Crime Line helps curb lawlessness

Anonymous police tip-off service, Crime Line has done its job by reducing levels of crime since its launch four years ago.

But panellists at the service's anniversary debate in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, yesterday said a lot still needed to be done to protect whistle-blowers and those in witness-protection programmes to win the fight against corruption.

The panel included Special Investigations Unit head Willie Hofmeyr, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, Graham Wright, CE of Business Against Crime SA, and Jay Naidoo, chairman of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

Wright said that, according to a survey by accounting firm Grant Thornton SA, contact crime against business fell 34% in four years.

"From business, we feel that the crime levels are down," he said.

Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee said that with 533 drug-related arrests, 47 illegal firearms and ammunition busts, among others, and 21 most wanted criminals being locked up, the tip-off service had been successful.

Madonsela said the witness-protection programme had to be bolstered to also protect whistle-blowers as many employers would be reluctant to employ "snitches".

Madonsela also said the gap between rich and poor was one of the most important triggers of crime. The fight against corruption needed to be intensified as it widened the gap still further.- Amukelani Chauke, Pheladi Maphutha and Megan Fischer