We, the citizens of a democratic nation . . . We, the citizens of a democratic nation hereby confirm our support to the initiative taken by members of the Portuguese community in conjunction with other communities against crime, to challenge the Government of the Republic of South Africa to respond promptly and unequivocally to this appeal for the immediate addressing of the escalating crime wave throughout the country. It is our opinion that our Government simply does not have the political will to implement the same measures, which have been successfully, deployed in other countries to combat crime and corruption at all the various levels of its existence. Mr President, there is no denying that our Government continues to fail in its lamentable effort to curb the existing crime wave. The ramifications both politically and economically continue to elude such blinkered attitude to the seriousness of the issues confronting your administration.
Tourism continues to be the obvious victim.
Assertive leadership is required to enforce the constitutional rights of all South African people, to reduce the number of orphans and family devastation through barbaric thuggery and complete disdain for the rule of law. Our Government is simply not accountable to its people for the provisions of effective law and order. There is no doubt that the African dream or renaissance has become a lifetime nightmare for many of our people, as the criminals continue to impose their brand of injustice on all levels of society. Our Government appears to be reluctant to acknowledge reality and take the appropriate measures, thereby following the trend of the remainder of the African continent. The time is long overdue for a more decisive and integrated approach to the pandemic of crime.