Well done, long arm of the law

DESPITE the economic and political challenges we are experiencing, South Africa remains a great country with endless unfulfilled potential. As a country, we have demonstrated our greatness in our achievement of a peaceful transition when the whole world was preparing for civil war in the southern tip of the African continent. We also demonstrated our ability to punch above our weight in our successful hosting of the Rugby and Fifa Soccer World Cups in 1995 and 2010 respectively.

However, our government’s ability to effectively deal with the scourge of crime is threatening to undo all the achievements we have made as a country since 1994.

That is why we want to congratulate our men and women in blue for the arrest of the criminal kingpin allegedly involved in a spate of mall robberies in Durban. This syndicate has been staging brazen robberies at a string of shopping malls and jewellery stores, stealing expensive merchandise.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said the suspects were arrested at their hideouts in uMlazi and police recovered watches and expensive perfumes believed to have been taken in some of the robberies.

We always criticise the police for their failure to arrest suspects and put a stop to these high-profile robberies.

It is, therefore, satisfying to know that the police continue with their painstaking investigations of these crimes long after the public outrage has moved on to focus on other things.

Shopping malls are places where people go to have fun and unwind. Being held up while doing your shopping is the last thing on your mind.

By arresting these criminals, police are taking the first step towards ensuring that they are removed from society.

As citizens who pay taxes, we deserve to entertain ourselves in places that are safe and secure.

Now the ball is in the court of the Department of Justice, which has to make sure that these perpetrators are removed from society once and for all.

If police do their work more effectively and efficiently, we can make meaningful strides towards eradicating crime in our society.