SUNDAY March 4, at 18:30 on SABC
2:
In
Fokus:
“RANDS, CENTS, TEARS - AND ACTION!”
Newspapers write about it, radio stations talk about it – few South Africans can say they or their relatives and friends have not been victims of crime.
The price of crime is high: South Africans who can afford it, secure themselves with high fences, burglar bars and expensive alarm systems. Victims also suffer emotionally: paranoia, mistrust and insomnia are often results of crime.
 The number of murders committed in South Africa, has decreased slightly over the past year – but is still on average 8 times higher than overseas. Other crimes have also decreased, but are often committed with much violence. According to prof. Anthony Minnaar of Unisa, this violence can have various causes: the forceful repression of millions of South Africans by the former government, the proliferation of fire arms and criminals’ fear that victims may offer resistance.
Focus viewers have indicated in letters, e-mails and faxes that South Africans have wide-ranging ideas about ways to address crime: suggestions range from tattoos on the foreheads of criminals, a prison island similar to America’s Alcatraz, the non-payment of taxes and the re-introduction of the death penalty.  Government believes the answer lies in greater co-operation between the police and private initiatives: during his state of the nation address, president Mbeki said police will in future work much closer with private security companies. Minister Charles Nqakula has asked for the revitilisation of community policing forums.
Producer Karin d’Orville and cameraman Andre Gous visit South Africans who pay the hefty price of crime – whether financial or emotional – and tell of their initiatives to combat crime. |
