By
Aviwe S. Mtila
“I couldn’t help but think how a country with so much abundance still struggles to feed much of its population. I am not a politician and maybe things aren’t that simple, but clearly this isn’t the way it’s supposed to be”… These are the exact words used by UK magician, Dynamo, in describing South Africa on his recent visit to the country, words which, to me, would perfectly summarize the current situation in South Africa.
We might be in our twentieth year of democracy as a
nation but the reality is that we are still living in the shadow of our past.
With one of the highest unemployment rates in the world and more people living
in squatter camps now than during the apartheid era, it is evident that
apartheid has only ended racially rather than economically. In fact
economically, the rand has weakened immensely when comparing it with the US
dollar over the last twenty years, with the rand trading at R3.41 to the dollar
in January 1994 and now currently trading at over R10.00 to the dollar.
What is really frightening is the neglect in the
education system of the country over the last twenty years. The conditions of
some of our schools’ infrastructures are despicable and the level of literacy
amongst South Africans is appalling to say the least. Countries with far worse
poverty rates than South Africa receive better education than South Africa. If
South Africa boasts one of the worst education systems in Africa, what is that
implying about the future of the country? If we pride ourselves in not
educating our nation, what is in store for South Africa in the next twenty
years of democracy?
Corruption in government structures has almost
become acceptable in South African society with our leaders setting examples on
how to go about it. When looking at the current situation in parliament, one
tends to wonder if this is the cause struggle icons such as Steve Biko died for.
Issues that are of national concern are far from the hearts of
parliamentarians, instead parliament has become a joke in which the nation
looks to for amusement. With examples of the Nkandla issue, the Madiba funeral
scandal and others, South Africans need to realise that the only people
government are benefiting are themselves.
In a recent Daily Dispatch Dialogue, editor of
Business Day, Songezo Zibi, emphasized the need to “depoliticize politics,”
stating that after twenty years of democracy “ we aren't the society we’re
supposed to be,” and I couldn't agree with him more. 20 years is a long time to
have not seen progress in our democratic country thus far. South Africans need
to realise that government will only do the bare minimum, if anything, for
South Africans. In facing facts, we've become a rather lazy nation over the last twenty years, the bulk of South Africans living off government grants and
handouts. As we’ve experienced and are currently experiencing, that isn't helping the nation at all because the majority of the nation continues to live
in poverty and is not progressing in life. In going forward, we need to
eradicate the laziness out of our systems and have a proactive mindset.
Educating ourselves and the upcoming generation
needs to be our number one priority in going forward. There is no bigger investment
we can have for South Africa and its future than education. With an educated
South Africa, the huge gap between the rich and the poor will be closed down
largely. Besides being able to sustain ourselves, an educated society will be
able to place worthy leadership in to power, leadership that will only advance
the cause of the nation.
In curbing the high unemployment rate, South
Africans first need to curb the “high-laziness” rate because the truth is,
employment is available for those who truly want it. Many of our fellow
Africans walk many kilometers from their various countries to South Africa knowing
very well that they’ll make a living in South Africa, so it can’t be disputed
that there is employment in South Africa. The difference between South Africans
and foreigners is that the foreigners are willing to work hard in order to make
a living. Self employment is also a form of employment. If employment is
unavailable, we need to make our own employment by means of being
entrepreneurs. Who knows, that could lead to greater things.
In writing this article I have tried to remain
objective as much as I possibly can, but the truth is nothing immediately comes
to mind when thinking of positive strides taken by South Africa in the last
twenty years. I’m not saying the country hasn’t taken any positive strides over
the years of democracy, but the realities of the situation in the country at
the moment over cloud those strides. The endless strikes alone over the last
twenty years paint a bleak picture of the country, costing South Africa billions
(if not trillions) of rands economy wise. Not forgetting the Marikana strike
which saw the death of 44 people, the majority of whom were striking
mineworkers killed by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the very SAPS
who are suppose to protect the country’s citizens.
I could write a book if I were to go into the
incompetence of our police service in South Africa over the last twenty years,
with endless references of cases and incidents of our ‘protectors’ proving to
be incompetent. Just a week ago 9 policemen and a former employee of the SAPS
were arrested in Parow, Cape Town, for allegedly taking bribes from suspects
and stealing crime scene exhibits. If the majority of our policemen are they,
themselves criminals, how are we suppose to curb the ridiculously high crime
rate in our country? South Africa is rated amongst the top countries with a
high murder and rape rate and those statistics will only get worse if something
is not done about the corruption within our police force.
South Africans need to wake up and take pride in
their country. We cannot reverse the twenty years that have passed, but we can
do something about the future of the country, if not for ourselves, for our
children and the generations to come. The lazy, laid back attitude of South
Africans needs to be eradicated and we need to be proactive in shaping South
Africa.
