Draconian crime measures needed

THE revelation of the crime statistics for 2014/15 by the Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko, does not even begin to faze me.

While questions might be raised as to their accuracy, the reality is that crime is rampant in South Africa and each day we are potential statistics waiting to happen.

My serious concern is that government, as the de facto protector of the citizenry, is failing dismally to contain the criminal vermin that roam this land.

No matter which way reasons or excuses are spun to diminish the cruel reality of increasing crime, we are sitting ducks, ready to fall prey to those who have forsaken the values and laws of civil society.

Unless drastic and decisive action is taken – from increasing sentences for capital crimes such as murder and rape to the extent that life sentences without the option of parole be imposed, to increasing law enforcement exponentially, using all arms of the law – including the army – to protect the citizens, there will be no abatement of this scourge.

Unfortunately, draconian measures are needed to halt a spiral that has the propensity to affect every single one of us at any time. The government may call upon communities to assist in combating crime, but ultimately it has the resources to dramatically decrease the crime rate.

Civil society, too, cannot remain armchair critics any longer, complaining each time a heinous crime is committed.

We have to act, and act now – and I would like to appeal to every citizen who is concerned for the well-being of their family and friends and for the country to actively get involved in pressurising the government to act with haste and total commitment in decreasing crime.

The future of this land demands action now and the solutions are self-evident – only if the leadership we “chose” has the genuine will to actually care for its people and their safety will there be change.

With almost 50 people a day being murdered in this country, you and I are very much in line to be an object of a postmortem enquiry sooner rather than later.

A sobering thought, is it not?

NARENDH GANESH Durban North