The Oscar Pistorius murder trial enters its fifth day and is set to continue for more than three weeks. In reality, this case is taking precedence over what is happening in South Africa. The world media attention given to this case is taking the spotlight of the real problems occurring in South Africa.
Oscar Pistorius is a world-renowned person and his role in society does engage the public interest. Oscar was arrested last year in February for the killing of his law student girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He has argued that it was unintentional and continues to show remorse for this evil deed. His defense team secured bail and are now attempting to prove him innocent of murder and other related charges.
The significant media coverage involving this case continues to outstrip the reality of the actual murders and criminals in South Africa. While Oscar certainly has a large fan base, the curiosity of the trial causes a frenzy among people who want justice to prevail.
The court proceedings so far can be described as a circus, Mr. Barry Roux heading the defense team in the case has certainly attracted some scathing remarks from readers. His tactics regarding the screaming at the time of the murder are hilarious. The suggestion for a scream test is so ridiculous, and the prosecution will certainly use this opportunity to gain a foothold in this case.
In all probability, Oscar Pistorius will walk away from this nightmare a free man, the undeniable amount of attention from his defense and their determination to clear him of any wrongdoing will meet with disapproval. The justice system could not keep Oscar behind bars after the shooting and the Barry Roux will succeed in winning the case.
This type of media attention has caused people to lose focus on the real murders and other incidents far worse than the Pistorius case. The farm murders occurring so often are reported, and the media publish an article and that is the end of the drama. The overwhelming attention on Oscar has denied the public the right to know about incidents that affect them directly.
The triple farm murder of the Schutte family last weekend was another horror story for South Africa. The despicable manner in which these people were tortured and mutilated is utter chaos. Four men were arrested and charged with the murder of this family and appeared in the Richmond Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The case is postponed until March 12 for a bail application. Considering the manner in which this family died at the hands of these men is tormenting for a normal person to grasp.
The public will not receive frequent updates regarding this brutal murder because they are from the white farming community. There is the real possibility that bail will be granted to the four men who shamelessly killed the Schutte family. Should bail be denied, the worst that could happen to these men is a sentence of fifteen years in prison. Parole would be given after a few years and voila, they will be free to murder again.
The vicious attack on Manie de Beer and Rachel Groenewald in Leeupoort on February 28 remains a low keyed event in the media. These two people were attacked by a group of five men with axes and tortured for almost two hours before the fled the scene. Fortunately, the attackers were apprehended by the police and one was fatally wounded. This disgusting and disturbing endless murders and attacks on white farmers must stop.
In the case of Oscar and the trial generating world news, the justice system will once again illustrate how miserably it has failed the democracy of South Africa. The failing system will allow the Oscar circus to cover the real problems the country is facing. By allowing the world to focus on the Oscar Pistorius trial, the undercurrents of crime go unnoticed.
The human rights of each person are at risk when the justice system fails and allows the world to focus on a circus instead of the real news. What is actually happening in South Africa cries desperately to the world and when the media stop focusing on Oscar Pistorius will the truth set in.
Opinion by Laura Oneale
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