'Crime is bad. That's a fact'

2008-10-05 09:57

Lizel Steenkamp

Johannesburg - Crime is bad and South Africans' views about it are legitimate.

Nathi Mthethwa, the new Minister for Safety and Security told Rapport in an exclusive interview that it would be foolish for government to reject the fears of citizens.

"South Africans have every right to feel this way. Crime is bad. That is a fact. It is not our (governtment's) job to deny it, but rather to listen to what people are saying. We have to work together to find a solution."

Mthethwa, the ANC's former chief whip, has been in his job for ten days. He replaced Charles Nqakula, who was known to underplay especially the fears of white people and who had said in Parliament that those who complained should leave the country.

Mthethwa said fighting crime in residential areas was a top priority for him and the next seven months would be decisive.

"All of us - whether you stay in Guguletu or Sandton - are victims. I want people to go to work without becoming panicky about whether their houses are being burgled. Nobody wants to be in a situation where you wonder if you will live to see the next day."

He said the high crime rate undermined government's upliftment programmes. "It has an effect on our social-welfare programme, on the economy, on everything we address."

He said he had spoken to police management about formulating a plan to fight crime. Mthethwa did not want to comment about Commissioner Jackie Selebi, but said he was not in favour of the police service being run by an acting national commissioner.

- Rapport