Academics, activists, and experts suggested that ActionSA considers strengthening community policing forums, appointing qualified leadership, reforming the administration of the judicial system, and better funding for investigating capacity to help the country restore the rule of law in South Africa.
These were just some of the suggestions put forward at our Policy Expert Discussion Panel on Law and Order held in Johannesburg today. This is as ActionSA prepares for our Rule of Law March in Tshwane tomorrow, Thursday 03 August 2023, where we will be marching to Police Minister, Bheki Cele, demanding that urgent action be taken over the declining quality of police stations across South Africa.
Twenty-nine years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the rule of law has been eroded in the country as conviction rates have declined, our murder rate has increased and crimes such as state capture are not prosecuted.
The engagement featured ActionSA National Spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, with inputs from Institute for Security Studies’s Lizette Lancaster, African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum’s Themba Masuku, ActionSA Head of Strategic Litigation’s Adv. Gillian Benson, Lawyer and ActionSA Councillor, Thuli Nkomo, and ActionSA National Director of Operations, John Moodey.
The robust debate put forward tangible solutions to address law and order in South Africa. Lancaster detailed how South Africa’s murder rate has steadily increased since 2010, and that a collective societal-wide approach is needed to turn around the criminal situation in the country. Masuku emphasised the need to empower and equip community policing forums (CPFs) and take a more community-based approach to tackling crime.
All panellists agreed that central to addressing crime is addressing the underlying socio-economic causes, including rising unemployment. This includes a societal understanding, from birth to retirement, of personal responsibility and accountability for one’s actions.
Advocate Benson explained the difficulties faced by lawyers and advocates in South African courts with dysfunctional administrative services and broken bathrooms and appealed for better administration and support for prosecutions to improve the situation. Nkomo supported Benson’s view and added that women are particularly disadvantaged as they are seen as inadequate to compete with their male peers. Meanwhile, Moodey emphasised the need for moral regeneration in South Africa, highlighting the need to install ethical leadership at the top of police leadership.
Today’s expert panel – the 9th of 13 panels – forms part of ActionSA’s broader policy engagement process ahead of our inaugural policy conference in September where we are also asking everyday experts, our members, and the people of South Africa for solutions to the most pressing issues in our society.
ActionSA believes that solutions on how to fix South Africa won’t come from politicians but will come from experts and ordinary citizens who are most affected.
Together we will be able to provide a clear alternative for South Africans and usher in change in the 2024 elections. Submissions can be made on ActionSA’s public platform here. The last date for submissions is on Wednesday
Community Policing Forums, Judicial Reform and Collective Approach May Help Restore the Rule of Law, Experts Tell ActionSA
Academics, activists, and experts suggested that ActionSA considers strengthening community policing forums, appointing qualified leadership, reforming the administration of the judicial system, and better funding for investigating capacity to help the country restore the rule of law in South Africa.
These were just some of the suggestions put forward at our Policy Expert Discussion Panel on Law and Order held in Johannesburg today. This is as ActionSA prepares for our Rule of Law March in Tshwane tomorrow, Thursday 03 August 2023, where we will be marching to Police Minister, Bheki Cele, demanding that urgent action be taken over the declining quality of police stations across South Africa.
Twenty-nine years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the rule of law has been eroded in the country as conviction rates have declined, our murder rate has increased and crimes such as state capture are not prosecuted.
The engagement featured ActionSA National Spokesperson, Lerato Ngobeni, with inputs from Institute for Security Studies’s Lizette Lancaster, African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum’s Themba Masuku, ActionSA Head of Strategic Litigation’s Adv. Gillian Benson, Lawyer and ActionSA Councillor, Thuli Nkomo, and ActionSA National Director of Operations, John Moodey.
The robust debate put forward tangible solutions to address law and order in South Africa. Lancaster detailed how South Africa’s murder rate has steadily increased since 2010, and that a collective societal-wide approach is needed to turn around the criminal situation in the country. Masuku emphasised the need to empower and equip community policing forums (CPFs) and take a more community-based approach to tackling crime.
All panellists agreed that central to addressing crime is addressing the underlying socio-economic causes, including rising unemployment. This includes a societal understanding, from birth to retirement, of personal responsibility and accountability for one’s actions.
Advocate Benson explained the difficulties faced by lawyers and advocates in South African courts with dysfunctional administrative services and broken bathrooms and appealed for better administration and support for prosecutions to improve the situation. Nkomo supported Benson’s view and added that women are particularly disadvantaged as they are seen as inadequate to compete with their male peers. Meanwhile, Moodey emphasised the need for moral regeneration in South Africa, highlighting the need to install ethical leadership at the top of police leadership.
Today’s expert panel – the 9th of 13 panels – forms part of ActionSA’s broader policy engagement process ahead of our inaugural policy conference in September where we are also asking everyday experts, our members, and the people of South Africa for solutions to the most pressing issues in our society.
ActionSA believes that solutions on how to fix South Africa won’t come from politicians but will come from experts and ordinary citizens who are most affected.
Together we will be able to provide a clear alternative for South Africans and usher in change in the 2024 elections. Submissions can be made on ActionSA’s public platform here. The last date for submissions is on Wednesday