I met a really interesting Syrian football fan in Nature’s Valley in the Western Cape during the World Cup. His way of avoiding the apparently terrifying crime In South Africa was simple — he stayed in the Valley, in a tent to start with, and then moved to a chalet when he realised winter in Africa is actually cold. He flew out to the games, and then came back, as he was too scared to be anywhere else. Someone told him Nature’s Valley is the safest place in South Africa. He was planning to travel with friends, but they bailed, because of the crime and he came anyway. The locals thought this was hysterical, and adopted him as a mascot. The staff who work there drive him home each night, and proudly related his story to all and sundry.
I honestly had no idea that the perception of crime was that bad, that you are basically going die if you come to South Africa. And I am certainly relived that we obeyed our president and mostly “behaved” and didn’t rob too many people blind. But it raises a question for me, which is if the crime is so bad — where there’s smoke, there’s fire — why is there no coherent victim-empowerment legislation?
Well, OK, I hear a chorus of moans — the government is incompetent and doesn’t recognise that crime is really that bad — but I am not so sure. I think passing legislation is not one of our failings as a country. We do it all the time. Some of it is not enforceable but we do it and can enforce it if we want to. Talk to anyone who’s tried a little ambush marketing. The state is concerned about crime, based on the 40 000 more police people we have (well, I read that, I don’t know if it’s true). And so is the politician’s constituency … so why don’t we have legislation that specifically addresses the needs of victims of crime?
There is the “too expensive” argument, but that sounds like a knee-jerk response. Like when you tell the ten-year-old it’s too expensive, and then they want to know why you said that because the bookmark was being given away for free. It was just that you’d been asked “can I have this” in the supermarket 20 times before and ended up saying it’s too expensive. There is no rule which says victim compensation is the only thing you can do for victims … a more sensitive, effective justice system (like the World Cup one, but for us) a switched on healthcare system, well-networked NGOs who can provide specialised services … these are responses which might be achievable without huge spending.
I’m just asking … I mean, why not? Isn’t there enough damage caused by crime to warrant it? There’s a conversation about this going on at http://victimempowermentsa.wordpress.com. Join in.
We are not focussed on solutions only on whingeing, which is a serious fault. When I look at crime statistics in my CPF, they are dropping rapidly because my police force is dedicated and looks at visible policing as a priority. Belonging to a CPF is the way to reduce crime, because then the community is involved and looking at crime prevention strategies. This assists the police and brings the communities together. Going forward from this, we need to support less enabled communities to develop sustainable jobs and food security strategies so that everyone wins and grows. This is a group effort!
Yes, there is a good argument for increasing support for victims of crime. Many would say that money is better spent on dealing with the source. I feel you make a good point, that without having to spend bucket loads of money, victims could get a far better deal than is offered today. Also, this way as a society, better appreciate the consequences of crime not only theoretically but practically too. There are after all, consequences to how we treat each other.
@ judith Instead of berating the writer offer some of your solutions. Mine is that we should be given the Vat back on every item stolen. That our hospitals bills and medication should be returned in full tax free not just a Taxable deduction. It was an unnecessary expense. The money could have been used for other things.
That to start would make me happy. Maybe then I can begin to forgive the government for letting crime get out of control and my loss of good health.
Often the problem is not so much that services aren’t in place, it’s that people don’t know about them or aren’t aware of their rights to access services.
The next step may seem simple – learn your rights. But where and how do you do this? Where do you go? This is something that needs to be clarified – there is a directory of services, but is this directory being kept up to date? And if so by who? And where do we find it?
Alison – It is a great idea until the greedy in power get hold of it and then for NGO coordination read: corruption, misspent funds, basically, no, won’t work. Just more wasted tax money. As a very experienced victim of crime I can tell you that the only support I need or want is the proof that my tax money is actually being spent on a police force and justice system that is capable of keeping crime down to the minimum. I do not need therapy from a well-meaning person who really haven’t a clue what being a victim means, or a legal system that only sort of works once this criminal is caught. With a disinterested, understaffed and (rumoured) halfway corrupt police force, this is not likely. I quite agree that we are not bad at making laws, hell, we are exceptional, as a country, at making new laws.
The problem is law is just rather expense obscure language on paper when not enforced, useless to anyone. Adding more will have zero effect. For ex., we apparently have some finest environmental laws in the world. Does the state of our environment show this? When last have you actually seen someone arrested for environmental crime, which is commited openly, blatantly, on a daily basis?
@judith – CPF’s are an emergency measure that desperate civilians came up with to protect themselves. Not everyone has the luxury of the time or money to engage in police work, which is what it really is.
Creating jobs is important, yes, but unemployment is not directly related to crime, lawlessness and the apparent blessing from government for crime is. The lip service to justice is.