'We will deal criminals a blow'

2008-12-01 19:26

Pretoria - Communication, co-ordination and accountability are key to fighting crime, Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Monday.

Addressing the crime summit 2008 in Midrand, Mthethwa said it was not a matter of having too little information on criminal activities, but rather that it was not always used to reduce crime levels.

"With these three [communication, co-ordination and accountability] the criminals will without a doubt be dealt a severe blow."

Mthethwa said accountability would also help root out corruption in the ranks of the police. He said corruption, "while practised by a small few", always had the same result: the loss of public confidence and the creation of an environment where crime flourished.

There had also been a "lot of talk" about a legislative regime which favoured the perpetrators and not the victims. This required informed debate and assessment. "We need to debate from an informed point of view and not shoot from the hip."

- SAPA