Mbeki pledges action on crime and poverty
By Alec Russell in Johannesburg
Published: February 9 2007 11:51 | Last updated: February 9 2007 11:51
Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s president, on Friday pledged to increase the size of the police force by nearly a fifth as he focused on tackling crime and poverty in his annual state of the nation address.
In a wide-ranging speech to the parliament in Cape Town, Mr Mbeki sought to highlight South Africa’s economic strength and outlined a number of measures designed to redress the country’s historic disparities of wealth.
The government was considering a social security tax to fund retirement savings, disability and unemployment benefits, he said. He also made a rare public comment on the challenge of fighting HIV and Aids. “We shall ensure ... that our improved national comprehensive strategy against Aids and sexually transmitted infections is finalised as soon as possible,” he said.
But it was his remarks about tackling crime that drew most attention in South Africa after a week in which it has become the most pressing and emotive political issue.
In one of a range of new measures, Mr Mbeki promised to increase the police force to 180,000, from about 152,000. He also called for better regulation of the private security industry, highlighting an increase in some crimes last year during a security workers’ strike.
“The challenge that we face has little to do with policies,” he said. “Rather what is required is effective organisation, mobilisation and leadership of the mass of law-enforcement, intelligence and corrections officers, and functionaries of the justice system.”
Mr Mbeki has been widely criticised after he denied last month that crime was out of control. South Africa has about 18,000 murders a year.
On Friday Mr Mbeki drew attention to national figures that indicate that the numbers of robberies, assaults and murders have declined. But he conceded that that is not enough, that the abuse of “women and children continues at an unacceptable level”, and, in one of the more lyrical passages in his speech, he took pains to show his appreciation of the scale of the problem.
“We cannot erase that which is ugly and repulsive and claim the happiness that comes with freedom if communities live in fear, closeted behind walls and barbed wire, ever anxious in their houses, on the streets and on our roads, unable to enjoy our public spaces. Obviously we must continue and further intensify the struggle against crime.”
In the latest step in the government’s black economic empowerment drive, he announced that De Beers, the global diamond group, would work with the government to set up a state diamond trader. This would sell 10 per cent of locally produced diamonds to local polishers and cutters.
He also addressed South Africa’s energy concerns in the wake of the failure of Eskom, the state’s electricity provider, to meet national demand. He said he would push for greater dependence on nuclear power and renewable energy.
Mr Mbeki also highlighted that the volatility of the rand last year had hindered exports. The rand had a jittery year, losing 20 per cent of its value at one stage, before recovering partly later.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
