Intervention might have averted brutal murder

It was a horrific murder that shocked the nation. Sangoma Anele Hoyana was brutally killed by Gonubie farm owner Fritz “Majeke” Joubert while Hoyana’s wife watched helplessly. For those who could stomach watching the video clips posted by Joubert on his Facebook page, you get a glimpse of the terror that Hoyana and his wife suffered at the hands of Joubert, who was later shot dead by a police officer. Naturally, the killing has sparked a huge debate among South Africans, with some arguing it was clearly a racially motivated attack, while others say Joubert’s actions were those of a mad man. Either one of those arguments — or even both — could be true.

But what is not being spoken about is is that there were clearly signs years before the attack that Joubert was a dangerous man.

Some neighbours described him as aggressive, with one saying he had been driven from his farm by Joubert, who had threatened to kill him.

The brutal killing begs the question whether there is anything that can be done to stop people like Joubert, who display aggressive behaviour, from eventually murdering someone.

There are, no doubt, many ticking time bombs among us who continuously act in an aggressive, harassing manner. But what recourse is there for those who either work with them or live among them?

Or do we simply have to accept that we live in a society that is reactionary rather than preventive?

We are by no means suggesting that people should be thrown in jail if they have not yet committed a crime, and, of course, no-one can diagnose a maniac simply by looking at them, but there surely has to be a middle point where there can be an intervention.

Perhaps if someone had intervened and removed Joubert from society to get the help he clearly needed, Hoyana might still have been alive today.