Criminal justice system must bite - Zuma

28 March 2009

ANC President Jacob Zuma came face to face with the problems of the criminal justice system this morning (28 March 2009) during his door-to-door campaign trail in Mogwase in the North West province.

Zuma was told by a 53-year-old resident how she had been raped by a known criminal, who got bail regardless of other four rape charges against him.

She said she believed the ANC was the only organisation able to uproot such barbaric acts.

In response, Zuma said the ANC had identified the gaps in the criminal justice system and proposed reforms in the system. Zuma said the criminal justice system must bite, so that criminals must find no place to hide. "Together we can ensure that all bad elements in our communities are removed," Zuma said.

Zuma met three other families in the Mabele-a-Podi section and two families in unit five Mogwase. John Khosa, a pensioner, told Zuma that the ANC government has done a lot to better the lives of many people, although the problems caused by the previous regimes made it difficult for the ANC to complete its task within the past 15 years. "I will give my vote to the ANC to ensure that it completes its work to make South Africa a better country," Khoza said.

Zuma knocked at the door of another pensioner Matlakala Baleni. Baleni is looking after 25 children, including her grandchildren. She told Zuma about the difficulties her family faces. He encouraged her elder son to go to the municipality to ask about job and business opportunities, so that he can assist his mother to take care of the children. He said they should also apply for government services such as the foster care and child support grant.

Zuma addressed a crowd at Mogwase Shopping Complex in which he said they shold vote ANC because of the policies the party will be implementing. "The ANC as an organisation is what it is because of you. If you are not there, there won't be any ANC, ANC ke ANC ka lo na," Zuma said to cheers from the crowd.

Zuma was accompanied by ANC National Executive Committee members Thaba Mufamadi, Naledi Pandor, Lumka Yengeni, Joe Phaahla and Lindiwe Zulu.

Issued by:
African National Congress

For more information contact:
Ishmael Mnisi 082 333 5550