23 July 2004 seemed like any other normal morning in our home in Bellevue East when the alarm clock woke me up to start my day. As usual my younger brother had started irritatting me with his slowness by taking a bath as if he was meeting with the queen of England. So I bang the bathroom door shouting at him to get out because we are going to be late. Don't worry, this was part of an everyday routine. I guess we both loved it because thats how we form the fondest memories of the ones we love and cherish dearly. My turn came and I showered and got dressed and we went out to catch a taxi to work.

Everyday we took the taxi right outside our gate, but that morning my younger brother insisted we walk to Hillbrow to catch a taxi to work in Sandton. I refused until he brought up the financial issue we had at that time. I agreed and we took off. We must have walked something like 30 minutes which felt like 3 hours crossing endless streets until we eventually reached a recreational park in Hillbrow that we had to cross on our way to the taxi rank. We entered the park still chatting about our dreams and future until we exited the park. Nothing could have prepared us for what was about to happen. Immediately after exiting the park, I had two guns pressed against my head and three voices shouting that I should hand over my cellphone. Confusion filled my head. I felt light and weak in my knees. I looked up and there stood three mean looking young men, their faces visibly filled with anger. How did they know that I had a cellphone? I asked myself. I lied and I said, I do not have a cellphone. 

I heard the voice shouting:"Hey bafethu ngizoyidubula lenja" (hey guys I'm going to shoot this dog). Obviously they had noticed something that I hadn't because all their eyes where looking down towards my pants pocket and I looked down and there it was, nicely shaped through my formal pants and I remember making a mental note of what a sell-out my pants and my phone were. Everyday I make sure that I put my phone on vibrate and put it inside my back-pack that I carry every day to work, because I never want to attract trouble. Unfortunately on this unfaithful day that thought must have taken a break! 

For something that felt like hours I couldn't think. My mind froze and I couldn't hear anything. My senses must have switched off until I was brought back by the screams of my younger brother  crying and shouting that I should please give them the phone before they kill us. I slowly reached for my pocket and took out an old Nokia 3310 cellphone and gave it to them. Then they said: "Foetsek, hamba lenja elambile ne 3310" (Go you hungry dog with a 3310). 

I saw disappointment in their eyes and we left before they could change their minds. Two blocks away is where the taxi rank is situated.Before we crossed the first block, a police van was standing by and so I rushed to it to inform the police of my ordeal. I told the policeman. He seemed very distant. I requested that we go back there because I am very sure that these criminals are still there. He just took one look at me and said: "Call 10111 and I will take orders from them", and then he left. I felt like I have been kicked by a horse in my stomach and a sharp pain in my heart. Disbelief written all over my face. Believe me, I'm a black man, but I became pale that minute. Just to satisfy myself, I turned around and walked back to the block where I had been robbed, I stood on the corner of a building and peeped through and I saw the three rascals still standing there waiting for another victim. I felt my heart beat and a cold breeze past through me and an inner voice said: "Welcome to reality, had you forgotten that this is Jozi?"

I picked myself up and continued with my way to work.

Sithembiso Mngadi