Economic growth and crime are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist, which is why South Africa Inc must collaboratively and collectively smash crime to smithereens. The exploding rates of murder, extortion and kidnapping are a threat to our democracy and must be brought to a standstill with appropriate vigour.
There are three times more private security guards than public police and private-sector and private-sector security forces must combine for an appropriate period to smash crime. Criminal mafia members must be stripped of their flashy cars and luxurious homes in wealthy suburbs.
Examples must be made of those who have displayed unbelievable arrogance, such as the gang of 150 which this year broke into a precious metals operation wielding high-calibre rifles – they must be made to witness their weapons being publicly smelted. Such determined action will open the way for South Africa to be able to target a repeat of the 2008 economic growth rate of 5% a year for a dozen years, which would turn us into a trillion-dollar economy – double our current size. The potential is there, but only if rampant crime is shoved out of the way.