Business Day - All Africa Global Media

SOUTH AFRICA: Public Should Decide On the Death Penalty Opposition parties have urged government to let the public decide whether to reinstate capital punishment.

 There have been increasing calls for the return of death penalty in the light of an evident rise in abuse of children and violent crimes such as car hijacking.

The Pan Africanist Congress resolved at its national conference last week to take the matter up with government, and called for a referendum on the issue.

The party indicated that apart from writing to relevant ministries it would also stage demonstrations nationwide country to drum up public support.

The Inkatha Freedom Party, which has called on the government to bring back the noose, said there was no justification for government to ignore these calls, as crime was getting out of hand. Party safety and security spokesman Velaphi Ndlovu said it was time the African National Congress (ANC) government listened to the people.

"It is circumstances which force us to call for the reinstatement of death penalty. Hideous crimes such as the raping of babies, women abuse and hijackings are a strong reason for the ANC to relook at the constitution on the matter," he said.

Ndlovu said the rights of the criminals should not be allowed to outweigh those of their victims.

"These people (criminals) have comfortable shelter over their heads, enjoy 3 meals everyday. They are having a nice time at taxpayers' expense. That has to stop.

"A man who rapes a baby does not deserve to live. It is as simple as that. The government needs to go back to the drawing board and amend this constitution," said Ndlovu.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said that if the people wanted to have capital punishment reinstated, then government should oblige. "If there is a ground swell support for death penalty, then so be it. I do not think the constitution is cast in stone."

Holomisa said that while his party would want to uphold the constitution, amending it on the basis of what the citizens of SA wanted was justifiable.

The Democratic Alliance leadership said it was prepared to abide by the Constitutional Court's ruling that capital punishment was unconstitutional. ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said his party opposed to capital punishment as it had not proved an effective deterrent.

The Democratic Alliance leadership said it was prepared to abide by the Constitutional Court's ruling that capital punishment was unconstitutional. ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said his party opposed to capital punishment as it had not proved an effective deterrent.