The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Responding to the gruesome murders of the 5-month-old Wiehan Botes and his child minder, Magrietha de Goede (66) in Delmas (May 2012), Afrikaans singers, Bobby and Karlien vanJaarsveld joined forces with AfriForum and 30 other celebrities in a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 19 June to demand action against violent crime in South Africa.

A similar march will be held in Cape Town on Wednesday, 21 November in which a Memorandum will be handed to a representative from the Office of the Speaker of Parliament at the gates ofParliament.

The Memorandum can be read here.

“The South African governmenthas failed in its God-given responsibility to protect innocent citizens, execute justice and punish criminals,” says Taryn Hodgson, International Co-ordinator of the Christian Action Network. “Criminals seem to have more rights under South African law than ordinary citizens.”
 
“The Bible gives a very straightforward answer, as to why crime has spiraled out of control. Ecclesiastes 8:11 says, ‘Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough.’
 
“Rapists and murderers shouldbe executed and criminals should pay restitution to the victims of the crime, not to the state. It is also essential that no obstacles be placed in the way of law-abiding citizens to obtain, carry and use firearms for self-defence. Criminals prefer unarmed victims.
 
“Farm murders should be considered a priority crime. Crime in rural areas have caused the number ofcommercial farmers in South Africa to drop from 70 000 to fewer than 40 000. Thousands of people have been left jobless as a result.”
 
The March will start in Keizersgracht Street at 10:00am on Wednesday and proceed to the gates of Parliament, where the Memorandum will be handed over.
 
All South Africans are invited to join the march on Wednesday 21 November.Participants will be dressed in black and white: black to symbolise that we aremourning for every South African who was killed in violent crime, or who was affected by it; and white to symbolise thatwe march in peace, for peace.
 
“To show partiality in judging is not good. Whoever says to the guilty, ‘You are innocent,’ will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.” Proverbs 23:25