Yesterday, besides the violent weather, someone cut the cables in our
street and there is now no internet connection. Early morning everything was
fine, up and working. I went to art class – the last for 2022 and had a good
time there. Once again it was a show and tuition and I was certainly not
disappointed.
That is the reason why I haven’t posted my write up yesterday. I was
running around to get a place with internet services, found Woolies in Rivonia.
I started surfing, and all of a sudden after a particularly violent
thunder/lightning flash, we lost all connectivity.
Why on earth would he want to do that? Why cut the cables? That is a
question that permeates our lives all the time? What motivates people to what
they are doing? Destructive emotions – that is what drives people to commit to
crime. Well, that is an extremely simple answer to a hugely complicated
phenomenon.
Relax. For the moment. These cables were cut accidentally by tree-cutters. And insurance is looking into it. But it started me off on a nice story.
I recall me prosecuting a young girl who was accused of shoplifting. She
stole baby nappies and food for her child because she was battling to survive;
the father just had a “good time” with her and pushed off when the baby was
born. The evidence was against her; she was found guilty. The magistrate looked
at me and asked: “Mr. Prosecutor, what shall the court do with her?” The easy
and glib answer, that provided me with an escape route was: sentencing is in
the hands of the court.
I did not take that easy route; that was a cop out. I have in numerous
cases, before and subsequently, addressed the court on what I thought an
appropriate sentence would have been. This time I told the court: “Now, that
she was found guilty of theft, please be lenient on her and I suggest that she
be warned and discharged.” The court took the advice seriously and then told
her not to steal again but to approach the shop owner for a donation.
Please tell me your thoughts: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za