There is too much focus on the rights of criminals in South Africa, ANC president Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. "Why do we talk and defend the rights of a criminal and not of the victim... our laws must bite," he said, responding to questions about how he would tackle crime in South Africa at a forum on South Africa's future hosted by Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein in Johannesburg.

He said much was done to ensure the rights of a criminal after they were arrested, possibly for violating another citizen's right to live.

Zuma described crime in South Africa as a "crisis" and said more could be done to eradicate its scourge. "I believe that one of the challenges facing the country and all of us is the question of crime... we could do more, in my view," said the man who could become the country's next president.

He spoke out strongly on the issue during a question and answer session at the forum, elaborating on what he thought should be done to address it.

Zuma said "even our language was too soft on crime", saying people spoke more about democracy than concepts such as "law and order". He called for more "radical laws" to deal with crime in a country which did not subscribe to the death penalty.

The ruling party president believed the police were not visible enough, saying police were nowhere in sight for citizens who wished to report incidents on the streets. Many people did not even know where their local police station was.

He said police were not visible to match the challenge crime posed. Police should also be "incentivised" and paid better salaries in order to perform better in the fight against crime, Zuma said.