Is mob justice really the answer?

Judging by the different comments about the Zandspruit mob justice attacks on May 19, there is no doubt the incident has inflamed emotions and divided communities, especially those who live in areas where crime and violence are prevalent.

The incident left five of the nine local men allegedly accused of violent crimes in the local community dead.

The youngsters were apparently rounded up by angry residents who marched them to a local sports field, where they were bound and gagged before being assaulted, doused in petrol and paraffin, and their unconscious bodies set alight.

By the time police and paramedics were summoned to the scene, four of the victims had already succumbed to their injuries. The other victims were treated and rushed to the hospital. A fifth victim died in hospital.

The incident has invoked mixed reactions from a variety of individuals and communities, some of whom have lambasted what happened as ‘cruel, barbaric and uncivilised.

However, some have lamented what happened at Zandspruit as an ‘unfortunate incident’, which they say they fear would be seen as an ‘effective remedy’ to deal with crime.

Many township residents believe they have been left to the mercy of gangs. Some of the crimes they say occur include homes being broken into, families being terrorised and goods stolen; rape; hijacking and drug dealings.

Residents accused police of failing to protect them from these criminals. Zandspruit residents claim crime cases reported are often never really pursued nor investigated by police.

Residents added they are often forced to live under constant fear when known criminals are released back into the community while awaiting trial.

However, resorting to such brutality in dealing with those who commit these crimes among us borders on an even more barbaric and savage crime: murder. We are, on the other hand, also aware of the challenges faced by the SAPS within its ranks.

It is, however, now up to all of us to unite and help root out this web of crime and violence in communities.

Why drag children into this?

A month or so ago, we saw the reality of school bullying after a 14-year-old female victim committed suicide. The incident made headlines and was shared on various social media platforms.

The outcry from the public helped bring to the fore how some households have become rehearsal rooms for children to be groomed into the cycle of crime, drugs, sex, and violence. How else does the public explain the acts of a 15-year-old who takes it upon herself to criminally violate another learner by assaulting her?

In a typical replica fashion of the bullying incident, we saw again on social media how a group of angry parents invaded a local primary school and forcefully ejected the principal from her office. This happened in full view of learners who were given a free, violent demonstration on their own on how to resolve problems through violence.

The high levels of civil and domestic disobedience in our society coupled with the increase in violent acts of crime is indeed a serious indictment on the country’s law enforcement agents, including in our own homes, where our country’s problems seem to emanate from.

We are undoubtedly hell-bent on proving to our children the only way to resolve disputes, no matter how insignificant, is through violence.