|
The
Death of Justice
South
Africa’s Murder Spree
Violent
crime is a reality that affects everyone. According to a
recent Interpol survey of its 96 member countries, South
Africa had the worst rape statistics and was the 3rd worst
in murder statistics. In the last 20 years murder has increased
350%. More people are killed each year in criminal violence
in South Africa than were killed in 13 years of political
and military violence! (SA Institute of Race Relations).
Since
the South African government suspended the death penalty
on 4 February 1990, over 200 000 people have been murdered.
The
SA Institute of Race Relations has reported that since 1983,
over 2 600 policemen have been murdered. More policemen
are killed in South Africa in a week than in an entire year
in Britain.
The
Failure of Justice and Correctional Services
In
one year (1995), when there were 26 832 reported murders
in South Africa, there were only 4 372 prosecutions for
murder and only 2 357 convictions. Therefore, less than
one murderer in ten was in any way punished.
According
to a Nedcor report on Crime, Violence and Investment, 94%
of all prisoners would immediately become involved in crime
again once they were released!
There
are many horrific examples of criminals released on bail,
or through an amnesty, committing violent crimes:
| • |
On
January 28, 1993 a convicted killer was sentenced in
Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court for raping and murdering
a young school girl, Carla Holloway. According to Judge
Hugo, the killer, Thabiso Dlamini, who had 6 previous
convictions, should have still been in prison when he
had committed the crime. Dlamini’s early release
had meant a horrible death for Carla. |
| • |
Dan
Mabote raped a seven-year-old girl in November 1996,
was arrested and was refused bail four times. It was
finally granted because a harassed, overworked prosecutor,
who had only seen the docket that morning, did not oppose
it. Mabote abducted and murdered the girl on 25/3/97,
the day before she was to testify against him. He was
only arrested four months later, as a result of police
bungling. Within two weeks of being sent to Sterkfontein
mental hospital for psychiatric tests, Mabote escaped
from an unguarded courtyard on 28/12/97. His victim’s
mother, naturally fearing for her life, went into hiding. |
| • |
Frans
du Toit and Theuns Krugers were out on bail, while charged
with four counts of rape between them, when they attacked
Alison (27) in Port Elizabeth (17/12/94). They raped
her, stabbed her so many times doctors could not count
the number of wounds, slit her throat and then left
her for dead. She managed to crawl to the road for help
and, incredibly, survived. |
| • |
All
sentenced criminals were given a 6-months remission
of sentence on the occasion of President Mandela’s
80th birthday and third wedding. About 9 000 prisoners
were released on 20th June 1998. Some 15% of those released
were wanted on other charges. Four days after the premature
release of two criminals, they murdered a couple in
their 70s. Other offences committed by these released
convicts included the rape of a 14-year-old girl at
knife point. |
| • |
Samuel
Sidymo (37), was out on parole nine months before completing
his sentence for rape, assault and robbery. Although
charged in prison with assault he was still deemed fit
for release in Nov 1998. From December to Jan 6th, 1999,
he went on a killing spree murdering six people. |
| • |
In
a counter attack in Richmond, KwaZulu/Natal, (23/1/99),
gunmen attacked the home of a local official killing
11 people and injuring eight. Police exchanged fire
with the attackers killing one and arresting three.
The dead attacker was later identified as a man who
was out on bail and had been due to face trial for his
role in the July 1998 murder of eight people in a Richmond
bar. |
There
is no doubt that soft judges make hardened criminals.
The
Constitution
The
SA Constitution Bill of Rights guarantees everyone the "right
to life" Incredibly though, this has been interpreted
as not applying to innocent babies – who may be killed
through abortion. However, it is applied to protect convicted
murderers – who can no longer be sentenced to death
in a court of law. This seems to favour the rights of the
criminal because suspending the death penalty has not prevented
200 000 people losing their right to life at the hands of
criminals. Or the 142 812 babies who have been – legally
– killed through abortion.
The
Need for Capital Punishment
Many
nations around the world still enforce the death penalty
for capital crimes such as murder. Over 71% of South Africans
want the death penalty reinstated (Human Sciences Research
Council).
Those
who commit murder forfeit their own right to life by showing
contempt for the right to life of their victims. The death
penalty is primarily a deterrent. That which is feared the
most, deters the most. It also ensures that a murderer does
not murder again.
For
those who hold the Word of God as authoritative, capital
punishment is God’s clear command:
"Whoever
sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed;
for in the image of God has God made man . . . for all
generations to come." Genesis 9:6, 12
"Anyone
who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to
death . . . if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately,
take him away from My altar and put him to death . . .
Anyone who kidnaps . . . must be put to death."
Exodus 21:12-16
"If
anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put
to death . . . whoever kills a man must be put to death
. . . I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 24:17-22
"Bloodshed
pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the
land on which blood has been shed except by the blood
of the one who shed it." Numbers 35:33
And
God’s Law remains in force after Calvary (Acts 25:11).
As our Lord Jesus taught:
"Do
not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. I
tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear not
the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will
by any means disappear from the law." Matthew
5:17-18
The
government "does not bear the sword for nothing.
He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment
on the wrongdoer." Romans 13:4. Governors "are
sent by Him to punish those who do wrong." 1 Peter
2:14. "Anyone who kills with the sword, must himself
be killed by the sword" Revelation 13:10
The
Bible teaches that those nations that fail to enforce capital
punishment will be harshly judged (Jeremiah 2:34-37; Hosea
1:4; 4:1-6). By obeying God’s Law and punishing murderers
with the death penalty a nation can cleanse itself of the
guilt of innocent blood. On the other hand a nation that
refuses to avenge the taking of innocent human life must
share the guilt of the murderer (Deuteronomy 21:1-9).
The
opposition of certain "human rights" groups
to the death penalty is selective. As capital punishment
is only inflicted upon murderers, one is given to wonder
whether these groups are only concerned for the "rights"
of murderers? Should we not provide compassion and justice
for the many thousands of victims of violent crimes? Surely
any civilised society has the moral right and the duty to
protect itself from those who have no respect for human
life?
In
the USA, law enforcers have documented that as executions
declined – murders increased. And when the death penalty
was suspended the number of murders doubled to 20 000 murders
a year.
Those
who claim that capital punishment (even if imposed consistently
and without undue delay) would not be a deterrent to violent
crime are saying in essence that people are not afraid of
dying. If so, then warning signs "Slow down",
"Bridge down", or "Danger 40 000
volts" are futile relics of a bygone age when men
feared death. But this is nonsense. Capital punishment is
a deterrent. In Utah when the death penalty was re-imposed,
with a single execution, in 1977, there was a dramatic decrease
of murders committed.
The
taking of a murderer’s life is akin to the amputation
of a diseased limb in order to save the rest of the body.
All murder is serious and demands capital punishment. Capital
punishment is necessary for justice, for the rule of law
and for the protection of the innocent.
In
the book Make a Difference the following quote sums up the
subject succinctly:
"Opposition
to capital punishment . . . sides with evil; shows more
regard for the criminal than the victim of the crime; weakens
justice and encourages murder; is not based on Scripture
but on a vague philosophical system that makes a fetish
of the idea that the taking of life is wrong under every
circumstance, and fails to distinguish adequately between
killing and murder, between punishment and crime."
"Why
do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not
punished quickly enough." Ecclesiastes 8:11
Dr.
Peter Hammond
For
further reading obtain: "Make a Difference! A Christian
Action Handbook for Southern Africa" by Miriam
Cain and "South Africa – Renaissance or Reformation?"
by Tom Barlow and Peter Hammond.
|
