Voorsitter, die ACDP verwelkom hierdie onderwerp en wil graag die VF Plus bedank vir die debat.
Daar is sonder twyfel 'n krisis in die land wat misdaad betref, en ons in hierdie Huis moet hande saam vat om oplossings aan te bied.
Dit is die regering se primre rol om sy burgers te beskerm. Ons insiens faal die regering in daardie opsig tot 'n groot mate.
Ons het ook gesien wat aan die gang is in die Nelson Mandelabaai Munisipaliteit. Ons was deel, tesame met die DA, van die regering, en nou sien ons, soos gestel is, dat dit 'n gangster [rampokker] staat is. Dit kan nie geskied nie!
English:
We have also seen widespread public outrage against gender-based violence following the brutal rapes and murders of vulnerable women and children. This solicited urgent action from government in the form of the Emergency Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with additional funds being allocated to fight the scourge. This we welcome, but it is only part of the solution.
Gender-based violence must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, but why is the murder rate so high across society in general? Why are some of our citizens so violent? Why do we have these horrendous farm murders that even involve torture? Clearly, far more needs to be done.
So, what is the criminal justice answer to this? The Constitutional Court in the Makwanyane matter held that the deterrent to crime is the sure knowledge that a perpetrator will firstly be apprehended, secondly, successfully prosecuted and, thirdly, sentenced to a lengthy period of incarceration.
Now, friends, to a large extent, that deterrent does not exist in our society today. We know that there is a very good chance of perpetrators not being apprehended. If you are apprehended, there's a very good chance that there might not be a successful investigation, that you will be found not guilty.
So, that is why we have levels of crime, because there is not a sufficient deterrent. Far more needs to be done in that regard.
We are aware of the severe challenges facing our law enforcement and prosecution authorities with resources not being given. But, what we are seeing is that citizens are taking the law into their own hands. That we must condemn. But we understand.
Afrikaans:
Soos hulle s, die mense is baie moeg en g-vol van alles wat aan die gang is. Hulle begin nou om hande te vat om misdaad tee te staan in daardie areas.
English:
So, we need to have a look. How do we restore the internal moral compass? We need prayer and we need action. We need to have 57 million consciousnesses on duty, where people know that it is wrong to commit murder, that it is wrong to steal, that is wrong to rape others. Once we are at that stage, then we will be able to address the issues that beset our nation. Thank you.