The imposition, and carrying out of the death penalty is not punishment, but it is the need for the state and the agrieved to "get even." Research has shown that it is not a deterrant to crime, and in fact, those US states (like Texas) that still have the death penalty have more major crimes.

There is no easy answer to this situation of "to execute or not to execute." However, I would implore the people and lawmakers of South Africa not to embark on the very slippery road of reinstating capital punishment.

The failure of our safety and security systems; our legal and justice systems, and our Constitutional watchdog systems, to deal effectively with the scourge of brutal crime and endlessly greedy corruption, is what has led to the increased call for the death penalty. Criminals walk free for the cost of a bribe; the corrupt fill positions across government and big business. There is no place we are safe; and nowhere we can turn to with confidence for justice when things go very wrong. Unless one joins the corrupt. In many ways, justice got hanged the day our government started plea-bargaining with criminals... and placing them in positions of power. This is what has led to so many in our country being angry, hurt, damaged, and traumatised and desperate enough to call for the death penalty as a solution. I am no proponent of the death penalty. I think what we should be calling for is a 'sweeping clean' of our institutes of safety and security, law and justice, and Constitutional watchdogs; then there's Parliament... and the list goes on. Give a country a government or a dictatorial ruling party without integrity and watch the country get angry as justice gets hanged.