Sir, - Criminals have become the prey in South Africa's recent crime prevention plan, but the report of August 19th by your correspondent, Patrick Laurence, gives no recognition to any recent measures implemented to beat crime. South Africa remains a country in transition, and the ANC led Government is facing a number of challenges of which tackling crime has become a national priority. Decisive and firm action has been taken in the "war" against crime, and the arrest of 12,292 of the most wanted criminals in a countrywide crackdown is proof of the success of the new National Crime Prevention Strategy.
Your report, "Vigilantes signal loss of faith in ANC action to beat crime," focuses on the last two weeks' drug related violence in some suburbs of Cape Town and the action by the Muslim based PAGAD (People Against Gangsters and Drugs) against drug lords. While this violence was limited to the Cape flats (an area of Cape Town) it is portrayed in the article as having taken on national proportions, referring to a "loss of faith in the state to contain crime" and "perceived failures of the judicial criminal system".
What is clearly missing in your report is to state the specific action taken by the South African Police Service to contain the Cape's drug related violence, but more importantly, the recent measures taken countrywide in the Government's anti crime plan. No mention is made of the police's success in arresting the 12,292 targeted criminals in the recent crackdown.
What specific measures have been taken by government in its efforts to beat crime? Illegal trafficking in drugs has been one of the priority crimes tackled. The strongest possible effort has been made by the police to prevent vigilante groups from taking the law into their own hands. Specific short term measures taken included raids on the homes of alleged drug lords and dealers; deploying 260 army members in the area; and the establishment of a tribunal with similar powers to courts to investigate alleged police complicity with drug gangs. Furthermore, the moving of a Minister (under threat from drug lords) from his home to a protected "safe" house is surely an effective precautionary police measure that deserves credit rather than criticism.
Nationally, the Government has made it a priority to address the rising crime rate through a comprehensive strategy to stop the high levels of crime posing a serious threat to the emergent South African democracy. Strong police actions and powers are, however, continuously weighed against the civic and human rights of South African citizens, even those presumed to be guilty of crimes. This is an essential ingredient of South Africa's process of coming to grips with its past and future.
The history of South Africa has left us with a "culture of violence" which, together with high unemployment, has contributed much to the high levels of criminal activity. Recognising that the increasing levels of crime pose a serious threat to our emergent democracy, a comprehensive interdepartmental strategy to fight crime was implemented by government over the last few months.
The Government is confident that its new crime prevention plan presents a turning point, but is also realistic that it will not be effective overnight. The South African Police Service's proactive steps are steps in the right direction, and should be supported. - Yours, etc.,
First secretary,
South African Embassy,
Alexandra House,
Earlsfort Terrace,
Dublin 2.