Dear Minister Cele

I am writting this letter with a heavy heart and wishes to make you aware of crime in the streets of johannesburg and how it affects our well being.

My son was robbed last week friday on the 08-03-2024 on his way from work at Jeppe and Smal str, he was going to catch a taxi at corner Jeppe and Jourbet str. He was strangled almost half dead by the robbers who took his bag containing work equipment i.e Laptop,router,headphones and charger also his personal belongings Wallet with ID, bank cards, R100 note and his IPhone 13 cellphone.
He only went back to work yesterday 14-03-2024, he works in midrand and this is his daily route since Bree str is under construction, he is traumatised and not coping at all.
I am greatfull he is still alive but who is next?others might not make it out alive as he said "mom i could feel the last straw of my breath leaving me,i don't know how i came back those people wanted me dead"

I am crying as i write this because he has been unemployed for 5 years after obtaining his diploma and only 1 year in his employment now this?
His younger brother who is in his second year at tertiary was also robbed at gunpoint last year on his way to school in Pretoria.
I fear for my children and yet can't do anything for them,being a middle class citizen not earning much it is difficult to make ends meet supporting your family and unemployed extended family who depend on you. The break you can get is having your childern work for themselves to ease our financial burdens but watching them struggle to sleep because they are having nightmares of being robbed is too much, i can't as a parent and i believe every person who went through this knows how it feels. If i had money i would hire a Private Investigator to track my sons cellphone and bring these criminal to book but i don't have unfortunately.
I trust that while you are all campaigning for the elections you remember that there are people who are loosing their lives & possessions to criminals and nothing is done about that, the nation is crying," i am crying" hope my tears don't fall for nothing, i want those building raided with body cameras like they use to do in Hillbrow.

From: the broken mother