The Presidency today refused to take delivery of the more than 23 000 letters that ordinary South Africans had addressed to President Jacob Zuma over the past three days. According to the trade union Solidarity, which is driving the awareness campaign about the seriousness of crime in South Africa, this is a slap in the face of South Africans and everyone who has been affected by crime.

According to Dr. Dirk Hermann, deputy general secretary of the Solidarity Movement, the Presidency yesterday confirmed that they would take delivery of the many thousands of letters highlighting the dissatisfaction of South Africans regarding the crime problem and the president's poor handling of the issue. However, today the Presidency neglected to receive the documents without giving any explanation.

"South Africans have shared their pain with the president by writing letters. Parents wrote about the murder of their children. Women wrote about the pain of a spouse that died as a result of crime and ordinary South Africans wrote about the influence that crime has had on them. However, the Presidency refused to receive these accounts," Hermann said.

"That is why, in reaction to the Presidency's refusal today, Solidarity has decided to carry on with the campaign. South Africans must now continue to send their letters to the president, because the figures speak for themselves and can ultimately not be ignored," Hermann said.

Up to about 13:00 this afternoon, more than 27 000 letters had already been received from South Africans via the website www.dearpresident.co.za and also via the e-mail and SMS facility. Meanwhile the letters keep pouring in. South Africans are encouraged to visit the website to make their voices heard. The letters will go directly to President Zuma's own e-mail address. Those who do not have access to e-mail can SMS the word "crime" to 35960 SMS. The SMSs will also be regarded as protest votes.

Hermann said that the letters already received emphasize the harsh reality of crime in South Africa.

Theresa Papenfus from Pretoria writes: "I love this beautiful country of ours with its endless, wonderful possibilities. However, what I have seen happening in this country since 1994 has made my hope evaporate. After Polokwane I, like many others, carefully and with new hope and expectations looked forward to a new leader who would make a positive difference in the country. It seems as though this hope was in vain. Dear President, please show that you are making innocent people's right to life and safety your highest priority. Please do something about the large-scale and unbridled extermination and rape of our people. Each day the newspapers are filled with news of more victims of violent crimes, innocent women are raped and people are savagely tortured and murdered. You can get the figures; they are available. It's awful. It's horrendous. It's a disgrace."

Someone known only as Moira writes the following: "My own children, aged 8 and 5, refuse to sleep in their own beds at night. We have never really had an incident at our house - we are among the lucky ones. However, just the things my children hear and see (burglaries in our neighbourhood, ADT cars, alarms and police vehicles) have created a feeling of fear that I am struggling to change in a home environment where they feel safe. They don't even want to play outside or do anything else on their own. Is this the life you want to give your innocent child?"

Many people wrote to the president about family members who had been murdered. The Louw family write: "Our son, Rev. Stefan Louw of the Melville congregation in Johannesburg, was murdered in his house in Westdene on 15 September 2006 during an apparent failed burglary. Only his cell phone was stolen. The murderer(s) were never apprehended." Amanda Kruger writes that her husband was murdered on 29 October. "We were married for 39 years and now I have to carry on without my husband. Please do something about the murders."

Several people wrote about how they were attacked at home. Chuck Hoogendijk writes: "Two years ago my wife and I were attacked while sitting outside our house at 19:00 on a beautiful Highveld evening. We were physically assaulted and robbed of money, firearms, jewellery and cell phones. Fortunately, we both survived the attack. The biggest thing that we lost on that evening was our freedom to enjoy an evening outside in this country: we now lock ourselves up when darkness approaches."

Jacques Scheepers resides in England and dreams of returning to South Africa: "My family and I have settled in England, but we dream about returning to South Africa to continue our lives there. The only thing that stands in our way is the violence and crime in South Africa. My father, brother, school friends and family friends have been directly affected by crime the past year - too many incidents to recount. I would never be able to forgive myself if something were to happen to my wife or children, or if my children had to grow up without their father. I am an accountant and I believe I can make a positive contribution to the economic welfare of South Africa, but the safety of my family remains my first priority. I therefore plead with you to do everything in your power to put an end to violence and crime in South Africa so that we will have the peace of mind to return to our wonderful country, South Africa."

"Zuma will simply have to heed the voice of thousands of South Africans calling out: Enough is enough!" Hermann said.

Statement issued by Solidarity, February 16 2010

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