Failed criminal justice system crippling SA

04 January 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

The devastating effects of crime on the lives of ordinary South Africans are clear for everyone to see. What we don't always see is crime's long-term effects, which are slowly eating away at our nation's prosperity.

The devastating effects of crime on the lives of ordinary South Africans are clear for everyone to see. What we don't always see is crime's long-term effects, which are slowly eating away at our nation's prosperity.

Crime has been blamed as one of the main reasons for the emigration of a fifth of South Africa's white population. Some of the other reasons given for the extremely high rate of emigration - not only by white people, but by all South Africans - are affirmative action, unemployment, the weak rand, HIV-Aids and unemployment.

The African Union has warned that crime, poverty and unemployment are [so serious] in South Africa that they threaten our post-apartheid democracy.

With skilled workers fleeing the county we have foreign settlers invading our shores. Since 1980, more than 10,3million foreigners have entered South Africa and stayed. There are now more Zimbabweans employed in South Africa than in Zimbabwe.

Surely the government must realise that if it can't produce enough skilled people to fill vacant posts it should start by fixing the core of South Africa's woes - excessive levels of crime.

The Inkatha Freedom Party believes that unless the government wages a full-out war on crime we will not be able to stop the exodus of skills. The criminal justice system is failing its citizens.

Koos van der Merwe, MP

Inkatha Freedom PartyChief Whip