Crime hinders economic climate

2008-08-28 17:12

Johannesburg - Crime and violence remain obstacles in the way of rectifying the socio-economic climate essential for allowing a better life for all, a convention on safety has found.

"Crime and violence have already caused untold hardship, disruption, and loss of life in our country," said Action For a Safe South Africa project leader, Roelf Meyer.

He was reading from a charter developed during the four-day convention in Midrand.

"It jeopardises the foundations of our democracy, and undermines the principles that formed the basis of our transition to democracy as embodied in our constitution.

"Millions of our citizens live in continuous fear as a result of the climate of crime and violence," he said.

Meyer said the 300 organisations represented at the convention recognised that the social and economic transformation of the country was not nearly complete, and that South Africa's were still suffering economic depravation.

"Fixing the criminal justice system is obviously an important goal for any society, yet we realise that it alone will not make us a safe society, and that unless we significantly reduce the demand on the criminal justice system it will never be able to deliver justice for all.

"We recognise the need for a practical and an achievable vision of a safe South Africa - a vision that encapsulates an ideal safe society.

"We know that realising this ideal will be a lengthy process and commit to working innovatively, cleverly and with resilience to realise the capacity, funding and structures to achieve this," Meyer said.

Among the dignitaries throwing their weight behind the initiative are former president Nelson Mandela's wife, Graca Machel and businessman Cyril Ramaphosa.

- SAPA