African National Congress president Jacob Zuma on Monday urged tougher legislation against all forms of crimes in a country where over 50 murders are committed every day.
”I am convinced that within the parameters of the Constitution there is significant space for us to toughen legislation against all forms of criminality and to erase the space within which criminals are able to operate,” he was quoted as saying in the Star newspaper.
”Criminals must know that breaking the law will have severe consequences and that they’ll suffer as a result of their actions,” said Zuma, a presidential hopeful in next year’s elections.
Critics say that current legislation is not adequate or tough enough to prevent crimes and deter criminals.
”Adequate and long sentences that fit the crimes that are committed and the detrimental consequences these have on our society must be handed down by our courts,” said Zuma.
He said that while the ANC would not ”erode” rights enshrined in the Constitution, he wanted to see the establishment of an efficient and transformed criminal justice system, working with communities to fight crime.
”The goal is to reduce serious and violent crime by 7% to 10% per year,” he said.
Crime-weary South Africa’s new Minister Safety and Security Nathi Mthethwa vowed last month to deal firmly with armed violence, saying police in the ”killing fields” had to be ready to return fire.
Addressing Parliament, Mthethwa said his top priorities would be fighting organised crime, improving crime intelligence and strengthening the capacity of task forces.
”We don’t believe that when you are faced, as SAPS [South African Police Services] are on a daily basis, with criminals armed with sophisticated weaponry, their task would be to take out and flash some human rights charter,” he said.
”Because we are in the killing fields where criminals are killing law-abiding citizens … we ourselves have an obligation to strengthen the arm of these task forces so they are able on the field to teach those people a lesson.
”Fight fire by fire, there is no other way on that.”
South Africa is one of the world’s most violent countries. Crimes such as housebreaking, hijacking and cash heists are often accompanied by high rates of murder, torture and violence.
The country’s high crime rate has raised concern about its ability to host the Soccer World Cup, but Mthethwa insisted the country would be ready for the tournament in 2010. – AFP
