• cyd@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    The thing is, individual citizens can’t reform the police, or ambulance services, fire brigade, or power utilities, all of which have been gutted by the ANC. All they can do is to pay, out of pocket, for private sector replacements. No one is arguing that this is better than having working public sector versions in the first place, but that’s not achievable until the national government gets totally overhauled (if it ever happens).

    • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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      10 months ago

      Even public sector versions that ARENT working would be a much better situation. The only thing worse than a secretly corrupt cop is an openly for-profit private “security force” paid for by and therefore OFFICIALLY beholden to the rich and their interests above all.

      • africanprince99@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I think you’re trying to frame this in a Western or American context - it really doesn’t apply here.

        You’re thinking only the rich have security, you can drive to some of the poorest areas in SA and you’ll see local residents utilising private security.

        It’s not that these institutions are not working - they are NON EXISTENT. Imagine if the police simply stopped working, not barely functioning, I mean literally completely non-functional.

        And it’s not just the police force, it’s electricity, water, sanitation, education, healthcare, almost every sector is either borderline non-functioning or completely non-functioning.

        • VikingHippie@lemmy.wtf
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          10 months ago

          I think you’re trying to frame this in a Western or American context

          No, I’m framing it in a “rich people look out for themselves. That’s how they became rich” context that’s true worldwide.

          You’re thinking only the rich have security, you can drive to some of the poorest areas in SA and you’ll see local residents utilising private security.

          No, I’m saying that since the rich are the ones paying, the rest only get security if it pits the interests of the rich people. That poor people’s interest sometimes align with that by happenstance doesn’t make rich people de facto owning the police a good idea. Especially not when the rich people themselves are committing crimes.

          • africanprince99@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            I really don’t understand why you’re trying so hard to frame this in a rich versus poor issue.

            In South Africa you can go to the middle of gangland which is easy to find because crime is so rampant, and you’ll find security companies whose residents are their customers not some rich person whose decided to fund security for poor people.

            I don’t think you understand how serious crime is here that everyone no matter the wealth class is being affected to such a degree that private security companies in both rich and poor areas are the only effective combat against the wave of terror.