House Chair, The ACDP appreciates this topic on South Africa’s crime crisis for debate. There can be no doubt that the State is largely failing in its primary duty of protecting its citizens. People do not feel safe in their homes, at work, at school, and in public places.
The best deterrent to crime is the sure knowledge that you, as an offender, will be caught, speedily prosecuted, and sentenced to a lengthly period of imprisonment.
Sadly, this is not happening sufficiently, and criminals believe that they can evade the consequences of crime. They believe, in fact, that crime does pay. Criminal syndicates and gangs seem to be holding sway despite the very best attempts of thousands of committed police officials, prosecutors and the judiciary.
What has made matters even worse is the shocking revelations made by KZN Provincial Commissioner General Mkhwanazi about crime and corruption at the highest level of the police, and infiltrating the criminal justice system.
The ACDP keenly awaits the final report of the Madlanga Commission, as well as the ad hoc committee looking into these allegations, and commends all the Members of Parliament sitting on the ad hoc committee until very late at night.
The shocking high levels of gender-based violence has already resulted in the declaration of a national disaster. This is to be welcomed. Not only does crime impact every citizen, but it also discourages investment and economic growth so necessary for job creation in our nation. Why would foreign investors want to invest in a country when there are such high levels of crime, and when they could invest in far safer countries? Why would domestic investors invest when their businesses face high levels of corruption and extortion?
Clearly far more needs to be done. The ACDP welcomes the deployment of the army to certain provinces but clearly this is a short-term solution to a far deeper moral crisis.
Probably the most fundamental issue relates as well to the need for more experienced detectives to ensure that offenders are caught and successfully prosecuted. Crime laboratories need to be sufficiently resourced for forensic evidence quickly, with haste. Experienced prosecutors and judiciary are required and a review of the criminal justice law, as mentioned by the minister, is to be welcomed.
The ACDP believes that our crime crisis is indicative of a moral failure in society. We call on faith-based organisations and churches to pray and actively engage citizens to restore God-centred moral values.
I thank you.
