Africa, the birthplace of man, is also the most deadly continent.

Violent crime is a reality of life in South Africa, the 1st world enlave the continent's southern tip. We have in excess of 3 million licensed firearms in the hands of generally responsible civilians but there are estimated to be as many as 200 million unlicensed firearms under the control of a cross section of the community - many with criminal intent. Yes, read that figure again - 200 million in a country with a population of only 50 million! (Ref. Mike Mitten, Team Champion, Working Group 2 - Use Of Firearms, South African Skills Generating Body 08).

In the past during the apartheid era all white males were conscripted into the army or police and encouraged to keep registered weapons at home.
In contrast, many of the black population - and a tiny percentage of whites - took up unregistered arms to fight the white government, some training in Russia, Cuba, East Germany and Libya. The preferred weapon was the ubiquitous AK47. The various origins of these weapons are not important as it's sufficient to say that there are a huge number of uncontrolled cheap, reliable high-powered firearms in this country. A third element was of course the criminal community who do here what criminals around the world do, but with deliberate violence.

Back to today. Vehicle hijackings and violent crime involving firearms against drivers are so common that anyone who has not been a victim knows of someone close that has been. Anti-hijacking and evasive/defensive driving courses are frequently advertised, as are a plethora of vehicle security systems, including one which fires a two meter high jet of 4 flame from under the car (it makes Mace look a bit tame!).

South Africa today has the highest murder and rape rate in the peacetime world. Assassination of political rivals is not unusual in some areas at local government levels. Vigilantes operate openly and until recently there was a moratorium on the publication of crime statistics.

And so to the case in point and the accompanying photos. Peter (not his real name) lived in an upper middle class Johannesburg suburb. His habit was to reverse his gray BMW into his garage. He carried Remington .45 pistol, cocked and locked and he had spent many hours on the range, and at that moment in his life he was operating in a condition of high alert.

Two weeks before he had buried his business partner, Alan. Alan had been dragged out of his car at the gates of his house and shot once in the back of the head as he lay on the ground. Alan and Peter wrote software - for a police organized crime investigation unit.

Peter must have been followed, possibly from his office 6 Km away. Or maybe they were parked on a street corner, expecting him. After what happened to Alan Peter should have been watching his rear. Perhaps his mind was elsewhere. He was getting out of his car in the garage when the 4 attackers approached.

He saw the AK47 in the hands of the man to his left, who stood by the open garage door pillar. This was no hijack to get his car - this was a hit!

He drew his 8 shot pistol. The three other murderers took up positions of partial cover and opened fire with 9mmp and .357 handguns. The AK stitched a line of holes across the bonnet and windscreen, perhaps displaying the shooter's basic familiarity with the weapon but not any great level of skill.

Peter was hurt but managed to return fire, hitting the furthest assailant to the right in the head, killing him. Approximately 30 rounds were fired at Peter - he was hit 8 times.

The criminals picked up their fallen comrade and drove off, but when they realized he was dead they threw him out of the car. We were called in to investigate the attack but it was obvious that this was not a 'normal’ hijacking. Peter died of complications 2 months later. The 3 surviving attackers were never caught.
(Andy Grudko has been supplying protection and investigation services in South Africa for 21 years this month - His company is Grudko Associates http://www.grudko.com/