Posted by Jemele Hill
JOHANNESBURG -- Safety has been a huge concern at the World Cup, but if how the South African authorities dealt with three men who robbed foreign journalists is an indicator of what will happen to potential crooks, the media contingent should consider itself in good hands.
Three journalists -- one Spaniard and two Portuguese -- were robbed at their lodge in Magaliesburg on Wednesday. And not only were the robbers apprehended, but on Saturday they also were sentenced to 15 years in prison each, according to the Johannesburg Star. The three journalists were asleep when the robbers broke into their room armed with a firearm and a knife. The robbers stole their cameras, laptops, passports, cash and clothes. The property, which was recovered, was valued at an estimated 388,000 rand (about $50,000 U.S.).
Now that's the very definition of swift justice.
The South African authorities have dedicated 56 courts to deal with all criminal cases related to the World Cup, and this was the eighth case that had been heard there. It's too bad the criminal justice system can't work this way when it's not the World Cup.
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About this Blog
Leander Schaerlaeckens (top left) is a soccer writer for ESPN.com.
Jeff Carlisle (top center) covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN.com.
Brent Latham (top right) covers soccer for ESPN.com and works as a soccer commentator for a national television station in Guatemala.
Chris Jones (bottom left) is a writer-at-large for Esquire and a contributing editor for ESPN the Magazine.
Jeff Bradley (bottom center) is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.
Jemele Hill (bottom right) is a columnist for Page 2 and writer for ESPN the Magazine.
Michael Griffin (not pictured) is an editor for ESPN.com.
Paul Carr (not pictured) is a researcher for the ESPN Stats & Information group.
John Brewin (not pictured) is the senior editor at ESPNSoccernet.com.
Ravi Ubha (not pictured) covers soccer and tennis for ESPN.com.
Andrew Hush (not pictured) is a soccer researcher for ESPN International, having previously been editor of Soccer New England magazine.
James Martin (not pictured) is the soccer editor for ESPN.com.
Paul Grant (not pictured) is a deputy editor at ESPN.com.
