Security is a worldwide concern, but clearly to different extents in different areas of the globe - attending the SecuTech Show in Taipei brought this point home to me in no uncertain terms. So there I was at 10 p.m., walking around night markets in a city I had never been to before and feeling as safe as I do in my own (walled) garden.
Walking through Taipei the next morning - in broad daylight - there were rows of scooters lining the pavements, and most of them with the keys in the ignition, just left there with all the faith in the world that they would be just as they had been left when the owners returned. Forgive me for being the paranoid South African I have always prided myself on not being, but this, to me, was mind-blowing!
By this time I was beginning to wonder why Taiwan even felt the need for a security exhibition!
Walking through the exhibition, I found the people to be exceptionally friendly, helpful and obliging. It dawned on me that crime is more about mindset and possibly need, than where in the world you are...
Looking through the local news headlines before writing this, I read:
"Security stepped up in Pretoria
Tracker employee wounded in shooting incident
Tearful paramedic recalls hijacking ordeal
KZN taxi boss gunned down at barber shop
Teenage rapists to appear in court"
And suddenly I understood why I had been questioned so much about South Africa when I was in Taiwan - "Do you feel safe there?" and "Is it not dangerous to live in South Africa?" were the most common questions I was asked. But I do not see it that way; I love this country and I see the challenges we face as invaluable stepping stones and opportunity in the growth of our security industry (apologies if that sounds insensitive in any way, it really is not meant that way).
In fact, the very next headline I came across was about the South African Weather Service working on an advanced lightning detection system.
I rest my case!
Once again, till next month,
Lynne Larsen
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