A Turkish Airlines crew was attacked by a band of armed robbers in Johannesburg, South Africa while returning from dinner.
The incident occurred on January 13th. After a dinner in central Johannesburg, the crew was on its way back to its hotel in a shared van. Suddenly, the assailants pulled in front of van, forcing it to stop in an intersection. Armed men burst out from the vehicle and forced their way onto the van. Valuables, including jewelry, wallets, and mobile phones, were taken under threat of death. The chief pilot was battered during the incident; it is not clear if he attempted to resist the assailants.
Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, the Turkish Ambassador to South Africa, is fuming. She has demanded an investigation. But sadly, this sort of thing has become commonplace in Johannesburg, as the worsening economy has led many to take more desperate steps.
My wife and I spent several weeks in South Africa, including Johannesburg, in 2014. I wrote about the stark poverty and income inequality I viewed in Cape Town here, though we viewed it in J’Berg as well. It may be unfair to make broad generalizations about a country based upon news headlines and only a few weeks on the ground, but the rise in violent crime across South Africa is sobering. Perhaps Turkish should instruct their crews to remain inside hotels during layovers. Will Johannesburg become like Lagos and Mogadishu, two other cities Turkish serves? Let’s hope not. But what a startling wake-up call.
image: Anna Zvereva / Wikimedia Commons
It’s sad There are parts of SA that are absolutely gorgeous aside from the safari’s Cape Town is one of the best places on earth. We came so close to buying a second home in the Camps Bay area a few years ago, needless to say I am glad we didn’t go through with it. Whew
Corruption is the single definition.
Sad
That is what happens when their is income inequality (not poverty.)
That is one country where the whites suppressed blacks but made no effort to restore them economically before they restored them politically. The government taxes them but most is probably most is lost in corruption. The whites see having paid enough taxes to blacks. The whites think they have done enough. The blacks think nothing has been done and soon instead of just poverty there is also race based animosity.
The same shit happens in america. Whites think they have done enough for “those people” collating everyone that doesn’t look like them into one. “Those people” meanwhile are all different but themselves collate all whites into one be they conservative or liberals (or even British or american) and hate them all together.
Sad state of affairs. Charity without responsibility is not charity it’s just something to make yourself feel good. Make sure the charity goes to the people in need not the corrupt middlemen.
I don’t see how this is the problem of TKK flight crew.
It used to be the case that air crews only stayed at Sandton ( safe area but close to the airport). It was unthinkable that they would go downtown; evidently they no longer do that. So now it’s back to the dangerous times like the 90s.
As for the Guardian piece: it’s true that white farmers are being murdered; the Trump tweets ( preceded by similar by the Australian govt) are paving the way for a special immigration pathway for them. I hope they solve the problem: the loss of the farming expertise will lead to further economic loss…but one can understand why the farmers want out.
“…a bandit of armed robbers” doesn’t make sense.
Band.
Lukus were you able to figure it out or are you still as confused as ever?
I can’t believe you would even consider justifying this animal-like behavior from these thugs:
“as the worsening economy has led many to take more desperate steps.”
It’s the economy’s fault? Wow, slow clap Matthew. What other crimes are you willing to excuse?
I was not justifying the behavior, merely explaining it. Those who take such steps, even if in pathetic desperation in a failed nation-state, should be brought to justice.
Hey Matthew,
Just a small correction, the Turkish ambassador is female not male thus she would demand an investigation not he :).
Otherwise keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your blog posts!
Have a good day!
Sukru
Thank you!
Last time I checked, Johannesburg had much higher crime rates than Lagos. It has, time and time again, appeared on lists of most violent cities. Your statement “Will Johannesburg become like Lagos” might be fuelled by your own bias rather than actual facts
I only meant that Turkish crews do not leave the hotel compound while in Lagos. When United flew to Lagos, crews were escorted from airport to hotel with armed guards.
Maybe seizing more farms without compensation will help…/sarc.
Third world gonna third world. So glad the ANC is representing its people so well.
Phil is right. Has anyone ever seen Blood Diamond? The character played by Leonardo DeCaprio has a great expression: “TIA” which means This is Africa.
I think reverse apartheid is the only thing that has not been tried. Let’s try that and see if it helps. It may or may not work. But apartheid worked for the whites so we need to try this. Killing a few random whites every month. Let’s go.
I must clarify. Phil has no idea if the farms were rightfully obtained or forcefully taken under apartheid. But if you conveniently ignore many other things and just focus on one aspect then my solution is just as good.
@Debit Awfully nice of you to be talking about racial violence as a “solution” to societal problems on Martin Luther King day. But really not a big surprise considering your posting history.