76.5% of South Africans want a referendum on the dealth penalty

[The_Right_Honourable_Brit]

Sunday Times

A STAGGERING 76.5% of South Africans polled in a national survey want an urgent referendum on the death penalty because crime, they say, is out of control.

And 69% say they would vote to bring back capital punishment in such a referendum. These are some of the findings in a survey conducted by Plus 94 Research.

Asked to state their feelings about crime, 95% of all races said that it was unbearable, with the majority of those saying it was “severe and out of control”.

The main reason given for wanting to have the death penalty was that it would reduce crime, as other measures seemed to be failing.

Among blacks polled, 64% would vote to have the death penalty reintroduced as a last-ditch effort to deal with crime.

Among other races, 93% of whites, 87% of coloureds and 88% of Indians would vote to have the death penalty reinstated.


•When asked when a referendum should be held, 64% felt that the decision should be seen as a matter of urgency.

The race breakdown showed that 57% of blacks felt that the decision was long overdue, compared with 90% of whites, 84% of coloureds and 80% of Indians.

And then the usual euphemisms on why these criminals commit the crimes

Barbara Holtmann, project manager of the Crime-Prevention Centre of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, said supporting the death penalty was “the most appalling response in our society — to say we will kill people when we’re angry with them. People may call for it, but are they prepared to be hangmen?

“To implement it requires human beings to do the killing on their behalf. It’s horrible and disgusting. It’s no better than murder itself.”

 

[Syndyre]

People may call for it, but are they prepared to be hangmen?

Yes.

 

[Paul_S]

The death penalty is politically incorrect and the wish of the masses does not count.
Same thing happened when it came to other issues such as abortion, pornography, homosexual marriages, etc.
It's called democracy.

They think the death penalty is "horrible and disgusting"?
Then they don't want to know what I think about people who rape babies and kill people for their shoes or cellphone.
We just give them a pat on the back and say "naughty boy - please don't do that again".
Where's the justice in that?

If they want to string murderers and rapists up I'll be there to tie the knots ...

 

[orin76]

I REALLY want the death penalty re-instated, but since I have very little confidence in our justice system, I don't think it will help too much. If you're only catching 10% of violent criminals and only 10% of them are being convicted, it won't be much of a deterrent to the hard-core criminals. It would give me the illusion of justice and that would make me feel better though

 

[Syndyre]

True, what we really need is for people to be caught and convicted, that's probably the biggest deterrent and then the sentence is secondary. Although it may be a partial deterrent, at least you can't escape after that sentence is handed down.

 

[Turbo_Aspiration]

Among blacks polled, 64% would vote to have the death penalty reintroduced

I cant understand y the % of blacks that said yes is so much lower than the other races. Anyone have a possible explanation?

 

[bekdik]

The problem is that if the government dosn't introduce the death penalty, the population will. That's called anarchy ...

 

[Gaz{M}]

I'll take a stab. The people from each race who don't want the death penalty obviously either survive through violent crime or feel they are at risk of being put to death or feel they would be victimised by the justice system like during the apartheid days. A smaller portion have religious or moral belief's opposed to it.

 

[OhGats]

I believe that many blacks felt that the prev government hung a lot of innocent people (or who they perceived as being innocent) without proper recourse to the law or proper defense teams. My fear is exactly the same, who is going to ensure that those they hang are 11% guilty? will our overworked forensics be able to process the evidence properly? and will our judges have the courage to implement the law? and will the Lawyers for Human Rights spend their days putting spanners in the works. The death penalty is not an easy decision to make and I am sure the it will result in us having to make changes to the constitution. But, by the same token I know that there are lots of people in jail (and running around) who have forfeited their human rights by virtue of the sheer barbarity of their crimes and for whom the death penalty is a very suitable punishment. One consequence of things like the death penalty is that an offender is more likely to kill their victim if they know that victim is able to recognise them. Its a highly contentious issue and as much as I am for the death penalty I do think that the issue should be settled by means of a referendum.

 

[Angelo]

I cant understand y the % of blacks that said yes is so much lower than the other races. Anyone have a possible explanation?

Blacks experienced first hand how the death penalty can be abused by a biased judiciary to their expense and they are not convinced the judicial echelons have transformed enough to be entrusted with the penalty.

 

[BTTB]

Back to Basics

OMG, This Topic again.

I think we will be going backwards if we implement the Death Penalty.
With our New Constitution and hopefully a rosier future, I hope one day that Crime will become less prevalent. As Man evolves I think he will realise that there is always an alternative to Death.

One can assume that some sectors of the population will not support the Death Penalty for fear of retaliation or a biased judge perhaps?
However I do not think that is a good enough reason.
Killing another person for whatever reason is not Modern, but prehistoric and barbaric.

If we did have to support the Death Penalty, the only method that could be used is perhaps the Lethal Injection Method.
Quiet and painless, like if you were going to put your old dog down when it had served it's useful life.

Communities need to teach their children the basics, like Thou Shalt Not Steal and Thou Shalt no Kill.
If people can just grasp those 2 small things!
I was brought up with those thoughts in my mind and I take heart to them on a daily basis.
Parents are lacking in guidance. Many parents need to go to school and learn how to bring up their own children. Not saying I am the best parent or anything, but at least I know what is right from wrong, which many of us more luckier people in this country take for granted as less fortunate people are often none the wiser.

Teach these Criminals values.
Teach our children values.
Get back to the basics.

 

[kilo39]

I think the important thing about this survey is that ALL agree, 'crime is out of control.'

Perhaps Nqakula would now like to tell all these whingers to leave the country?

 

[Syndyre]

The government doesn't seem to care what the people think because unfortunately no matter what the majority of the country thinks they'll vote for them next time anyway.

 

[bwana]

I say try 'em and fry 'em.

However, isnt the death penalty prohibited by SA's constitution?

 

[BCO]

The thing is, more than 76% of South Africans are f_cking idiots, so who cares what polls say?

 

[hj2k_x]

I say try 'em and fry 'em.

However, isnt the death penalty prohibited by SA's constitution?

I am sure the Constitution will have a lot to say about it.

Also, there are the logistics. It is expensive to put someone to deathm believe it or not, so i think there would be huge implications for the tax payer as well...

 

[Syndyre]

I am sure the Constitution will have a lot to say about it.

Also, there are the logistics. It is expensive to put someone to deathm believe it or not, so i think there would be huge implications for the tax payer as well...

True but the implications of imprisoning thousands of people at R180 per person per day are also huge.

 

[hj2k_x]

True but the implications of imprisoning thousands of people at R180 per person per day are also huge.

Expecially as most prisons are so overcrowded that the idea of any kind of reform or bettering of the inmates just goes out the window.

 

[Syndyre]

Expecially as most prisons are so overcrowded that the idea of any kind of reform or bettering of the inmates just goes out the window.

Exactly, then again the people that are being considered for the death penalty should be imprisoned for life anyway so that shouldn't matter. And when I say life I mean LIFE, not 20 years with good behaviour.

 

[Alan]

Hmmm well if there is going to be resistance to the death penalty being re-introduced, then perhaps some alternatives should be added to the list of referrendum options, I suggest:

1. Yes, Reintroduce the death penalty; AND/OR
2. Cryogenically stack & store criminals instead of wasting space in prisons; AND/OR
3. Allow Medical Students to use prisoners for [painful] medical experiments; OR
4. None of the above.

This is what I suggested in another thread.

We must put them to use. Full potholes, help train attack dogs, police and army shooting practice, crash test dummies, lab test subjects, test new security systems. There are plenty of ways they could help out.