The murder of South Africas reggae icon Lucky Dube on October 18, in an attempted car hijacking one of South Africas most common crimes these days has been condemned by all. The African National Congress (ANC) government has urged the nation to unite against the scourge of crime threatening our democracy. For opposition parties, Dubes killing is further proof that crime is out of hand. As a deterrent, some have called for the reinstatement of capital punishment. There is a general feeling that the four monsters who recently appeared in court in connection with the crime should rot in jail. Typically, however, the debate remains very narrow and shallow.