A brilliant target group for addicts
Sander Timmermans is a third year student Cultural and Social Education. During his work placement, he works with young delinquents in a prison in Cape Town (South-Africa). The news reports of this country have been mainly about the World Cup during the last months, and the next future months’ reports will be nothing different. The World Cup is held in the months of June and July this year, but that’s not the only thing happening. Until the start of the World Cup, Sander will give his personal view on the biggest sport event in the world, and what the consequences are for the local population and surroundings.
Continue walking is easier
In front of the door of my traineeship company I come across a lady who is winding herself in fetal position around the streetlamp. With her fingers she tries to get the choking phlegm out of her throat. These kinds of scenes are mainly being caused by the use of ‘tik’ (crystal methamphetamine) and the sniffing of glue. Imagine that this is the most ordinary case in the world. Within the smog of the city, underneath a sun which can burn right through your t-shirt. Sometimes I am surprised about myself, it doesn’t hurt me anymore at all to behold those kinds of situations. Continue walking has become easier. You cannot save them all. This line has been keeping me going for months already. Like my target group in prison mainly consists of recidivist criminals, so do innumerable poor souls in this city live for the bottle of alcohol and the tik and with which they turn their backs against the society, the economy, the world. As a rich man you learn to live with this fact and to answer with a harsh ‘no’. I realize that I am more trained to accept the poverty, compared to others.
The image of South-Africa: positive and strong
To link this to the World Cup, which the whole world and especially South-Africa is waiting for: a mass of rich soccer fans is a brilliant target group for the addicted criminals. The South-African police force will be taking a firm line and a non-tolerance attitude. But purely because of a wrong reason, in my opinion. The underlying principle of the police effort isn’t mainly to maintain the safety, as it is to create a positive and strong image of South-Africa.
Open your eyes
Don’t get me wrong. This is a fantastic city. And if you can afford some luxury, Cape Town has got a true paradise to offer. Especially during the World Cup. But open your eyes a bit more and be aware of the twisting and winding ladies.
Click here to discover Sander's working placement in South-Africa.
