President acknowledges crime problem

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Hopefuly this will put all those 'perception' remarks to rest.

'Did Biko die for this crime-ridden society?'

By Sibusiso Ngalwa

South Africans should ask themselves whether the present society in which women, children and the elderly were raped and murdered was the kind of freedom that Steve Biko had visualised.

"Was the culture of self-enrichment, corruption and fraud that pervades our country the kind of society that Biko died for?" asked President Thabo Mbeki as he delivered the eighth annual Steve Biko memorial lecture on Wednesday night.

In a powerful speech in which Mbeki compared Biko to the great Zulu king Shaka, the president said Biko had advocated the need for black people to reassert themselves and reclaim their human dignity.

"During our years of liberation, many voices have been raised expressing grave concern at the prevalence of many negative developments in our society. One of these is the incidence of crime and the particular forms some of these crimes assume. These would include the rape of children and women, including the elderly. They would also include murders that suggest the most callous disdain for the value of human life," said Mbeki.

'crime and corruption devalue whatever values we stood for during the liberation struggle'
Meanwhile, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor Barney Pityana, in a Biko memorial lecture at the university in Pretoria, said Biko was an ordinary young man who had lived in ordinary times, but who had made something extraordinary out of his life - not out of his own will, but by the machinations of an evil system.

Pityana said an important element of Biko's story was that he touched the lives of many people of his generation.

Pityana said: "In truth, crime and corruption devalue whatever values we stood for during the liberation struggle. Crime and corruption inveigh against our common humanity and dignity. We are a society devoid of any regard for human life and cynical in our regard for the rights of others."
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20070913041301536C893110
 
It's nice and all, and appreciated, but what will happen now? Can we expect somebody to actually do something about the problem, or do they first have to assemble a meeting about it?
 
I'm delighted to see this. I want some follow through, but any indication from our President that he understands that there are some problems out there requiring his attention is A Good Thing.

I'm surprised that there have not been any other threads following memorial events to Steve Biko. A number of well-written articles have appeared over the past few days.
 
So, do we have a crime problem or not?
Still not sure with mbeki (honourific and capital purposefully omitted).
 
Nod said:
It's nice and all, and appreciated, but what will happen now? Can we expect somebody to actually do something about the problem, or do they first have to assemble a meeting about it?
Click to expand...

Ah, it's just cheap politicking. Everything will be back to normal by tomorrow.

I can tomorrow's headlines already: President denies that he denied that he denied that there is a crime problem...
 
/me gets out Reality Adjuster Ver 4.7 and prepares to adjust perception
 
I still see Selebi in office as well as Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula.
JUst the other day the cops were in parliament blaming last years crime levels on security guard strikes, wtf?
Safety and Security, has this man not failed horribly in his duty to provide this for SA citizens?

If Thabo is serious why does he not act. He lives in a cocoon, shielded from the crime the public is exposed to.
If he means what he says why does he not do his bit besides this useless chit chat?
He is the President of this country and deserves respect, but how can he expect people to respect him when fails to act decisively on these issues? All he does is put thoughts out for people to ponder on. Deep thinking does not stop crime, taking a hardline on criminals will have much more of an impact.
 
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Sneeky - I agree with everything OTHER than the "deserves respect" thing. He deserves contempt - it is all he has earned.
 
Now let's see the action.

Starting with the dismissal of MP's found guilty of defrauding parliament and refusal of acceptance of crosstitutes out to feather their nests.
 
grayston said:
Ah, it's just cheap politicking. Everything will be back to normal by tomorrow.

I can tomorrow's headlines already: President denies that he denied that he denied that there is a crime problem...
Click to expand...

:D
 
Nod said:
It's nice and all, and appreciated, but what will happen now? Can we expect somebody to actually do something about the problem, or do they first have to assemble a meeting about it?
Click to expand...

The president always says there is a big problem with teleco's in the country. Have you seen anything tangible happening?
 
Have you all seen this one?

May be old news already for some of you but it is funny :)

Whisky and Waters

***The DA should relax. Because of them,
Cabinet Minister Babalaas-Msimang has
had to issue a few statements recently.
"Although I was Absynth from office for
several months, I wish to remind you I
Amstel the Minister of Health, am not a
dictator but I Amarula and I will continue
to Rum the department of health," she
stated, announcing her return to office.

When quizzed on her health, she mentioned
she had recovered well. "Of course I am well -
I am OKWV! Ask a stupid question, get a
stupid Hansa."
Despite being asked about her new liver, she
made no reference to the Morgan transplant.

President Mbeki has rallied around his friend:
"She has my Absolut support. That is why
I wiped that silly Smirnoff her former deputy's
face!. The opposition will not be able Tequila
career."

Lets face it - no matter how many times the
DA has stirred she appears unshaken, and
despite her career seemingly being on the
rocks, the Minister is still a Mainstay of the
ANC government.***



:D it was in a fake newspaper clipping sent as an e-mail attachment.
Thought to post it somewhere here in these forums for a laugh if it hasn't
been posted already.
 
Sneeky said:
He is the President of this country and deserves respect
Click to expand...
I think the higher someone's position the harder they should have to work to earn our respect. They are not automatically entitled to respect. If someone in his position wants out respect he needs to meet and exceed our expectations.
 
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