Finally…

Finally our government has started to see the light of day. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, South Africa’s deputy President, has  made a statement that Poverty is the main source of crime. Let’s hope that the ANC government now starts dealing with the root of the problem and not the symptons.

For too many years governments have been too concerned with cosmetic solutions in the hopes of improving voter confidence and thus keeping them in power. Build more prisons, yes, but that doesn’t stop people from commiting crimes. Enforce stronger penalites, yes, but that doesn’t stop people from commiting crimes. There are many such examples been made over the past 10 years, instead of facing the root of the problem.

They should create sustainable economic solutions to poverty and unemployed. Education is the key. Let’s hope the ANC has now finally realised this and instead of conning the nation into another ballot they will create long term goals that will be followed on by the next government.

Instead of spending millions on building new prisons that holds thousands of new inmates a year, build new schools that will keep children of the streets and give them a chance at the future. It might not lessen the crime rate instantly, but instead in 15 years time you will have thousands of children graduating with a real chance at employment which should also increase our GDP and further strengthen our economy. My faith in humanity tells me that no one wants to be a criminal, but lack of real economic and legal oppurtunities force many into a life of crime.

Let’s hope the ANC once and for all has realised this.