2% on crime is not enough

Let’s stand up against crime together again!

Three years ago Solidarity conducted a large campaign during which more than 30 000 letters against crime were delivered to President Mbeki.

Meanwhile we got a new president, and despite nice rhetoric and a variety of new plans, crime has once again dropped lower on the new government’s list of priorities. Solidarity has calculated that only 2% of the president’s recent State of the Nation address, i.e. 115 of the 4 411 words, were dedicated to crime. In the nearly one hour that President Zuma spoke, he dedicated one minute to crime. The president spent more time – 132 words – on welcoming guests of honour than on saying what he would do about crime. More time was even spent on his hotline than on crime. The Soccer World Cup also received more attention than crime.

Solidarity have again created a website at www.dearpresident.co.za to send letters to the president. To date, more than 37 000 letters have already been sent. Their goal is to deliver about 50 000 letters to the Union Buildings by the beginning of March.

If you have not yet sent a letter to the president visit the website and send your letter. You can also send an SMS starting with the word ‘crime’ to 35960. The SMS will also be counted as a letter of protest.

Let us make a success of this year’s campaign and ensure that the government does place crime higher on their list of priorities.

TAKE PART
Have you sent a letter yet? If not, click here http://www.dearpresident.co.za/ or SMS the word ‘crime’, followed by your message, to 35960. SMSs cost R3.

SPREAD THE MESSAGE
Ask your family, friends and colleagues to also send letters to the president by visiting the website www.dearpresident.co.za