This
is not the first time I am writing about crime and it is unlikely to be the
last time I write about it.
Recently,
the area I live in and its surrounding neighbourhoods have lived under the fear
of spiralling crime. The police (SAPS) and all the armed response units have
been unable to track down the criminals or have been unable to keep the
criminals behind bars. Much speculation exists about who the perpetrators are,
their backgrounds and even to the extent of thoughts of a conspiracy. There may
yet be some truth in what everyone thinks or says. Sadly, we have become weak
such that we blame the government for everything and, in this case, a lack of
attention to our problem. Rightly so, there should be no place for crime at any
level and we should not tolerate this.
Every
government is caught up in its own agenda and often that does not coincide with
the wish and will of the people. Before getting carried away, the few thousand
people that we are, we are really fairly insignificant in the bigger scheme of
the entire population of this country whose needs are as much as ours or more.
I wish to bring a little perspective to the problem rather than siding with
government because it is the role of government to protect its citizens. There
is no contradiction to what I am saying, rather I believe ultimately we will
have to find solutions for ourselves.
The
dilemma will be such that government will claim a lack of funds and we will
hold tight onto our wallets lest they take more and we shout
"corruption". Now that is an ugly word. If truth be told, every
organisation is tainted by corruption. Why, even our own households might be tainted
by it.
We
don't need to form another organisation such that we are targeted ourselves by
criticism but yet we have to be organised. Did I hear someone shout PAGAD or
anyone thought of starting PACQ(man).
Perhaps
on a different slant the solution to most of our problems, be it crime at any
level, is simple.
The
following steps need to be taken by me (yes as you read the word - each and
everyone is "me")
1.
Clean
up our own act - that pen you took from the office belongs to the office, your
levels of productivity in the workplace, etc
2.
Culture
of honesty in the home - make it a priority to speak the truth and hear the
truth. The value system is important lest our own homes become breeding grounds
for criminals and corrupt officials and business people.
3.
Become
selfless - care about the next person, your family members, neighbours and
colleagues and even those you don't know
4.
Be
God-conscious - a clean act involves knowing who is your Provider and
Protector.
5.
Community
structures - build strong community structures - networks, neighbourhood watches,
etc
6.
Serve
the community - in whichever way, be it the leader or the follower. March also
if you wish but there is much to be done. Making a cross on the ballot paper is
not community work.
7.
Stay
vigilant - ok, don't be too nosy about the neighbours visitors but good
neighbourly interaction will make it easier to spot unwanted "guests"
We
will only start making a difference when we within ourselves make a difference
and help the next one to achieve the same. When we are a strong community, the likelihood of the criminals claiming the
freedom of our areas will not be possible.
We
have to do more and the buck stops with every person in this community. When we
become God-fearing then we will put the fear of God in the criminals.
Please,
I too need this crime to stop. Let's help each other.
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*
The help of Allah is near but we need to turn to Him
** This is a test for us and we pray
that the Almighty Allah grants us the strength and wisdom to pass this test
*** Let him who has no sin caste the
first stone - let us be clean to cleanse and help our community
**** Other communities are facing wars
and famine,etc - We are facing crime - our should be easier to deal with - O Allah we turn to you in repentance and
pray that we may overcome this
scourge of crime.
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