Most people would agree that, along with jobs and education, crime continues to present South Africa with its toughest challenge.
Why then have successive presidents, ministers, party bosses and senior civil servants allowed their oversized egos to bedevil the fight against crime in this country?
Former president Thabo Mbeki, President Kgalema Motlanthe, ANC leader Jacob Zuma, suspended National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, Justice Director-General Menzi Simelane, deposed minister of safety and security Charles Nqakula, bumbling Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour and former justice minister Brigitte Mabandla - to name a few - have each played a role in this farce.
One by one, these people have undermined the fight against crime by allowing their petty squabbles, turf wars, personality clashes and political manoeuvring to overshadow what should have been an all-out drive to push back the rising tide of scum terrorising citizens.
For years we have listened to politicians talking about the need for a concerted and collective effort to sweep the criminals from our streets [and politics]. What are you doing about crime, they ask.
Complain? How dare you? Shut up and leave the country, Nqakula told parliament not too long ago.
Then he played the race card. Only whites complain about crime, now that they feel the flames lapping at their backsides after decades of disproportionate police protection, he suggested. This may be so, but tell that to the residents of Nyanga, SA's murder capital for three years running.
While Nqakula was restructuring the police for the fourth time in a decade, effectively closing down specialist units like the anti-hijacking and vehicle theft units, the Child Protection Unit and the drug squads, his political masters in the ANC were plotting the downfall of the Scorpions.
Full report well worth the read
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