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Is crime really as bad as we think it is? Does social media make us more paranoid about the danger out there? Thankfully we have a weekly show that answers just this, and more, writes Avantika Seeth.
Crime Watch
eNCA (DStv channel 403)
Wednesday, 9.30pm
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Every week during a live show, eNCA Crime Watch host Yusuf Abramjee breaks down the major crimes that have taken place in the week gone by. These include viral social media clips of attempted hijackings to CCTV camera footage from petrol stations that show just how easily criminals gain access to vehicles. What makes this show so compelling in a country like ours is that even though crime talk has become part and parcel of our social fabric, Abramjee offers helpful analysis and commentary on the crimes that have taken place. He is careful to caution the public against taking remedial action to prevent them from becoming victims themselves.
Abramjee, a journalist who is now an anti-crime advocate, is also the vice-president of Crime Stoppers International and has worked for years to ensure the safety of South Africans. It’s no wonder he was picked as host for a show that speaks to one of South Africa’s major ills.
Although he might not fit the mould of a traditional broadcaster or necessarily have the talent of one, Abramjee’s frankness makes the topics he tackles approachable and digestible for the public. Even though some of the guests on his show are not always forthcoming with answers, he at least asks pertinent questions.
During an episode in January he interviewed Police Minister Bheki Cele and the two discussed the increase in crime as it was reported in the annual crime stats for 2017/18.
Abramjee asked about what the police had done about criminals running amok during the festive season.
Cele gave a bizarre response about genders instead, saying that out of 20 malls that he visited, only two were managed by men and that there was an increase in police visibility at the malls.
At one point Abramjee asked frankly: “Public confidence in the police is rather low. Is it simply because the police are useless?”
Cele was quick to defend the police, saying that the majority of South Africans felt that the SA Police Service was there to help the public and keep them safe.
The show also incorporates viewer feedback through Facebook and Twitter, where questions can be posed to the guests Abramjee hosts, allowing the show not to seen as one-sided.
Guests have included psychologists, who are able to provide insight into some of the crime footage that is aired and who attempt to upack the modus operandi of criminals.
Crime Watch is a great way to be informed about the criminal trends that sweep our cities, while also providing insight into how the public can take cautionary measures from becoming victims of crime themselves.
