Looting in South Africa: The Culprits, the Victims, and the Solutions
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Looting is a widespread phenomenon in South Africa that has been common among many extended families, friends, and acquaintances. In the current social climate, looters are usually people who have no other recourse but to steal to survive. But when this happens on a massive scale with organized criminals taking up the majority of looters, it can be devastating for businesses and markets. Theft at any level is always wrong and undesirable, but it’s especially so when done by those who have the means to not resort to such desperate measures. It’s completely understandable why people resort to looting — when you’re hungry or cold, with no access to food or other necessities, what other options do you have? Everyone needs food and clothing; it is a basic human necessity that we all require for survival. And therefore, if someone does not have these things because they have been deliberately kept from having them by someone else (for example, market vendors), then that person has few options left available. So how can we tackle this destructive phenomenon? Here are some solutions…
Create more jobs and opportunities for people to End Looting in South Africa
Because the root cause of looting is that people don’t have access to necessities, the solution is to give them access to those necessities. Create more jobs and opportunities for people to earn enough to survive and provide for their families. This will reduce the number of looters and make the country more sustainable. The best way to do this is to focus on the youth, because they are our future leaders. Invest in their education, training and skills development and they will be the ones to grow our economy and create the jobs of tomorrow. Create incentives for companies to hire a greater number of youth, and provide them with adequate mentorship and training so that they have a future in this country.
Provide free basic services to everyone to End Looting in South Africa
Another way to reduce looting is to provide free basic services to everyone. In other words, there should be no need for looting when there are alternatives available. If people have access to cheap or even free food, clean water, electricity, healthcare, etc., there will be no need to steal from others. The government already provides some of these basic services, but the thing is, it’s not accessible to everyone. Only a small percentage of the population is eligible to receive social grants, free education and healthcare. This leaves a large percentage of the population without access to these basic services, which forces them to loot to survive.
Don’t Criminalize Poverty and Desperation. Stop Blaming the Victims. End Looting in South Africa
Another way to tackle looting is to not criminalize poverty and desperation. Stop blaming the victims and help them not be victims in the first place. The real looters are the ones who steal from businesses and stockists to sell their stolen goods on the streets. The poor and desperate who loot to survive and feed their families are not looters but victims who have been robbed of their basic human necessities by the real looters. We need to help those who are poor and desperate, not further marginalize them by treating them like criminals. Doing this creates a culture of shame and stigma around poverty, which only perpetuates the problem. Instead, we need to empower them with the necessary resources and skills to survive and thrive.
Hold Corrupt Officials Accountable and Prosecute them to End Looting in South Africa.
Another way to tackle looting is to hold corrupt officials accountable and prosecute them. There have been reports of government officials hoarding and stealing food and other necessities to sell on the black market, creating an artificial shortage. Similarly, there have also been reports of government officials diverting resources meant for the poor and desperate to their own pockets. In both cases, they are taking away the few resources that the poor and desperate have. The government needs to hold corrupt officials accountable and prosecute them so that they have nowhere to hide, and that others will be deterred from following their example. This way, the government can help reduce looting by providing basic necessities to the poor and desperate.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, looting has become a common phenomenon in South Africa, and is especially prevalent during times of crisis. These are times when people don’t have access to food, clothing and other necessities, and so they resort to stealing from others. The best way to tackle looting is to create more jobs and opportunities for people, and provide free basic services to everyone. Don’t criminalize poverty and desperation; instead, help the poor and desperate people by providing them with the necessary resources. And finally, hold corrupt officials accountable and prosecute them, so that they can no longer divert resources meant for the poor and desperate to their own pockets.
