EDITOR – Crime and violence and the state of the community feature prominently in recent issues of the Sun and rightly so.
As for the causes, well, that’s a challenging subject.
It is my considered opinion that, based on its inciteful rhetoric and general, well documented misconduct, the primary driver of crime and violence in this country is the ANC government.
I don’t have such statistics, but there can’t be many countries in the world which claim to be democratic like South Africa, where the government – both national, provincial and local – consciously subverts the Constitution, the basic rights of its citizens and the institutions of law and order.When one considers that the ANC’s local representatives are now at the helm of the CPF, the ward committee, the CCPO and the proposed Urban Improvement Precincts (UIP), one wonders why they are suddenly so concerned about crime and violence and the state of our town? Surely those that prop up the regime are mutually responsible for the current state of affairs? But you wouldn’t say so, butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths.
It seems we are dealing with the usual well-tried strategy. Quite simply, that means putting up a smokescreen, create diversion and shift the responsibility for failed government onto the shoulders of the community. Quite diabolical.
The CPF chairman witters about handing a ‘memorandum of understanding’ to the Commissioner of Police and invites the public to participate in a ‘peaceful walk’. Sad isn’t it? So many citizens have died violently, and won’t be able to attend. And more would have died by the time this letter is published.
The CPF PR spokesman says: “We can state with the utmost confidence that crime is not out of control”. Why would the CPF make a statement like this, at a time when criminals roam the highways and byways, relatively unhindered? And how about a recent research study by the SA Institute of Race Relations which finds that the police ‘are out of control’? What about our own lawless municipality which treats it citizens with contempt? Did I mention recent events, all within the space of a couple of days, such as VIP bodyguards storming City Hall, Metro Police storming meetings, municipal premises under siege, tenders for thugs and so on? Mayor Nxumalo dismisses these events as ‘ill-discipline’. Fact is, anarchy rules and crime pays.
The so-called UIPs proposed by George Lithgow poses interesting questions. Apart from the funding and application model described being downright confusing, examination of the operations in Umhlanga and Durban reveal that this is actually a duplication of municipal functions and in fact, an admission of failure. Lithgow says “Toti residents will question why they should pay more to do the municipality and the police’s job, but if you sit back and wait for things to improve, it won’t happen.” Amazing. Here we have a representative of the ruling party admitting failure, but admonishing the community and quite happy to foist responsibility on the same community. Is there no shame?
Let’s not be tragedy in the making. This country has so much potential, almost irretrievably lost. Those concerned should urgently use their time and energy to put in place a decent government, one that has standards and values.
JEFF VAN BELKUM
