By Jen Thorpe
A scary video is circulating on TV and is accompanied by advertisements on the radio. The message – if you drink and drive there are a host of men in prison who would ‘love to meet you’.
You can watch it here:
What are we to take from this message? The image clearly shows prison overcrowding, and the message insinuates that if you get there, you’ll be raped.
Instead of emphasising the dangers of drunk driving to others, they instead thought that they would use what is an abhorrent state of affairs in our prison as a tool to put fear into people’s hearts. Instead of doing something about violence against men in prison, and discouraging violence there we have opted to ignore it as though those in prison deserve to suffer violence against them.
The idea of prison is to rehabilitate those who have broken the law, not to inflict violence and abuse against them. Those in prison may have had their right of movement restricted, but they should not have their rights to dignity removed.
Nobody deserves rape. Prison rape is not acceptable. Nor, is it funny or sickly romantic (as is presented in this advert).
I fully agree with the concerns raised against this ad. Truly unacceptable in the strongest sense of the word. The ad HAS to go. Thanks Jennifer for initiating the opposition. Perhaps Nonosi Kraai of Correctional Services can be approached for institutional opposition?
Has someone lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority yet? http://www.asasa.org.za/Complaint.aspx
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I am disgusted that this kind of NATIONAL campaign could be considered, never mind aired. How can we, as a society, simultaneously demand that the state protect us and then snicker when the state fails to protect those who are wholly within its power?
Thank you for raising this matter. I was totally appalled with the advertisement and was about to request that we address the issue. Totally inappropriate advertisement.