South Africa – Crime has persisted as a longstanding issue in the country, and the citizens’ growing tolerance of its presence has become more prominent. This level of complacency often arises from various factors, from feelings of powerlessness to a lack of confidence in law enforcement agencies.
Even more disconcerting is the normalisation of crime within South African society. Given the frequent occurrences of violent incidents, car thefts, hijackings, smash-and-grabs, and burglaries, many South Africans have accepted these as an inevitable part of their daily lives.
This normalisation of criminal activity erodes the natural outrage that should be directed towards it. The absence of such emotions makes people less inclined to take action or demand solutions.
Frequently, the public expresses the sentiment, “It’s not our responsibility, it’s the police’s”. However, do the people genuinely believe that the police will assist? Likely not. Many individuals refrain from reporting criminal activity due to the pervasive mistrust between communities and local law enforcement agencies.
This mistrust is further reinforced by the perceived ineffectiveness, corruption, and lack of accountability within the police force, fostering the belief that reporting crimes will ultimately yield no resolution. It may temporarily address the issue for a day, a week, or even a month, but soon enough, things tend to revert to the status quo.
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So, How Do We Address This Complacency?
Mohammed Ismail, a member of eThekwini Secure, recommended individuals actively engage in their communities and take steps to raise awareness and strive to engage those residents who are less involved. Without a collective effort, sustainable changes in our environments will remain elusive.
“If we sit behind locked gates, locked doors and everything else, we cannot achieve what we want in the community.”
We must not allow the presence of crime to dissuade us from acting, as it often does. There will come a point when we grow weary of simply venting our frustrations on social media about the daily challenges we encounter and what do we do then?
How long can we voice our concerns about issues like water spillages, potholes, and cable theft without taking action? What more must happen before we choose to become actively engaged?
Being an active community member does not necessarily entail patrolling the streets like a vigilante straight out of a comic book. It can be as simple as sharing information on community social platforms, participating in efforts to maintain cleanliness in our neighbourhoods, attending meetings, and supporting local community police forums.
According to Ismail, we should not accept crime as an inherent part of our culture, nor should we succumb to fear. We must not tolerate societal wrongs and continue with our lives, for, in the end, who bears more responsibility for evil—the criminal committing the act or the well-intentioned person who stands by and does nothing to prevent it?
“Don’t wait for someone else to do something. Grab the bull by the horns and do what you need to do.”
