‘Crime is killing the economy’ - AHi

The Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (Ahi) this week called on government to take urgent steps to stop the growing incidents of savage attacks on innocent and law-abiding South African citizens. The torturing and murders of vulnerable elders on farms, farm owners and farmworkers, the string of brutal rapes and gruesome murders of young girls and women in townships and targeted raids of business entities require particular attention, the organisation said in a press statement.
“The frequency of these incidents is on the increase and it has a devastating impact on the victims and their families. It also has a demoralizing impact and a polarizing effect on the broader South African society.
“Crime also impacts negatively on the agricultural and other business sectors and more and more businesses are closing up shop due to crime. It poses therefore a serious threat to the ideals which the National Development Plan seeks to achieve in terms of sustainable food production, development of communities, social cohesion and taking South Africa’s stature as a modern state forward.
“The situation on the ground reveals a dire need for a comprehensive strategy and collective action. The AHi therefore appeals to our police ministry to take drastic action steps in conjunction with all responsible role-players in order to prevent those responsible for these atrocities from executing their despicable deeds. Focused and effective policing of vulnerable areas such as farms, townships, industrial and business areas and isolated areas must be prioritsed and specialised units must be equipped and deployed on a 24 hour basis to these areas,” the statement read
The AHi said it is committed to assist the police with such an action plan and expressed its desire to meet with the police ministry and executive to talk about what can be done to assist the police in dealing effectively and decisively with this crisis.