EFF's Survival Disconnect

Parliament's passage of the Criminal Matters Amendment Bill has imposed harsh sentences on those who steal, or tamper with the country's infrastructure. According to Justice Minister Masutha , 179 metric tons of copper were stolen, in April, 2015, alone, at a replacement cost of R13.6 million. The magnitude of the impact to the country's infrastructure, and ultimately the economy, cannot be downplayed, or trivialised. It is a crisis of huge proportions. Besides the EFF, the bill was largely supported by opposition parties. The EFF argued that "metals theft was a survival-based crime", because the ANC government was failing poor people. By implication, according to the EFF, metals theft should not rise to the level of a particularly serious crime, or at all - a typical and baseless tactic to appeal to EFF supporters. The EFF is correct in one respect: metals theft is survival-based, but "survival" for the country in terms of its essential infrastructure. There is ample evidence that organized crime is a major player in the commission of metals theft, and related offenses. The bill, when enacted, must serve as a deterrent to those who intend committing economic sabotage against the country. In a perfect South Africa, the need for harsh sentences would be unnecessary. However, as we are not living in a perfect South Africa, severe sentences must be imposed. Without significant jail time for offenders, and no possibility of parole, business will be as usual.