Machel: SA a violent nation on the brink
2013-03-08 14:58
Johannesburg - Graca Machel has spoken out about the high
levels of violence in the country, describing South Africa as an angry nation
on the brink.
Machel made the comments at the memorial service of fellow
Mozambican Mido Macia in Daveyton on Thursday, The Telegraph reported.
Macia died in custody after being dragged behind a police
van and then allegedly being beaten by police officers.
'Bleeding and breathing pain'
Machel, who is married to former president Nelson Mandela,
said the "increasing institutionalisation of violence" was creating a
police force "actively aggressive towards a defenceless public".
"South Africa is an angry nation… We are on the
precipice of something very dangerous with the potential of not being able to
stop the fall.
"The level of anger and aggression is rising. This is
an expression of deeper trouble from the past that has not been addressed. We
have to be more cautious about how we deal with a society that is bleeding and
breathing pain," she told the crowd.
The death of Macia at the hands of the police and the killing
of 34 striking miners at Marikana have put a spotlight on police brutality,
while incidents of violence against women and children, including the recent
deaths of Anene Booysen and Reeva Steenkamp, have left sent shockwaves through
South African society.
Political commentator Allister Sparks told The Telegraph it
was "extremely unusual" for Machel to speak out on any political
issues, and "significant indeed that she has done so now".
Extreme violence
According to Adam Habib, vice-chancellor of the University
of Witwatersrand, violence was now endemic in protests over corruption, a lack
of basic services and continued inequality.
"People feel that extreme violence is the only way they
can get heard - and police react in an even more violent way, which is
beginning to seep into the national psyche," The Telegraph quoted him as
saying.
Meanwhile, as Macia's memorial service was under way,
President Jacob Zuma was addressing traditional leaders in Parliament, calling
for a universal response to combat the recent spate of violent crime.
He pointed out that one should not lose sight of the fact
that the "overwhelming majority of the 52 million South Africans are
peaceful, caring, law-abiding citizens".
"They love their country. They do their best each day
to make South Africa a better place. Therefore, when expressing outrage, we
should be careful not to then paint all South Africans as violent and brutal.
We should be careful not to rubbish our country," Zuma said.
