Fighting crime, corruption among Rise Mzansi's top priorities

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Alpha Ramushwana

JOHANNESBURG - Rise Mzansi has assured South Africans that fighting crime and corruption will be among its top priorities as it makes a play for power in the upcoming general elections.

Party leader Songezo Zibi made this commitment during the party's final rally at the Ruimsig Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday.

READ: Govt failures reason some South Africans putting trust in Rise Mzansi

He said the latest crime stats suggest law enforcement agencies are losing the battle against crime, as communities bear the brunt of lawlessness.

South Africans were recently taken aback by the gruesome murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Phalane, who was shot outside his home in Soshanguve two weeks ago during a hijacking.

Rise Mzansi supporter Kabelo Nkuna said there is an urgent need to address the root causes of crime, especially among the youth.

"Crime is exacerbated by the fact that policing is poor and poverty is high. If there is poverty, crime is going to be high."

Zibi believes his party is capable of curbing the scourge of lawlessness.

"We will reduce the murder rate in three years. The experts tell us this is absolutely doable, with the right policies, and the right leadership of the SAPS [South Africa Police Service]. Let's chuck out the cronies, the ineffectual, the corrupt. Let's put the clean and efficient ones in."

Statistics have shown that over 7,000 South Africans were murdered in the last quarter of 2023.