Prof Seepe has become a sycophantic supporter of the Zuma faction, says a reader.
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Police – whether metro, SAPS, or private security – have a prime responsibility: ensuring the safety of persons and property, and enforcing the law, including traffic regulations.
Kudos to those who perform their duties competently and with integrity. Your work is essential, and safety is a constitutional right under Chapter 2 of the RSA Constitution (Act 108 of 1996).
Unfortunately, there are serious failures in this crucial area. Far too often, it seems that criminals enjoy more rights than law-abiding citizens. The corruption and malfeasance exposed in recent hearings of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission are both startling and unbelievable. It is shocking that those entrusted with protecting us have colluded with criminals and unscrupulous tenderpreneurs to amass billions, robbing the state and its citizens.
It is imperative that these issues be addressed decisively, with oversight from the President and agencies such as the SAPS, NPA, and SIU. The rot is deep, and criminality must be eradicated.
On a daily basis, police and allied personnel are absent when and where they are most needed. Visible policing is a key deterrent to crime. Yet, police are often missing in:
– Hotspots such as the CBD, malls, and busy public areas
– Situations where traffic signals fail and manual control is needed
– Roads where overloaded or reckless taxis endanger passengers and other drivers
Additionally, police vehicles are sometimes parked inappropriately at accident scenes, worsening congestion instead of easing it. Vehicles intended for urgent police duties are often used for private errands, including shopping or transporting schoolchildren during working hours.
These issues must be addressed urgently. Effective policing requires personnel who are loyal, dedicated, and competent. Only then can we live in a safe environment, confident that our constitutional rights are protected. Without proper policing, we risk a return to chaos and lawlessness, diminishing the quality of life for all. Simon T Dehal Verulam
I endorse Harry Sewlall’s comments on the death penalty – especially his response to Pundit Lokesh Maharajh, who claimed that “judicial execution was against Hinduism.” This view overlooks the recurrent theme of the destruction of evil in the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, as well as clear directives in the Vedas.
According to these texts, the king – or ruler – had the duty to maintain order using force (danda) when necessary, to prevent chaos and curb societal evil. Punishment was intended to be proactive – aimed at eliminating dangerous individuals and preventing crime and wickedness from spreading. The death penalty was available, but it was to be applied proportionally to the crime – for treason, homicide, rape, and severe violations against the state or social order.
The Artha Shastra reinforces these principles, emphasizing the ruler’s obligation to maintain justice, law, order, and the safety of citizens. Ahimsa, or non-violence, could not be fully realized without removing wickedness to protect Dharma. Even under Gandhian influence, the murderer of Gandhi faced the death penalty – demonstrating that Ahimsa is not absolute when society’s protection is at stake.
In a secular state, religious beliefs should not dictate legal policy. It is perplexing that POST seeks the opinions of religious leaders on secular matters – a practice that risks conflating personal faith with public law.
The death penalty, when applied proportionally and judiciously, aligns with both ancient principles and modern legal responsibility. Upholding the law is not a violation of faith – it is the protection of society. | Kamini Prakash Umhlanga
I refer to Prof Seepe’s opinion piece, Court ruling lays bare the ANC’s moral bankruptcy, (Daily News, May 12).
I am not a supporter of the ANC or President Cyril Ramaphosa, and I agree fully with Seepe that the ANC is morally bankrupt. However, I feel that Seepe’s opinion piece is tantamount to a personal attack on our president. It is excessive and intemperate in tone.
If one watches CNN, one will notice that even Donald Trump’s detractors treat him with respect, addressing him as “president” even though he is hardly deserving of such a title. I think such respect is due to Cyril Ramaphosa.
I began my academic career at the now defunct Vista University where Seepe was one of our campus rectors. He was also a vocal critic of the apartheid government, evident in his columns in the Mail & Guardian in the 1990s. After Vista’s demise, he spent some time in the academic wilderness and then was a dean at the University of Zululand.
Seepe has become a sycophantic supporter of the Zuma faction. This is the wellspring of the vituperation and scorn that he pours on the ANC and Cyril Ramaphosa at every opportunity. All I can say about him as a political commentator, quoting from Hamlet, “what a noble mind is here o’erthrown” in his ardent support of Zuma and the MKP. Harry Sewlall Sandton
DAILY NEWS