A draft of a bill aimed at enforcing law and order when unions take to the streets is just gathering dust. So South Africans continue to be at the mercy of union members who express their anger by vandalising state and private property.The ANC majority in parliament this week voted against the bill and by doing so sent out a clear message that it is perfectly OK to be unruly and damage property.The bill was intended to make unions, and anyone else who organises a protest march, accountable for the actions of the participants.It would have ensured that trade unions were liable for vandalism and theft by their members.The constitution gives citizens the right to organise and be part of a march, but that right has its limits .The ANC, which is in alliance with trade union federation Cosatu, should not pander to labour's demands at the expense of the rule of law.If we are not protected against unionised vandals who use strikes to terrorise citizens, how can we call on our people not to burn down clinics and schools when they make their service-related demands?Recently the people of Malamulele, in Limpopo, torched schools and hundreds of pupils missed classes when the community demanded that it be declared an independent municipality.If we are to change this sort of violent behaviour, our politicians must rise above party politics and build a society that respects the rule of law and the rights of citizens.The ANC's argument in shooting down the bill was that it limited the right to strike.It also argued that there was already legislation, such as T he Gatherings Act, that protected property.Although the ANC might be right to be cautious in drafting legislation on public gatherings, the current laws fail to give sufficient protection to the man on the street .It cannot be business as usual when unions do as they please and we just fold our arms...