[It appears no action has actually been taken against this website which is about to be launched. Let’s see how it goes. The website is not up yet.

I would like to urge people to support these folks… as well as the Crime Website on www.StraightTalk.co.za

It will be interesting to see how these people do. I like their concept… it is in your face… and that is how it should be. The problem has also been that many people start crime websites in S.Africa and then they give up later.

I know people who experienced the horror of crime, and then they got so worked up they wanted to start an anti-crime organisation and then it fizzles out. I would like to see a BIG anti-crime organisation in this country… something which is kick-ass. There is a lot of potential support for such a thing.

The problem is not that crime can’t be solved. The problem is the unwillingness of the Govt to do a damned thing about crime. Crime NEVER WAS A PROBLEM BEFORE THE ANC CAME TO POWER! The ANC made it a problem.

Of course I also believe that communist/terrorist elements in the new Govt WANT CRIME and LOVE CRIME and they want it to remain and to get worse. But… we must agitate about it.

People must support these Security Companies like Combat Security. I must put up another one’s name too. And we must just keep on networking… support the anti-crime people. The Security Companies can give info to the anti-crime organisations. We must all just kick up a fuss… because by doing so, we could be saving lives… because this Govt doesn’t, in my personal opinion, give a rat’s ass about anyone’s life in this country.

The website to watch and support, if it comes online on 4th July is: www.crimebarometersouthafrica.co.za – let’s see how they do. Jan]

Anti-crime campaign may scare 2010 visitors
By Sharlene Packree, Barbara Cole and Bheko Madlala

A proposed international anti-crime campaign designed to embarrass South Africa and scare off potential tourists has been condemned by the government as being a scare tactic.

The Crime Barometer, a web page which will tell the stories of South Africans who have been victims of crime, will include statistics and pictures and give people an opportunity to air their views on crime in the country.

The Internet web page, www.crimebarometersouthafrica.co.za will go online on July 4 and aims to scare soccer fans planning to visit South Africa for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup by giving them a preview of the crime.

“We will ensure that each and every traveller who plans to visit South Africa will think twice before heading for the world’s murder capital,” said Neil Watson, the brains behind the campaign.

Watson, an insurance broker, said he began the web page so that victims of crime would be able to tell their stories in detail.

The website will be updated with pictures and stories every two days.

“Crime is horrific here. If international tourists do not visit the country, South Africa will lose millions in tourism revenue. I want to discourage tourists from coming here.

“How can we host the Soccer World Cup if innocent people are being slaughtered each day?” he said.

“Government is not protecting us. We can’t even complain because we get asked to leave the country by Charles Nqakula, the Minister of Safety and Security.

“It is the duty of all South Africans to stand up to the crime in their country and that’s what I’m doing,” said Watson.

The Cape Town father of four has not been a victim of crime. However, he fears that it is only a question of time before he too will become another statistic and be hijacked or robbed like other South Africans.

“Our actions in exposing the South African killing fields come as a direct result of government’s refusal to deal with the crisis.

“South Africans are living in fear while politicians and senior police officials, together with their families, enjoy first class personal protection.”

JP Louw, spokesperson for the national department of environmental affairs and Tourism, said such “scare tactics” were “really quite unfortunate”.

Deprive

Anyone who ran a programme which would deprive people of jobs and earning a living did not have the interests of the country at heart, he said.

The department remained content that its marketing strategies to increase the number of tourists to the country were firmly in place and remained on track.

It had already surpassed its target of seven million annual international tourists to the country.

President Thabo Mbeki’s spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, referred all queries to the departments of Safety and Security, and Sports and Recreation.

Nqakula’s spokesperson Trevor Bloom said while crime in the country was unacceptably high, there was evidence that it had reduced over the past few years.

“The gentleman must put his facts on the table. Our facts and statistics show that crime is high and the minister has never denied that, but the important thing is to note that crime has certainly gone down.

“The government has a clear programme to make sure that crime is reduced. We have put in place mechanisms to measure the progress.

“I think that is why Fifa has full confidence in the ability of the government to tackle this problem,” he said.

Bongi Sishi, spokesperson for Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, said the department did not believe that discouraging people from coming to the country and attempting to stop South Africa from hosting the World Cup would solve the crime problem.

One permanent job is created for every 12 international tourists who visit the country.

This article was originally published on page 8 of Daily News on June 22, 2006

Source: Independent Online (IOL)
URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click…/p>