Two Bits – 8 May 2015

South Africa is a crime-riddled society. We all know this and the government has identified a crackdown on crime as a priority.

Whether there will ever be enough police on the ground to crack down on offenders is anybody’s guess. But the police can only do so much. If a society wants to get rid of crime, then surely it is the duty of every person to stop doing crime themselves and to point out to others when they cross the line.

I would guess that the majority of South Africans break the law every day – a little bit here, a little bit there. Have you ever jumped the traffic lights late at night, when you can see no other cars around? Have you ever overtaken on a white line when the overladen 10-ton truck ahead is doing 15km/h up a narrow country road? Of course you have and you say to yourself: “Well, no harm done, and it’s only this once!”

Every day you can see people tossing tins and food wrappings from moving vehicles. Littering is against the law. Every day you see illegal electricity connections. They’re against the law, not to forget downright dangerous. A little bit here, a little bit there, all shrugged off because ‘it’s none of my business’. And we’re surprised when the cops throw their hands up and say they can’t cope.

The parking bays for the disabled are an expression of compassion by society for those with extreme physical handicaps. And they’re much abused. People see an empty ‘disabled bay’ and pop in. Some say to themselves they will only park for a few minutes while they run an errand, others simply don’t give a damn and park there anyway for as long as they like, without a second thought for a person who struggles in and out of their car with a wheelchair.

This week we publish the story of the speaker of the KwaDukuza council, Cllr Thulani Khuluse, who accosted an elderly woman on crutches who told him to move his car from a parking bay reserved for the disabled at Lifestyle Centre last week.

Cllr Khuluse is a law-maker in this municipality. He is also a former mayor and senior member of the ruling party. I expect him to set an example to his fellow citizens, who placed their trust in him and, through their rates, pay his not inconsiderable salary. He is also a lawyer, not some illiterate peasant on his first visit to town. I expect him to know what is right and to abide by the rules. And I think I speak for every right-minded resident of this municipality when I say that people like him, especially, should always be an example to others.

It would be a great pity if Cllr Khuluse considers himself to be above the rules. If he can break the rules, why shouldn’t others?

However, I’ll offer him an opportunity to prove me wrong and make amends. The Lifestyle Centre normally puts a boot lock on vehicles in the disabled bays and charges R200 for their release. At the end of the year they generously donate the money to this newspaper’s Orphan Fund.

I challenge Cllr Khuluse to come forward and donate R200 to the Lifestyle Centre. That will be the right thing to do.

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Olivia Roels-Sak sent in this interesting quiz. Read all the questions before looking at the answers at the end of this column.

Question 1: If you knew a woman who was pregnant, who had eight kids already, three who were deaf, two who were blind, one mentally retarded, and she had syphilis, would you recommend that she undergoes an abortion?

Question 2: It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three candidates:

Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists. He’s had two mistresses. He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero, he’s a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke, drinks an occasional beer and never committed adultery.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

Decide first. No peeking, and then see the answers below.