The archbishop pulled no punches

Newspapers in South Africa have welcomed Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu's comments that the country appears to have lost its moral compass and needs to take urgent action to retrieve it.

The Sowetan, publishes the former archbishop's speech under the headline "Seize identity not nonentity" and praises him for "shedding light" on the state of the country.

"His disappointment with the way we have 'lost our sense of right and wrong' should give us pause," says Pretoria News.

His clear-sighted analysis should make our blood run cold Pretoria News

"More than most people, Tutu can claim the moral high ground. His clear-sighted and uncompromising analysis of a society which has perverted its freedom into licence and irresponsibility should make our blood run cold," the paper concludes.

The Cape Times similarly believes Mr Tutu's status gives him the moral authority to launch such a scathing attack on South African society.

Hailing his "Words of wisdom", the Times concludes: "It is time we took responsibility for our actions. We cannot blame our past for ever."

A headline in Cape Argus states: "South Africa has gained freedom and lost its soul - Tutu".

We're losing the crime war Daily News headline

As if to illustrate the former Anglican archbishop's concerns, a front-page banner headline in Durban's Daily News proclaims: "We live in fear: judge".

Another headline in the same paper states: "We're losing the crime war".

And a report in the latest edition of The Sunday Times says that the police in Johannesburg have finally admitted at a public meeting that crime has rocketed in 21 precincts.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.