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The political uncertainties of South Africa are set to intensify before the 2019 national elections. We are not sure of the results of these elections, if they will set in motion a new respite and mental health, or whether they will trigger new political elections. the difficulties – it will depend on what we do today as citizens.
Our state of development, led and influenced by a combination of our history of colonialism and apartheid on the one hand, and reincarnated by a new indifferent and selfish elite, on the other hand, corrupts and holds the dreams of a people.
As a result, our social transitions and the badociated political discourse are based on the deficit of positive identity, culture, honesty, respect and tolerance of the sufferings of the people that is more provoked to undermine negative identity politics. influence.
Essentially, this is based on the gathering of ordinary citizens to keep some politicians in power, without understanding the objective conditions of national cohesion and the poor, especially given our history, inequality and racial unrest.
We must therefore re-examine the landscape of our political discourse – tolerance, respect and identity – in order to implant sincerity, contemplation and empathy in order to minimize the societal divisions of society. along racial and ethnic lines. The beneficiaries of this negativity are a political elite and their cohorts.
This explains why South Africa is perpetually in a state of crisis, sandwiched between the continuities of the legacy of apartheid and a decade of state capture, d & rsquo; one hand, and the promise of a dream for the renaissance of a nation proposed by Nelson Mandela, on the other. The interruption, shaped by a decade of state capture, betrayed that dream, plunging our country back into the era of an inhuman system of racial disharmony and developmental ruin.
The administration of Cyril Ramaphosa sighed with relief and revived the dream – for a new dawn, for the renewal of a future.
It is not a euphemism that the country is besieged on many fronts: corruption, violent crimes such as theft, violation and murder of women and girls, collapse of public institutions and governance, failure to provide services, etc. As a result, ordinary citizens and workers are on their nerves to effectively express their frustration at being left behind and resorting to violent protests.
The majority wants our young constitutional democracy to succeed in order to keep the post-apartheid promises of a fair and prosperous nation. For this to happen, we need a visionary, altruistic and ethical leadership to fight the scourge of unemployment, inequality and poverty, crime and corruption.
The question is, do we have such political leadership?
Hopefully the era ushered in by the events of the ANC conference in December 2017 in Nasrec (albeit significantly contaminated by a compromise between integrity and nastiness), and the l & # 39; The rise of Ramaphosa as president, both ANC and the Republic, seems to have changed the political calculation
As in 1994, we mark once again a possible turning point in the history of our country.
We must be concerned about the ruling party, which is plagued by ethical issues and in conflict with the factions. However, our responsibility as citizens is to extend our energy towards the patriotic defense of our democratic institutions, guided by the constitution of the republic. What is troubling, however, is what it will take to put our constitutional democracy on the path to stability and progress.
Despite these changes (including the departure of Jacob Zuma and the election of Ramaphosa) that have given us a reprieve, and noting the imminent national elections in 2019, much remains at stake.
In elaborating a common national narrative, Nelson Mandela He stated, in his inaugural speech that: "We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the udders of millions of our people. We enter into an alliance for us to build the society in which all black and white South Africans can walk without fear in their hearts, badured of their inalienable right to human dignity – a rainbow nation at peace with himself and the world. "
What happened to the" alliance "that Mandela and the ANC in power made with the people? How was it so easy that things get lost? and collapse?
Were there signs that our country could be so daringly stolen? How guilty are we of letting our republic – to be captured – in transit and for a long time? period as long – 10 years? What did we do, did not do and / or could have done?
We were warned by Chris Hani – and we did not do it. We did not answer the call – when he said, "What I fear is that liberators emerge as elitists who circulate in Mercedes Benz and use the resources of this country to live in palaces and to collect wealth …. What is important is the continuation of the struggle.The real problems of the country are not whether we are in cabinet, but what we f for the social rise of the working mbades of our country. "
Despite this warning, South Africa was once again just and heartless elite.They betrayed our dream.
While we were celebrating Nasrec's results, it became clear that the departure of Zuma does not, and does not guarantee the end of the transplant itself, but offers the possibility of self-correction.
Corruption and dishonesty have not only eroded the state and its institutions, but also the private sector and civil society.
We need moral leadership to rethink and reshape our future through the renewal of our moral compbad.
This clarion call calls for therefore women and men of courage, moral strength, altruism and unwavering determination to reverse without fail the derailment of our democratic project and to make us to dream once more of our social contract as a nation.
For us to succeed, it is our responsibility, as citizens, to ensure that those who have plundered our national integrity through State Capture pay for their sins. We must strengthen the hand of the government and the relevant institutions to do the right thing.
As if Martin Luther King Jr. was one of us, experiencing our pain and desperation in the year 2018, recognizing our need for a vision of national renewal that resonates with our collective dreams and our common goal as South Africans, he solemnly exhorts us, as he did with Americans that: " the moment to realize the promise of democracy … .. It is now time to get our nation out of the quicksand of racial injustice (.. It is time to make justice a reality for all God's children It would be fatal for the nation to forget the urgency of the moment (… ..) We must fight our struggle forever on the high level of dignity and discipline (……) We must always reach the majestic heights to meet physical strength has with the strength of the soul … for many of our white brothers …. realized that their destiny is linked to our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably linked to our freedom. "
As South Africans, at the advent of our constitutional democracy in 1994, we want to be the builders and bearers of our own freedom. our economy, our state, our society, our communities and our countries based on our common virtues to ban racism and racial segregation, inequality and poverty through equitable redistribution of national resources.
However, inequality is increasing Structural inequality and historical imbalances are compounded by new dimensions in the global financial arena, as well as by domestic political and economic intrigues
The scourge of corruption deepens institutional weaknesses and allows the "legal" and illegal segregation of national resources by a handful of powerful individuals. economic governance are too weak, too closed, too opaque and too inefficient to ensure socio-economic development.
Some of our political leaders and parties seem to have entered a state of paralysis and / or piqued by a populist or pseudo-fascist insect, putting in jeopardy our prospects for recovery from State Capture's debilitating nightmare.
So it is time to build the popular unity for the defense of our constitutional democracy, underlined by civic patriotism. This will strengthen the vibrancy of civil society through unity in action, based on a common agenda to allow us to go in the same direction.
We must appreciate and oppose the growing sense of agitation, frustration, hopelessness, indifference and inaction. We need to turn these attitudes into positive energy. Our political systems must be restored and rejuvenated by an organized and disciplined civil society.
Let's improve the laws. Let us refine the machine of the state. Let's review our institutions and if need be our Constitution. But do not forget people.
Similarly, we must resist the negative culture of political parties which is gaining ascendancy. The flourishing populism can not be left out. Our current environment of race relations, discouragement, anger and poverty is highly toxic and vulnerable to manipulation and distortion.
In these conditions of national fragility, the exercise of political power for the good of society is rare. The collective will and the interest of the people, of the nation as a whole, are rarely concentrated in the system of positive political power and the electoral campaign. More often, political power is sought for the benefit of the individuals concerned. This is morally wrong, politically destructive and socially and economically harmful.
As electors, we care about elections not because we want to see a certain group win for itself, but because we want all political actors to hire people. Our political parties and leaders must be motivated by national interests by the exercise of political sensitivity, tolerance, respect and sincerity.
South African civil society organizations need to strengthen their organizational capacities and values to become effective strongholds. failures and abuse of power.
Larger civil society organizations must realize that they are collectively powerful in a unity of purpose based on clear principles. Our people crave leadership with ethical, accountable and transparent principles.
South African civil society must enter a new era of maturity and determine if it is fit for purpose. In the coming months, our resilience and capabilities will be tested. We will be asked: where were we when our country was captured and stolen, when corruption became the new normality – and what did we do and why?
We will be hearing from communities facing daily threats of violence to be different – and we will be asked: will you be with us and protect us and help us to eliminate cultural and social prejudices? We will hear from our mothers, our sisters and our little girls who are confronted with domestic violence and badual violence – and we will be asked: where were you when we were raped and murdered, and what did you do ?
Difficult questions will be asked by our youth and our students: why do our leaders and civil society always exclude us, why do not we listen to ourselves, why do not we give power, why do not we you do not trust? We must show our youth that we can listen and that we can actually change.
It is time to reach our full potential as a civil society. We need to strengthen the link between the local, provincial and national levels. We must align this new movement with the demands and needs of our people, especially women, children and young people.
Let's put aside the crazy things that divide us and weaken us. We must say with one voice: We are ready. Ke nako …. It's the moment! DM
Boichoko Ditlhake is returned to South Africa after serving as Executive Director of the SADC NGO Council, based in Gaborone, Botswana, for more than a year. 10 years old.
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