Yesterday morning, our dear friend Leon, the owner (along with Dawn) of Jabula Lodge and Restaurant in Marloth Park, called to tell us that our mutual friend, Dean Jones, a resident of Marloth Park, passed away. We were shocked to hear this sad news but even more shocked to hear Dean was killed by his own workers at one of his rental properties in Johannesburg, shot in the back of his head and torso.
Over the years, Dean went back and forth from his beloved Marloth Park to manage the properties in Joburg, a five-hour drive. He owned a home in MP and a popular lodge down the road from Jabula. We met Dean years ago at Jabula one night, and as a good friend of Dawn and Leon and Louise and Danie, we often saw Dean and his fiance Nicky at a variety of social events.
A warm, funny, and friendly guy, his personality and demeanor were contagious. Many will miss him, including his fiance Nicky, his daughter Kelly, and countless other family members and friends. To think of how his own workers so savagely killed Dean in Joburg makes our skin crawl. How could this happen? Why did it happen? We’ll never know the answers.
When we discuss visiting South Africa, people often ask where we stay in Joburg. We don’t. The only time we stay in that dangerous city is at the City Lodge, which is located inside the Johannesburg Airport when we have to take a flight to Nelspruit the following day when it’s not safe to travel on the N4 highway at night from Nelspruit to Marloth Park.
That doesn’t mean every area in Johannesburg is dangerous, as in many cities worldwide. Even Minneapolis, the biggest city closest to us in our old lives (a 30-minute drive), has become crime-ridden over the years. There’s hardly a state in the US or a city in any country that doesn’t have rampant crime in some areas.
But for those of us unfamiliar with the good and bad areas in Joburg, it has been best to stay away to avoid any risks and to listen to locals about traveling on certain roads, particularly at night, when a lot of crime occurs in the dark. We’ve known this since we first visited South Africa 11 years ago.
Even Marloth Park is subject to crime, mainly break-ins and less violent crime. However, read the following:
“Marloth Park, South Africa, has a lower crime rate than South Africa’s larger cities and towns, but it does have some crime, including house burglaries and petty crime. Some say that security companies have helped to reduce crime. However, others say that the park is affected by violent organized crime and corruption, particularly in Mpumalanga, where staff living in nearby communities are vulnerable to criminal syndicates.”
Marloth Park will never be the same without Dean. He was only 51 years old and was energetic and healthy. He will be dearly missed by many who were fortunate enough to include him in their lives. Such sad news.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, April 25, 2014
