Lawlessness on the rise in SA - ISS

2012-08-27 10:22

A man takes part in a service delivery protest. (Herman Verwey, City Press)

Johannesburg - South Africa is in the grip of increasing lawlessness, according to a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Beeld reported on Monday.

According to an essay written by Johan Burger more than a week before the Marikana mine shootings, blame for anarchy cannot simply be attributed to contempt for the law or the absence of law enforcement, but should include the failure of government, and its absence.

"It looks like vigilante attacks are also on the increase, and these are becoming more violent and deadly," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Academics and Wits University students took part in a march last week, to protest against the social inequalities they blame for tragedies like Marikana.

"This is what we did in 1948, 1949, 1950 when we protested against the apartheid laws," weeping struggle veteran and advocate George Bizos told Beeld during the march.

"I never thought it would ever be necessary to take part in a march again," he said.

When he was asked if he thought South Africa was becoming more violent, he said "I don't just think so, it's a fact".

According to Burger, violent protests also make it necessary for the police to divert limited resources away from the battle against crime.

- SAPA