It's disturbing to witness the allocation of manpower to random license disc checks or the obsessive monitoring of drinking during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, while no such efforts are made to address the real issues that result in countless lives lost to rampant violence every single day. This reality forces us to confront the fact that our government is not genuinely concerned about us or the issues that plague our society, leaving us ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. We do not have silent leadership, but rather leaders who devote their airtime to endless empty promises that are never acted upon or taken seriously. On December 14, 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa assented to the DNA Act, making it compulsory for schedule 8 offenders to have their What terrifies me the most is the nonchalant stance taken by those in power, who are inevitably more exposed to these atrocities and their gruesome details than the general public. Despite the daily stream of cases, we have seen no tangible changes implemented to increase security and protection for all citizens, particularly women and children. Nor have we seen any efforts to deter violent criminals by holding them accountable for their crimes.
Each day that the Act sits on a desk without being implemented is a day that violent offenders are absolved from potential responsibility in a myriad of crimes. This begs the question: Is our government active or passive, proactive or reactive? Unfortunately, the answer is glaringly clear. Our leadership is often compelled to take action or accept responsibility due to embarrassment or shame, rather than from a genuine desire to prioritise the common good. As disconcerting as this may be for all of us, the only way to shift this behaviour is to apply pressure and demand the change we want to see. It is up to us to come together, use our voices, and unite over an issue that, if properly addressed, benefits us all. We all hope for a safer South Africa, one that we can be proud to call home. Use your platform to raise awareness and demand urgency and intention from the Presidency in setting an operational date. Every contribution counts. On December 14, 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa assented to the DNA Act, making it compulsory for schedule 8 offenders to have their DNA samples taken before release. However, like many proposed anti-GBV interventions, this Act has not brought about any change due to delays in announcing an operational date, with reasons that have not been clarified to the public. Each day that the Act sits on a desk without being implemented is a day that violent offenders are absolved from potential responsibility in a myriad of crimes.
DNA samples taken before release. However, like many
proposed anti-GBV interventions, this Act has not brought about any change due to delays in announcing an operational date, with reasons that have not been clarified to the public.
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June 2023 | Collective Action Magazine
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