"To seek, to find, and to succeed" goes the slogan of the new elite crime fighting unit that seeks to replace and replicate the success of the "dead" Scorpions.
I was instantly sold of this unit's resolve towards crime, priority crime, in this country. Even the holy book says those who "seek shall find; those who knock would have the door opened for them". It is in the scriptures.
I have always believed that you cannot separate politics, law and justice from the Bible as they feed off each other, eg "Thou shall not steal" - stealing is a criminal and punishable offence in our criminal justice system.
Men and women who are tasked with the supreme task of upholding and enforcing the law are in most cases religiously indoctrinated. Even in the past dispensation the most effective and highly successful officers justified their actions with quotations from the Bible.
Therefore, the fact that the new Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), affectionately known as "The Hawks" have subliminal references to religion tells me that we would see more success from this unit's ability to fight crime.
I am encouraged as well by recent research that has dispelled the myth that South Africa is the crime capital of the world. Many people, in a bid to put it in context, mention that our figures could be distorted by the fact that some of victims do not report the crime.
Very well, but if you don't report you cannot expect us to count you in because we do not have your case. Accuracy of a system's output is dependent upon the accuracy of its input - likewise if you cannot register for elections you cannot vote. So whose fault is it anyway if people do not want to report crime?
The Hawks have arrived and with them we have a fresh chance to revive our beliefs in this government attitude towards crime, justice and constitutional order. For the longest time we lambasted the previous administration of its lackadaisical approach towards crime and HIV/AIDS - now a new president has moved with speed to put these matters to the sword.
Take a bow comrade Zuma because in your first 100 days in office you've already convinced some of us that we can expect an accountable and effective government (we will talk efficiency in the next two years).
The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, is fully behind the new government and I suspect so is the President of the Republic, The Reverend Dr Jacob Zuma, who has dismissed the tainted Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi - a sign of good judgement.
Whether all these acts are just measures to score brownie points remain neither here nor there, the important thing is that the public's perception of this government attitude towards crime and justice is changing for the better.
To the new Hawks whose mission is not impossible I say: "seek" the criminals and their evil networks, "find" their locations and smash their cults, and do not be afraid to "succeed" as we are pining for same!
Halala diHawks, Halala!!!
Shapa diHawks, Shapa!!!
Get published on MyNews24 by sending your letter, story or column to us.
Send us your news photos
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
- News24
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.