankings, thought we were unbeatable! Don’t know whether I should be happy or sad about that really... I would invest in that torch thingy, no doubt!!
Julija:
I did also come here because of the beauty of the country, and my wife of course! I have friends that won’t come because they have heard horror stories and they read the statistics...
Brunel:
You can read about corrupt cops here every day if you want! The Ex chief of police, Jackie Selebi, had to go because of it... and now it’s very likely that we’ll get a new president in some time that is also charged with corruption! A guy is jailed for giving him money... but stuffing it in his own pocket does not seem like a serious enough crime, not for a potential president in any event!!!
Julie:
Every South African know what should be a priority... but corruption and politics prevents the good and honest guys to rule it seems...
Yes, can you imagine?! I’ve got kids myself. Still some time before they will start driving, but still! You know that you indirectly caused your own sons death, and now you have to live with it for the rest of your life!!!!! It would kill me!
Andrew:
I seriously don’t know what the authorities are doing about it. They’ve had years to do something, so the fact that I can’t tell (even though I don’t claim to know everything!), is maybe an answer in itself! Not enough in any case!!
I had the movie in mind that I can never remember the name of... but transferred to a second hand car market, you could easily end up like the father in this story, don’t you think?!
Michael:
I’m surprised to hear that you beat us on the carjacking rankings, thought we were unbeatable! Don’t know whether I should be happy or sad about that really... I would invest in that torch thingy, no doubt!!
Julija:
I did also come here because of the beauty of the country, and my wife of course! I have friends that won’t come because they have heard horror stories and they read the statistics...
Brunel:
You can read about corrupt cops here every day if you want! The Ex chief of police, Jackie Selebi, had to go because of it... and now it’s very likely that we’ll get a new president in some time that is also charged with corruption! A guy is jailed for giving him money... but stuffing it in his own pocket does not seem like a serious enough crime, not for a potential president in any event!!!
Julie:
Every South African know what should be a priority... but corruption and politics prevents the good and honest guys to rule it seems...
(Local Perspectives)
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It is really astonishing. I had heard that car-jacking is pretty common in South Africa, but this common? Is South Africa trying to prove that it is a part of Africa, but allowing crime and criminals to breed so easily?