Low levels of trust in the government and the police appear to be rapidly deteriorating, especially after the public spat between Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Commissioner Khehla Sitole, who have vowed to protect and serve the country. The nonprofit Sonke Gender Justice, Given Sigauqwe, said there is a growing tendency among parliamentarians to view the National Assembly as an arena in which they can either settle personal scores or harass each other. “These actions take away from what needs to be done there, which is to debate policies in the name of improving…
Low confidence in government and police appears to be deteriorating rapidly, especially after the public quarrel between Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Commissioner Khehla Sitolewho are sworn to protect and serve the country.
The nonprofit Sonke Gender Justice, Given Sigauqwe, said there is a growing tendency among parliamentarians to view the National Assembly as an arena in which they can either settle personal scores or harass each other.
“These actions take away from what needs to be done there, which is to debate policies in the name of improving the lives of South Africans,” he said.
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Instead, Sigauqwe said, a lot of money and many hours were spent as South Africans had to endure unproductive spectacles.
Gender-related violence (GBV) activist and founder of the Cradle of Hope in the West Rand Melody van Brakel said while the emperors paraded naked, the people were starving†
“It’s like they have these lofty egos, but have no idea what’s going on on the ground. For them it is about egos and not about serving people.
“The civil servants who receive salaries from taxpayers’ money are all civil servants, but they behave as if they are gods,” she said.
Van Brakel said they have been inundated with vulnerable children and women since November last year.
She recently received complaints from people in Krugersdorp West that crime in the area had increased by 50% since they started distributing food parcels during the lockdown.
“But our food parcels are for the elderly, women and children. How many studies have shown that if a person wasn’t hungry, he wouldn’t steal?” she said.
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Van Brakel said the food parcels helped fight crime and that it’s the unemployment rate of 66% that was a problem.
“What are they going to do? They turn to crime because crime pays,” she added.
Organization that reverses tax abuse (fromCEO Wayne Duvenage said the public spat didn’t bode well for society’s trust in government, which was already extremely low.
Duvenage said this was even more true in the areas of security and policing.
“The president must lead and control the various leadership structures and demand impeccable and professional leadership,” he said.
He also said that bickering and shooting from the hip in public places was unacceptable.