'Criminals need laws that bite'

31/03/2008 08:47 - (SA)

Heindrich Wyngaard, Die Burger

Cape Town - The country's laws should be less strict towards those who take the law into their own hands against criminals, African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma has told a group of prominent Afrikaans-speakers in Somerset West.

"Our legal system usually reacts very harshly to such people and admonishes them about taking the law into their own hands.

"But, I have an issue with the fact that a criminal murders someone, gets arrested, and then the next morning his lawyer claims that he has the right to be set free.

"Then it takes months for the case to be concluded.

"I think there is something wrong with the legal system: criminals shouldn't have it so easy," Zuma said on Saturday at a meeting at Lourensford Wine Estate.

"I'm not saying that the laws are too user-friendly for criminals, but rather that they need a bit more bite.

Accuses the media

Zuma also said that when the education problems had been solved "you won't say you're in a third-world country anymore".

"It should also not be surprising that crime would be produced in a country where the majority is illiterate."

Zuma, who has been in the news recently over various controversial comments, accused the media of deliberately misinterpreting his statements in order to portray him in a bad light.

It reminded him of reporting during the days of apartheid.

"When I say things these days, my friends in the media give their own interpretation."

"The impression that is created, 'is that Zuma talks to everyone and agrees with everyone'."

But, at the same time, he took it on himself to say how he felt about burning issues.

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