Shoot to kill: Trigger Happy Protectors?

Less than a month ago at the Pretoria Voortrekker Monument, President Jacob Zuma voiced his support for the implementation of the amendment to Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act. The amendment or 'shoot to kill' policy as it has been coined permits police to shoot in self defence during dangerous situations. Zuma claimed the act is meant to "send a strong message to criminals".

The new amendment has stirred up many debates around issues such as the violation of human rights and whether police may abuse the amendment becoming 'trigger happy' in unnecessary situations. However when statistics are analysed it is clear that extraordinary measures need to be taken in order to combat crime. Statistics on South African crime rates reveal that on average 50 people are murdered every day, business robberies have risen by 45% and house hold robberies have increased by 27.3%. Zuma was not far from the truth when he stated that "we have an abnormal crime problem in South Africa". Recently South Africa has been placed second on the murder-per-captia crime statistics with only Columbia in front.

Crime and violence are no new leech to the citizens of South Africa, the new amendment may appear as an extreme alternative and not the most diplomatic way of reducing South African crime, but when talking has provided no real results the only option left is that of force.