Crime, corruption kill tourism

President Jacob Zuma’s palace was secured at R246m. Had the media got intimidated by comrades of the president, we would not have known the truth. All cover-ups to hide the truth failed dismally, it included a warning by former minister Nathi Mthethwa that it is illegal to publish or distribute pictures of the palace. The same minister had his house fenced at R200 000 by police intelligence department. We pay thousands of rands to secure our houses but politicians are escourted by police together with their wives or spouses. The latest crime statistics paint a bleak future as we grow fast to be a den of organised criminals. Everytime, we raise issues of crime, corruption and nepotism, the race card is thrown at us. We are told we are whining and want to return South African to apartheid.
If president Zuma, members of parliament and councilors are representing us, why are we spending so exorbitantly to protect them? A lot of money has been paid to secure ward councilors and those killed are assassinated by members of his/her party, not criminals.
I spent seven years in Canada, a concern was raised that crime impacts negatively on tourism. Our crime statistics, killing of rhinos and corruption in local authorities are challenges that will need bold and visionary leadership. People do crime when leaders fill up their pockets as we see here. Incompetent leaders will kill the hen that gives them eggs on the North Coast from Margate up to St Lucia. The saying is “fish starts its rot in the head”.
The current president only inspires people who want to do corruption.
Without industrialisation like in Richards Bay, Durban and Johannesburg, our coast depends on tourism like Cape Town, Plattenberg Bay and Mpumalanga province.

SHIRLEY REDDY
Ballito