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ID calls for crime-fight summit
14/01/2007 18:05 - (SA)
Cape Town - Independent Democrats president Patricia de Lille says that now that it has been openly admitted that South Africa has a crime problem, a national crime summit should be convened.
De Lille was commenting on President Thabo Mbeki's remarks at the African National Congress's 95th anniversary celebrations on what was needed to effectively tackle crime.
She said: "This means he has finally woken up to the fact that crime is a national crisis that needs input from each and every one of us.
"Now that the government is admitting they have a problem, they can get off their high horse and say they need the help of all South Africans in dealing with crime," said De Lille.
"The next step is to convene a national crime summit."
Every sector must be included
President Mbeki said tackling crime, "requires the involvement and active participation of all sections of society".
De Lille said: "It is crucial, as the Independent Democrats has repeatedly stated since mid-2006, that every sector of society is included in the actual drawing up of the plan so that we can all take ownership of it.
"It is time for the government to realise that communities need to be consulted every step of the way.
"We need to reach consensus on how to isolate the criminal minority that is holding the majority of peace-loving South Africans hostage," she said.
"The initiative between the government and business alone is not succeeding to bring down crime because it excludes the majority of our people."
- News24
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