Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 6:17:39 GMT -5
IFP backs call for death-penalty referendum
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) added its voice on Friday to those
supporting High Court Judge Gerhardus Hattingh's call for a referendum on
the death penalty.
"The IFP calls on government to set the wheels of democracy in motion, to
allow every citizen of this country to decide for themselves whether or
not the death penalty should be reinstated," IFP Chief Whip Koos van der
Merwe said.
The crime statistics released this week showed there was an "enormous
problem with atrocious crimes", such as murder, and therefore every South
African should be given the right to have their say through a referendum.
The IFP also backed Hattingh's statement that a life sentence was
misleading to the public, as prisoners were eligible for parole after
spending 25 years in prison, depending on behaviour.
"Furthermore, we call on government to allow ordinary South Africans to
decide for themselves on hotly debated issues by way of referendums."
South Africa was a democracy, so South Africans should decide on issues
seriously affecting their lives, Van der Merwe said.
Hattingh presided over the murder trial of the killers of Transvaal Judge
President Bernard Ngoepe's grandchild, Makgabo Matlala.
(source: South Africa Press Agency)
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) added its voice on Friday to those
supporting High Court Judge Gerhardus Hattingh's call for a referendum on
the death penalty.
"The IFP calls on government to set the wheels of democracy in motion, to
allow every citizen of this country to decide for themselves whether or
not the death penalty should be reinstated," IFP Chief Whip Koos van der
Merwe said.
The crime statistics released this week showed there was an "enormous
problem with atrocious crimes", such as murder, and therefore every South
African should be given the right to have their say through a referendum.
The IFP also backed Hattingh's statement that a life sentence was
misleading to the public, as prisoners were eligible for parole after
spending 25 years in prison, depending on behaviour.
"Furthermore, we call on government to allow ordinary South Africans to
decide for themselves on hotly debated issues by way of referendums."
South Africa was a democracy, so South Africans should decide on issues
seriously affecting their lives, Van der Merwe said.
Hattingh presided over the murder trial of the killers of Transvaal Judge
President Bernard Ngoepe's grandchild, Makgabo Matlala.
(source: South Africa Press Agency)