When deviance, criminality become the new normal
IN RECENT years, there has been a prevalence of media reports which focus on a wide criminal activities with particular attention on white collar crimes.
These journalistic reports are rich in factual evidence, opinion and perception that allow the readers to develop a certain standpoint in regard to these crimes.
Notable amongst sources for these reports have been the Zondo and other commissions of inquiry, which have been responsible for high profile arrests and prosecutions.
According to sociological terminology the concept of white-collar crime is a broad term which includes a wide variety of criminal activities such as tax and land frauds, illegal sales practices, embezzlement, bribery and corruption in business and politics.
The term was coined as early as 1949 by Edwin Sutherland, a sociologist.
Other theorists have indicated that deviant acts are a component of all healthy societies and that not every citizen will be able to conform to the rules of social order based on ethical and moral grounds.
Similarly, there will be those who willingly comply with ethical social conformity within society.
The motivation to engage in deviant activities may be related to the notion that rapid material accumulation is perceived to be closely aligned with one of the many benchmarks of success.
Financial upliftment also allows individuals to fulfil materialistic aspirations and to a certain extent allows one feel a sense of accomplishment.
This then is further entrenched by society when the individual has developed status, power and in turn is respected regardless of how such wealth was accumulated.
These social mores of life are prevalent in all societies.
We can look back as far as 1974 the movie, The Great Gatsby, which allowed the viewer to perceive that financial success is the basis to all other successes in life.
The American dream too is an ideology based on individual financial success with less consideration for the social influences and circumstances that can escalate or hinder prospects of financial prosperity for any individual.
Suketu Mehta (2005), a novelist who analysed the underworld of Mumbai city, highlights the prevalence of dubious and criminal activities that dominate a multibillion dollar industry such as Bollywood.
We are mimicking and imbibing values of global popular culture such as conspicuous consumption, the need to show how much we have in a competitive and destructive way.
This may have devastating consequences in the most unequal society in the world.
Within the South African context, deviancies and criminal behaviour have become prevalent.
This is evident from copious media spaces, discussions with the family and our own mind-sets.
It dominates daily discussions in homes and among friends and progressive civil society.
We personally investigate and question the extent to which these variances of white collar crimes are acceptable, how we understand these behaviour patterns and what are correct measures going forward.
As South Africans we are witnessing a limited number of prosecutions, failed prosecutions and only very few convictions accompanied with the lack of appropriate consequences for the perpetrators of deviant and unlawful activities.
The Black Economic Empowerment regime in post-apartheid democratic South Africa has imposed new organisational cultures that have become rather dominating within business and political sectors.
The socio-economic and political circumstances that all classes in South Africa face are challenging and can be viewed as bleak for those from the lower income group.
The middle and upper classes on the other hand can approach economic integration innovatively and be creative in their attempts to secure new business opportunities.
The often sensational media reports enable society to judge, condemn and criticise, but more importantly alerts us to what is presently occurring in our society.
One may say that thinking and acting deviantly is becoming a norm in our society.
From leakages of exam papers, the sale of degrees, tenderpreneurs’ bribery and corruption, failures of law enforcement agencies, gender based violence etc to state capture projects evidence of the deviant society is clear.
Fortunately, there are always countervailing tendencies – towards ethical behaviour, morality and conduct necessary to build the decet society. This is a challenge to the citizenry.