STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA | I researched and wrote this series, which begins in January 2015, when Martin and Teresa Van Breda were enjoying having their oldest son, 22-year-old Rudi home from university in Australia. The family’s other two children, 20-year-old Henri and 16-year-old Marli, also lived with their parents in a secure, luxury housing estate, like many upper middle class South Africans. Marli was nearing the end of her high school education. Like Rudi, Henri had also been studying in Australia, but dropped out of university and moved back home in 2014, to take a ‘gap year’ to reconsider his plans.
For all its beauty and cultural diversity, the risks associated with both visiting and living in South Africa are oftentimes confronting. The country is known for its high rates of violent crime, including murder, rape, carjacking, robbery and home invasions. Violent crimes such as home invasions occur not just at night, but at all hours of the day. Many intruders prefer to break into homes when occupants are home, so they can readily hand over concealed valuables while any alarms are deactivated. For many privileged families, opting to live in a gated community with 24 hour security provides reassurance that the risk of home invasions is minimal. Most of the time, that is.
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