It’s one of the more divisive topics up for discussion during the 2019 Elections, but the subject of re-introducing the death penalty often proves to be a popular one when the politicians are on the prowl for our votes.
South Africa’s abnormally-high crime rates and propensity for gender-based violence often gets emotions running high – which is perhaps a good enough argument for why this particular punishment should not be used as an electioneering tool.
In fact, these were sentiments echoed by Clare Ballard, the head of the penal reform programme of Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) in midweek. She said that the conversation merely deflects from the actual causes of crime:
“The death penalty is not a quick fix and it does not cure crime. Every time politicians avoid confronting the complex truths about crime and punishment, we lose a vital opportunity to examine what it will take to ensure real safety for everyone.”
Clare
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