A brush(or two) with the law.
Ok this last week has seen me have my two brushes with the law since I have been in South Africa. Niothing serious but enough to make the week interesting.
Last week when having a pupil from a school I am associated with assist me at HDC (it was his detention), the police promptley turned up and arrested him in the middle of a game of football. ( hectic! ). Not quite as hectic as the full story though.
In brief a couple of the guys from the scohol had liberated a scooter from outside a local bar the previous weekend, the bouncers had then picked up on of the two kids from the school gates, police had been called, bouncers and ‘abducted kid’ had been found the full story has come out and subsequentley his partner in crime who was with me was also picked up by the police.
That was my first brush with the law, then next sunday I was implementing the usual feeding program in the township and had arranged to meet someone ( I will not use the name of my wife to hid the guilt of the relevant party.) and Pumazeras home as they didn’t want to stick around.
So I make sure the feeding program is complete, ave the vehicles of all the others off and watch them role inot the distance and walk through the township to Pumeza’s house. Arriving there I find it locked and no sign of car, the unamed person or Pumeza!
This means i’m left on my own in the township, no transport out and nowhere ’safe’ to go, abit of background here townships are not safe places. They are not as dangerous as some would make out, we go into walmer township regularly and have very very rarely seen any hint of trouble, we also have a good reputation round zone Q and are well known white faces. That all said they are still not safe places, I want to go in, do what I have to do and get out again.
I’m also worrried about where the other person and my daughter are, as they are not where they are supposed to be in the township! At this point three police rapid response vehicles drive past, stop roll down there windows and start to question me with questions like “Are you local?, What are you doing here? and do you feel safe?” they get concerned when I mention that I was supposed to be meeting someone here and they haven’t shown up. The other person is contacted by phone says they are on there way and this satisfies the police.
The police pull off and I arrange to meet the person at the corner of the township, next to the HDC. Walking that way I encounter the same three police rapid response cars, forming a road block US movie style across the exit to the township, and pointing their shotguns vaugley in my direction!
Anyway I have to walk past, so being a brit and having my caution guns in approach the roadblock, the police eye me up and perhaps unwisely I joke “Dont shoot me, I didnt do it”. I got searched for my troubles !!! My lift arrived about 20 minuates later !
