The South African Chamber of Business (Sacob) on Monday said it welcomes ”constructive efforts” to reduce crime.
Sacob president Deidre Penfold would, however, not take sides in the debate following First National Bank’s (FNB) decision to drop an anti-crime advertising campaign.
”I don’t want to personally comment on whether FNB was right or wrong. Whatever the reasons for the withdrawal, everybody is entitled to express their concerns in whatever way they believe.”
FNB is a Sacob member.
First National Bank’s R20-million campaign involved print, television and radio advertisements and invited members of the public to write to President Thabo Mbeki about their experiences of crime.
”The level of crime in South Africa constitutes a real social issue on which the constituents of Sacob have expressed, and continue to express, their utmost concern. The rule of law and its maintenance … has an impact on the attractiveness of South Africa as a potential investment destination …” she added.
The African Democratic Christian Party (ACDP) found it ”difficult to believe” that the government did not exert some pressure on FNB to drop its campaign.
ACDP leader Rev Kenneth Meshoe on Monday called on the government to end its ”self-serving mentality”.
”While the country is clamouring for solutions and reassurance, the government is choosing to bury its head in the sand, and to view crime and attitudes to crime primarily in terms of how it affects the public image of the African National Congress [ANC].”
Meshoe also slammed government spokesperson Themba Maseko’s comment that the campaign was a form of incitement against Mbeki. The Sunday Times reported Maseko as saying: ”Trying to incite people to behave in a certain way towards the head of state cannot be condoned.”
Meshoe called on FNB to retain its campaign in its current form in an attempt to address the needs of the country, not the needs of the ANC.
Presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga and deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka have both denied that the government put pressure on FNB to can the initiative.
The Democratic Alliance, Pan Africanist Congress and trade union Solidarity have also criticised FNB’s decision to put the campaign on hold.
FNB will go ahead with its anti-crime campaign, but on Monday morning a spokesperson would not say when.
The bank dropped the campaign, reportedly after a meeting on Friday, which included senior ANC leaders.
First Rand Bank chief executive Paul Harris told the Sunday Times that the matter was discussed with a ”broad range of stakeholders”.
Business against Crime (BAC) said it did not attend the meeting.
”As for that alleged meeting, no one from BAC attended,” said BAC CEO Siphiwe Nzimande on Monday.
Commenting on the R20-million campaign, he said his personal view was: ”[I]t springs out of that desire to show that they are seen to be doing something [against crime]”. — Sapa