The Multi-Party Charter on Wednesday promised that if it comes into government it will prioritise preventing crime by addressing its root causes.

The 11 parties in the Multi-Party Charter unveiled their plan to address one of South Africa's most devastating crises by focusing on four priorities: professionalising the police service, improving the criminal justice system, addressing the nation’s drug problem, and tackling corruption and State capture.

The parties touted a focused, evidence-based strategy for a safer South Africa.

“We will be tough on crime and even tougher on the causes of crime, to protect people, property and infrastructure, while deterring anti-social behaviour and the abuse of power,” it said.

The Charter explained that the primary duty of the State was to ensure a safe and secure environment for all citizens, pointing out that South Africa was one of the most dangerous places for women and children.

“Our high crime rate is a symptom of government’s failure to detect, prevent, arrest and prosecute criminals. This failure has created a crisis in which lives are being destroyed and lost. This needs to change,” it said.

The Charter highlighted that it would appoint police leadership on merit and improve the training and capacitation of police officers, the detective services, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks).

It will also promote the establishment of municipal police services and prioritise the South African Police Service’s budget towards critical functions such as public order and visible policing.

The Charter will ensure that policing forums are well-resourced and create additional specialised law enforcement units to boost local community policing efforts.

These would be aimed at gangs and criminal syndicates who terrorised communities, it said.

Priority will be on the safety of women, children and other vulnerable groups by dedicating funding for crime prevention as well as victim support services.

The Charter will create specialised courts and police units to deal with corruption, sexual and gender-based violence, gangs and drugs, and also increase budget allocations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to recruit and retain critically needed skilled and experienced prosecutors and specialised forensic accountants, auditors and financial investigators for the Investigating Directorate and Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Law enforcement and intelligence efforts aimed at dismantling drug supply networks and illicit trade will be increased.

The Charter highlighted that it would ensure that there were harsh consequences for anybody convicted of drug dealing and drug trafficking, while assisting drug users to quit through treatment and harm reduction support mechanisms.

The Charter promised to end cadre deployment and ensure all public appointments were made on the basis of merit and said it would implement lifestyle audits for government officials selected randomly through a process similar to that which South African Revenue Service utilises to identify taxpayers for audits.

The Charter noted that in 2024, there was an urgent need for the electorate to remove a “failed government” and hand the reins to a leadership with the skills, political will and integrity to achieve law and order that combats crime, corruption and drugs.

The Multi-Party Charter for South Africa is that leadership, it said.