courts
20 February 2009
Most South Africans are so fed up with crime that they seem to be willing to
take the law into their own hands. That's one of the findings contained in the
Parliamentary report, which says that most people have little faith in the
South African Police Service and the courts.
The joint report of the portfolio committee on correctional services,
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development and the Portfolio
Committee on Safety and Security on the public hearings on the review of the
criminal justice system concludes that people want tougher action against
criminals.
"Send a message"
The committees said there had to be a swift, simple and effective message to
the public that the state genuinely cared for them and was serious about
fighting crime.
They felt that there was an urgent need to strengthen the Independent
Complaints Directorate (ICD), for the task of investigating complaints about
death of detainees, police misconduct and crimes allegedly committed by
police.
Accused favoured over victims.
"The ICD is largely ineffective," the report stated.
There was a general perception that the rights of accused were given
preference over those of victims. "Anger at the unfairness of this was
especially evident in connection with the granting of bail, where communities
see perpetrators arrested and then swiftly released only to commit further
crimes or intimidate witnesses," the report reads.
The committees adopted the report on Thursday "in the belief that it would
serve as a useful basis" for the committees that would come after the
elections.
Issued by: Parliament of South African
20 February 2009
Source: Parliament of South African (http://www.parliament.gov.za)
