Review of laws needed regarding criminals

CRIME in townships – including heists, murders and hijackings, most of them involving black-onblack violence – has again proved that crime is not a racial issue.

This opens up the opportunity to have another look at the laws that protect criminals far better than they do ordinary victims, especially in the wake of the shift of the criminal mind from targeting malls, banks and motorists, to instead pouncing on unprotected people in places of worship.

Now is the time to review the current laws, modern in outlook but horribly ineffective. ES ESSA Durban SOUTH Africa, the land of no consequence. A bus is burnt in Bonella by people protesting against their eviction from illegally occupied land. Consequence? Nil. The bus company has nothing to do with the land issue; it provides a service for people to get from A to B. The actual net result should be the total withdrawal of the service.

The train is late due to people stealing signal cables or other equipment, so the train is burnt (and tomorrow it will be really late). Consequence? Nil. So far, 66 coaches have been burnt, approximately 12 train sets ultimately paid for by the taxpayer (I’m tired of paying).

The actual consequence should be to withdraw the service – the people obviously don’t need the trains.

“Where is my compassion?” you ask. I have none; there should always be consequences for such behaviour.

And as for pupils threatening teachers, going on strike and looting while on their marches, taking weapons to school (and having to declare schools gun-free zones) – what kind of society is this that we are evolving for a future South Africa? I shudder to think. ROLAND FISHER

Durban