WE all wanted 1994 to work – and still do, obviously.
We craved a new dispensation that would replace hurt with healing, anger with reconciliation, separation with unity.
This as the often brutal nature of the previous dispensation was overtaken by voices of reason and hope, architected by the great Madiba and people of his wisdom and insight.
Respect for human beings and the sanctity and dignity of life were stressed as the foundations for the future.
Never again would people be subjected to the inhumanities of the past.
Of course the idea that there could be a ‘heaven on earth’ Utopia-type situation was unrealistic, but the desire for a better quality life for all inspired the belief that the future smiled brightly over our beloved country.
And in many respects it has.
Despite failing infrastructure, a litany of fraud and corruption charges, lining of own pockets and other glaring failures, the fact is that many more citizens than ever before now enjoy houses, electricity, sanitation and other essentials, along with their new-found democratic freedoms.
But the single great failure of the new South Africa has been the inability to deal with the scourge of violent crime.
We remain among the highest murder and rape statistics on the planet – one of the few places where a life is traded for a cell phone or a handful of coins.
The pettiest of criminals, it seems, does not hesitate to resort to brutal violence.
The point was brought out in full force over the weekend as the nation’s beloved Bafana Bafana captain, Senzo Meyiwa, was gunned down just hours after representing his club in a big match.
Torrent of outrage
As tributes to the sporting icon poured in, the flood of condolences was matched by a torrent of outrage that this could happen to someone of such prominence – a national treasure, as it were.
But it did happen. As it does daily to hundreds who suffer the same fate and whose lives are no less sacred than his, and whose loved ones feel the loss as equally as do his.
But the vast resources that are being spent in the search of Meyiwa’s killers will not be available to the average victim’s relatives; hence the chance of finding their perpetrators and bringing closure will be less.
However, the high profile murder of the soccer star has refocused national and international attention on our crime problems.
It has also heightened debate over sentencing, and brought back discussion over reintroduction of the death penalty which, many point out, does not allow for repeat offenders.
Violent crime must remain on the top of the national agenda.
The present grief and anger must be channelled into concrete actions that will bring down crime levels.
Part of the answer lies within communities that harbour suspects.
The public needs to come forward with information; and the police need to have enough resources – including the budget – to offer handsome rewards for such information.
