Following yesterday's state of the nation address, I noticed that it fell by the wayside in light of the Oscar Pistorius revelation.
As I scoured news stories on latest developments in South Africa, I came across Jacob Zuma's view on violent crime in South Africa.
That word 'apartheid', which most South Africans may have heard tossed around from time to time (eyes rolling) was mentioned in JZ's explanation of what the cause of violent crime can be attributed to.
Now while I am not trying to delude myself to the fact that many of today's problems can be blamed on apartheid, I don't think for one second, that our nation's shame can be blamed for our situation today.
Did you know, the majority of violent crime in SA is committed by criminals 25 years and younger?
Does it surprise you to learn that of those criminals younger than 25, 60% of them never stayed in school to finish their matric.
Our education level is about as low our average summer time temperature. Yet, if you at least have a matric certificate behind your name, you stand a much better chance of landing some form of job than not.
There's one reason why the crime stats might be so high.
POOR EXAMPLES
Day after day, we read through news papers almost dominated with stories of crime and corruption. Police ministers are appointed under controversial circumstances, ministers that are found guilty of foul play get suspended with full pay until investigations are complete (these take years). If they're found guilty, they still have the audacity to appeal and approach the CCMA for their jobs back. Failing this, they sit quietly in the background for a couple of months and are silently inserted into a different division of the government.
What message is this sending to the youth of our nation? Definitely not lessons on accountability! It shows that crime does pay and your chances of getting caught are minimal or if sentenced, jail time is laughable.
There's reason number two.
If we had to look more closely on the ground at impoverished areas and suburbia, we'd find that alcohol and drug abuse is also closely linked to a lot of violent crimes.
There's reason number three.
I find it aggravating to know that apartheid will be the scape goat for almost all of the government's failures and you don't need me to tell you just how many failures there are.
Instead of blaming the past, our government should be living in the present with plans of action and solutions to the problems we face now.
Our politicians should start taking responsibility for their actions, indiscretions and failures. Only once the example is set that actions have true consequences, will we see a major turn on violent crime in SA.
Accountability is a word, not a myth. Lets start asking for some!
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