To Brett Goldin: shine on, you crazy monkey
Posted to the web on: 20 April 2006
To Brett Goldin: shine on, you crazy monkey
Ronnie Apteker
I HAVE had so many calls since this Easter about the tragic story of the double murder of actor Brett Goldin and designer Richard Bloom. I didn’t know Brett Goldin for a long time. I got to see him perform his special brand of magic during the creation of the Crazy Monkey movie, Straight Outta Benoni. There is something about acting that allows you to look into a person’s soul. It is that vulnerability that goes with the territory that gives you a deep window onto someone’s character.
I was privileged to experience this in Brett’s case. He was a special and loving person who only wanted to make people laugh.
What an irony it is — to have gone out in such a horrid and violent way. Where is the laughter now?
What kind of a story is this? This senseless and cruel incident seems to have shocked so many people. Why, I wonder? This is what is going on in our sad country each and every day. In fact, as you read this another poor Brett Goldin is leaving us.
I feel sick to my stomach writing this and I also feel helpless. How can it be that we continue to live in fear, with each story getting closer and closer to home? As it happens to be, Brett’s parents live a few houses away from me.
I invested in Brett. I gave him an opportunity to express himself and to make people laugh. And he did so, with grace, humility and inspiration. A more passionate soul you won’t find. But, I made a bad investment, for all the wrong rationale. My investment has gone pear shaped, but not for the normal reasons.
I would like my investment back, but unfortunately that cannot be. Brett was taken from us, and it makes no sense.
Who can I speak to about the investment I made here, and about getting my time and money back? Is anyone listening? And what about all the other investors out there, who give their time, love, energy and resources to people who are taken from us like this?
When someone has an investment go wrong it is generally due to poor management, or competitive forces, or to laziness, or a dozen under things we can understand. But this, no one can comprehend. Where on a business venture does it list “senseless murder” as a possible threat to a company’s mission?
The media attention that this terrible story has received has been overwhelming. Brett Goldin was a star. The Crazy Monkey movie elevated this man and exposed his curious talents.
His regular presence on MTV around the world has made him into your quirky pal from that whacky TV show. Every youngster who follows the mainstream youth culture knows Brett, and they all liked him.
One thing is for sure, Brett was a guy everyone dug. He was unthreatening and he was warm and lovable. Why on earth anyone would do this to him is beyond understanding.
Brett Goldin was capable of going far in his chosen career. He had promise and passion. And he had a great spirit.
I am not going to go off on a tangent talking about the problems in our land. Anyone reading this knows what a nightmare life in SA has become for so many people.
You should have a look at the online forum on the Crazy Monkey website — we couldn’t believe how many postings were made there since Easter. It is not the quantity of the comments here that is stunning, though, but the words being used.
Sentences like “Don’t ever come back to South Africa” and “Leave now”. And there are those stories from others who have lost loved ones so tragically like this.
Surely this can’t be? Is this the world we are meant to be giving to our children?
Brett Goldin was one of those children, and he trusted us to protect him, and now he is gone.
For those who don’t know, Brett Goldin was hijacked and killed this weekend in Cape Town, during the Jewish festival of Passover. He was a Jewish young man. Brett was immensely talented and he was walking a colourful path. He definitely took the road less travelled.
His death is a loss for our country and a terrible tragedy. Brett was a good person who only had love in his heart. The Crazy Monkey team is now no longer, and this country and the arts world has suffered a great setback. Brett was a gifted soul who had a wonderful sense of humour and an inspired life.
We are all at a loss for words over this horrific story — Brett, you are in our prayers and in our hearts. Our lives were better with you around. God bless your special soul.
‖Apteker is the founder of Internet Solutions and a film entrepreneur.
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A187830
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another suspect held after double murder
April 24 2006 at 05:47AM
By Caryn Dolley
While planning is under way for slain actor Brett Goldin's memorial service in Cape Town on Tuesday, it has emerged that a ninth person, a woman, has been arrested in connection his murder and that of designer Richard Bloom.
Anuska Anthony, 22, appeared in the Wynberg magistrate's court on Friday with Suboir Davids, 20 and Mogamat Tyeyssen, 25, on a provisional charge of illegal possession of a firearm. Anthony was arrested in the city centre on Wednesday afternoon.
Police seized a pistol from the trio.
Three people arrested last Monday, Shavaan Marlie, 25, Rameez Sayed, 23 and Clinton Davids, 23, appeared in the Cape Town magistrate's court on Friday on a provisional charge of being in possession of a stolen item.
The six and Trevino Cairncross, 22, Jade Wyngaard, 19, and Nurshad Davids, 20, are expected to appear in the Cape Town magistrate's court on Wednesday on provisional charges of murder.
Goldin, 28, and Bloom, 27, were buried in the Westpark cemetery in Johannesburg on Friday.
For people unable to attend his funeral, Goldin's friends in Cape Town are planning to hold a memorial service at 6pm on Tuesday at the Albow Centre in Hatfield Road.
Goldin and Bloom, whom friends last saw alive at a Camps Bay dinner party on April 15, were found shot dead beside the M5 in Mowbray last week.
This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Times on April 24, 2006
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20060424011900718C358911
