Complete peace of mind / Why should we have to live in fear

A stark difference between Johannesburg and Boston is safety.

In Johannesburg, we have layers of security. Our houses have security gates/bars, electric fences, regular patrol cars in certain areas and alarms with panic buttons and even beams in the garden. Some houses are in an estate (with/without a security guard) in a boomed off road. It is almost like living in a jail. There are some areas (like hillbrow) which you avoid completely. You don't dare walk anywhere alone at night! not even down the road. When you stop at a robot at night, you must look around for any suspicious activity (there are even warning signs for this at certain robots). Smash and Grab is very common. When you walk around anywhere you need to hold onto your handbag just in case you get mugged (even at church ladies take their handbags with them when they go up for communion!). When you drive home, you check to see if anyone is following you. This all might seem a bit paranoid and some people may disagree but this has been my experience and you'd rather be safe than sorry!

We live in fear - It is amazing to just to think about how we are living in Johannesburg. Everyday we live with the fear of being robbed/mugged/hijacked/raped/murdered. The fear of this happening to a loved one. What has society become?

Here in Boston, there are not even walls around houses/flats. There are no security gates/bars, electric fences, alarms, etc. You just don't have to worry about your safety at all. Sure there is theft and freak incidients (like the recent Batman massacre in Colorado) but in general you don't really have to worry about crime living in Boston. I walk around at night alone and use the public transport... without fear. Children even do this. I have complete peace of mind.  Isn't this how we are meant to live? without fear of one's safety? and to rather just enjoy life?

So the question is - how do we make South Africa safe??? Certainly some radical changes are required and this will be a long term solution but we need to start somewhere! we know it is possible