AL-IVE makes its voice heard

2003-12-02 19:30

JOhannesburg - The anti-crime AL-IVE Campaign has finally been able to deliver its memorandum to the ministry of safety and security, a government official said on Tuesday afternoon.

This follows a march through Johannesburg on Sunday when thousands of people - many of whom had personally experienced violent crime - called on the government to help restore law and order.

"Enough is enough," the people chanted.

Johannesburg resident Lynne Vince-Jillings was driven to start the campaign after the execution-style murder of her 20-year-old son, Ivanne, in June this year.

"We decided we would not let this child's death become just another statistic," she said.

The organisation had hoped to hand over its memorandum to Security Minister Charles Nqakula at Sunday's march, but his spokesperson, Leslie Xinwa, said the minister had decided not to join the protest as police intelligence had told him the event was going to be politicised.

However, Xinwa said on Tuesday afternoon the AL-IVE Campaign had now delivered the document to the ministry. He was not prepared to comment as he had not yet studied the memorandum.

'Keep the public informed'

The AL-IVE campaign whose motto is "Stop the violence peacefully", is calling for accurate crime statistics, which should be used to measure progress.

They also want the government to define specific areas where there is a lack of governance - which allows the proliferation of violent crime - and that immediate steps be taken to remedy shortcomings in this regard.

They say the public needs to be kept informed of "impending dangers" and on how best to improve personal safety.

They demand the government acknowledges the crisis and take urgent measures to reduce crime.

The AL-IVE campaign wants a legal entity formed - of which it will be a part - to ensure "joint ministerial and private representation is guaranteed".

Some of the other measures they would like to see include large-scale visible policing; the rejuvenation of the criminal justice system; the establishment of a specialised violent crime agency and specialised courts.

The AL-IVE campaign wants funds provided for victims of serious crimes to cover their medical, trauma counselling and legal costs.

They also call for families who lose breadwinners through violent crime to be compensated by the government.

Finally the AL-IVE Campaign says the government is in breach of the constitution by failing to adequately protect its citizens.

They cite sections in the constitution which oblige the government to guarantee citizens:

freedom of security of the person;

human dignity;

access to information; and

the right to life.

"The circumstances under which South Africans live limits their freedom of movement and subjects too many people to violence, torture, physical and psychological cruelty and the potential denial of their right to life," reads their memorandum.

- SAPA