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On 19 June this year 30 artists, including Bobby and Karlien van Jaarsveld, Steve Hofmeyr, Emo Adams and Rozanne Mekenzi, and hundreds of other South Africans marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the country’s high crime rate. AfriForum supported this initiative.

During the protest march a memorandum, demanding that active steps be taken to combat crime in South Africa, was handed to the presidency. In response, President Jacob Zuma merely referred the protesters to the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, and did not react to the memorandum.

According to AfriForum’s spokesperson on community safety, Cornelius Jansen van Rensburg, the president’s reaction is a clear sign that he is out of touch with ordinary South Africans. This morning AfriForum, on behalf of the artists, requested a formal meeting with Minister Mthethwa to discuss the memorandum.

‘We are not satisfied with the presidency’s response. President Zuma is ultimately responsible for our safety and if that means we have to organise more protest marches, then that is what we will do,’ said Jansen van Rensburg.

Bobby van Jaarsveld, who had presented the memorandum on the protesters’ behalf, said South Africans will have to do more to make their voices heard. ‘South Africans must continue to pressure the government until it gives heed to our demand to live in a safe country,’ said Van Jaarsveld.

On Tuesday, 28 August AfriForum will announce a campaign in which it will urge ordinary South Africans to get involved in their communities in order to help combat crime. ‘Even if protest marches are held to ensure citizens’ rights are protected, people must still take measures to protect themselves against criminals,’ according to Van Jaarsveld.