Before South Africa became the Rainbow Nation, we in the rest of the world were resigned to reading regular reports of how police suspects had unaccountably jumped out of tenth storey windows while being questioned. Steve Biko, for one. One shrugged. What else could one do, it was what the police did in the state of apartheid.
What were they called? BOSS, or something, wasn’t it? Buro vir Staatsveiligheid, that’s the chap. They bullied their way around the world, infiltrating other police forces, including the UK, where they did some very questionable things.
But that’s all behind us, isn’t it?
South Africa is a model state these days, surely.
Well, actually – no.
After several misleading – and in some cases downright false – statements, the world’s press appears to have established that Peter Roebuck (an English-Australian-South African cricket journalist of great renown) “jumped” from his sixth floor hotel room whilst being questioned by a solitary South African police person, allegedly about a matter of sexual abuse. Some accounts report two police persons.
Hah! If you believe that you’ll believe anything.
I would dearly like to hear Soutie’s take on this.
Boadicea's Chariot 
“I would dearly like to hear Soutie’s take on this.” And my take is of no interest? The event occurred a kilometer away, as the crow flies, from where I sit now. But no worry, I am not offended. I know as little about the event as anybody else. However, I do have a friend who has friends in the SAPS, so I will endeavour to get the low down on what took place.
I would just say this about the cops in this part of the world. There are some good, bad and truly awful cops in South Africa. I would tend to have more faith in the Western Cape service than in Gauteng (Joburg Pretoria) or anywhere else. However, what one has to realise about these chaps is that even the good cops come under huge stress on a daily basis. The levels of violent crime in some of the townships are truly horrendous. Many in the service put their lives on the line every day. Even when they do so, they have to be extremely careful not to make a the slightest mistake. A delay in acting could cost an innocent life while a wrongful killing will see them on trial and probably prison where they would suffer more than the ordinary criminal. Under the circumstances, it is not always easy to know when to shoot and when not to do so.
A drug-crazed gangster who argues with a cop may quite possibly pull a gun and start shooting. An angry, English journalist with a drink or two under his belt is almost certainly completely harmless. But in a supposedly colour/culture-blind society, it is difficult to make a correct judgement and any form of resistance or aggression may trigger the same response from a stressed out policeman.
Of course I do not mean to defend such action by the police, if it was the police, I merely attempt to explain it.
Meanwhile, while castigating the Apartheid Police service, with justification I might add, did you know that the death rate of Aborigines in custody in Australia is higher than it was at the peak of apartheid brutality? Now, that is a piece of information that is sure to raise an eyebrow or two.
Call me Myshkin, but I don’t think the cops were involved. I believe it was suicide.
Morning Sipu, I was going to suggest that you could probably see the hotel from where you live and that the Cape press will have their ears closer to the ground than ours.
Hello Bearsy.
Steve Biko (I remember the day very very well, it was perhaps my first JFK moment, I remember exactly where I was that day) didn’t fall from a ’10th storey window.’
BOSS Bureau of State Security
South Africa a model state? Who says so? Certainly not me, I voted for reform and change all those years ago but not this self serving ANC cabal foisted on us by you and the rest of the world. This is how democracy works in Africa, The West forced it on us and we do our best to help build a better future.
As for the reported suicide of Peter Roebuck, I know as much as you. I first heard yesterday afternoon, read the online reports and was shocked. I have no news of the alleged sexual assault but I’m sure that it will all come out in the open sooner rather than later.
That part of Cape Town has a huge red light district (well it did when I was there) no need at all to go around assaulting people.
I enjoyed Roebuck’s writing, this tragedy is a loss to cricket fans worldwide.
Very well put Soutie.
I particularly love the theme of the ANC’s centenary celebrations that are due to take place next year.
‘100 years of selfless struggle’. Selfless, my arse. Besides, they have not struggled since 1994.
Soutie, Sipu – many thanks for your information, it’s greatly appreciated.
I had thought that Sipu lived in Zimbabwe – how frightfully remiss of me. 😦
Sipu – let me reassure you that the majority of Australians are only too well aware of the Aboriginal death in custody figures, and recognise that they haven’t improved significantly since the 1987 Royal Commission. We have also had some very troubling instances in Queensland of cops beating black fellas to death and not being punished for it. See Fitzgerald, etc..
However, if you were trying to compare our unacceptable figures with your white supremacists’ suppression of your indigenous population, pull the other one. I don’t believe a word of it – you guys killed more people in a careless moment than our entire Aboriginal population. Sharpeville, Soweto – and all the rest?
Soutie – Biko was killed whilst under arrest. If I have confused the manner of his death with one of the many other instances of police brutality, I apologise – but it’s hardly surprising. 😀
But this thread is about Roebuck’s demise – so let’s keep it that way, with or without Dostoevsky.
Bearsy, I wont dwell on the subject, but I did uncover some quite interesting stats which I may put into another post at some point.
I spoke to my friend, who is extremely skeptical about the idea that police were actively involved. It does appear as though it was suicide. According to one report, there was a policeman on guard outside his hotel door when Roebuck died. He been placed their following the interview. As tempting as it is to paint all South Africans as evil racists (as opposed to just racists) I do think it is likely that some sort of scandal was about to be exposed and that PR jumped of his own accord.
I don’t doubt for one minute that some sort of scandal was about to be exposed – he does sound a bit of an odd-ball!.
I think what has caused the speculation is the different versions – starting with that he was found dead in his room, and ending with his jumping from his room. It seems a little odd that he had called a fellow journo to help him find a lawyer and then jumped…
Thanks Sipu. 🙂
I wasn’t thinking of racism, let alone evil racism. I was musing about “over enthusiastic questioning”, as the euphemism goes here.
Can’t resist this –
Ooh! 🙄
Bearing mind the fella is a pom, there has been very little reporting of it here. I actually have one of his first books (the ashes tour of 86-87) and he was a damn fine county cricketer.
I certainly wasn’t aware of any hint of scandal and the story hasn’t changed much other than to say that he took his own life. There’s no suggestion of anything untoward.
I guess we’ll never know.
The most complete report that I’ve found so far.
Apparently he didn’t like to be called a Pom, Cuprum.
Ouch!
Thanks Bearsy, I shall read shortly. 🙂
Well, a spade is a spade innit. I don’t being called a pom either, but I is one. He’s probably just a little bitter at how he was treated once he endorsed the leaving of Garner, Richards and Botham from Somerset 25 years ago. But I say that with no knowledge or facts! 😀
Hmm, I can see why you’re a little suspicious Bearsy. One mustn’t be too hasty, but it smells very fishy to me. He doesn’t strike me as someone who would be embarrassed by a little sexual impropriety.