WHAT CAN WE DO FOR OUR COUNTRY?
On 30 January 1998, President Nelson Mandela addressed the Intercultural Eid celebrations in Johannesburg, where he told the participants, "The call is now for each of us to ask ourselves: are we doing all we can to help build the country of our dreams?"
Indeed, this question has not been more relevant than today. There seem to be a general apathy when people are discussing the future of our beloved country, and it looks like we are on the verge of implosion. Opposition parties would want you to believe that the ANC has led this country down the drain, and that they are responsible for the bleak outlook we are facing as a nation. That might be true in some respects, but we are facing a much greater challenge as present-day South African society.
Many people had the idea that the ANC's campaign for "a better life for all" meant that the ANC would be in fact delivering a better life for them. In fact, reading the ANC's 1994 election manifesto, as well as subsequent manifestos, it is clear that this is not what the ANC had in mind. And they are quite spot on, as no one can bring you a better life. You know your life, your circumstances; so only you can create a better life for you. What the ANC promised was to create systems through which people could improve their lives. And while we are not there yet, we have indeed made great strides towards achieving that goal.
South Africans do not understand how good we have it in many areas. Despite contrasting media reports, South Africans are generally better off than before 1994. Our children can go to mixed schools where they get the same education as those previously advantaged, be it public or private schools. Those of us who can afford it, can go to the same hospitals as those with massive wealth. There are more opportunities for black people today to succeed and to live in the same area as whites with money.
But there are many South Africans who do not have a job. But when foreigners, especially those from other parts of Africa, create jobs for themselves, we complain. But in the absence of these foreigners, no one think of maybe opening a little shop. We complain about corrupt police officers who are not doing their job, but it remains a complaint at someone's house. We sit for hours waiting for treatment or medicine at a hospital, but we never take it further than being frustrated. When we become aware of a problem at our schools, we discuss it informally, and leave it at that.
We blame a left-leaning Government for the failures of a capitalist system, over which they have very little control. Someone opens a factory in South Africa, and the moment they have enough money, they close down again, and the people suffer. American insurance giant AIG was part of the massive expansion of markets investing in derivatives which led to the global economic meltdown; which have left millions of people over the world jobless and in despair. But the bosses of these companies continued making massive amounts of money. And now AIG is signing up great numbers of people in South Africa.
Why are we as society not punishing AIG by not signing up with them, and in doing so; driving them out of our country?
In the Western Cape, the DA-led government like to tell people what is wrong with South Africa. And yet it is actually encouraging "coloured" people to continue being racists towards Africans! They like to tell us that they are the only political party actively promoting the so-called Madiba values, and yet we in the Western Cape are the least reconciled in the whole country.
It should not matter who is in power. Democracy can only work if ordinary citizens start taking responsibility for our future. We should ensure that all people; African, white, "coloured", Indian, Chinese, and all others feel they belong; be it in Mitchell's Plain, Atlantis, Khayelitsha, Melkbosstrand, even Constantina. Our children should not sit alongside each other, extending reconciliation even to our homes. My neighbours should be treated equally, and not divided on race lines.
We should refuse to allow race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or any other class divide bring division in our communities.
At this stage, it seems doubtful that our father Madiba would return home from the hospital, although we continue hoping and praying for this. If we are serious about honouring this giant from our soil, we should stop complaining and start doing things for ourselves; using the systems put in place by Government. The legacy of Rolihlahla is not the RDP, or anything tangible really; it is South Africans standing together as one, and create a future from a shared dream.
I've said before on Politicsweb, and been ridiculed for it, but I still have the dream of South Africa being a super power; not because we have nuclear weapons or other WMD's; but because this beautiful land can take care of its people. My dream is for South Africans to move beyond our differences and work as one on what binds us.
July has come and gone. 18 July is in the past. Many people are still reflecting on their 67 minutes for Madiba. If we're really serious about honouring uTata, we should commit ourselves to 365 days of living his real legacy. He did not spend 27 years in jail for charity. He spent 27 years for the realisation of a South Africa that truly belongs to all. That should be our 365 days campaign.
Nkosi sikelela i-Africa
Thixo siphe intsikelelo thina abantu ka Tata uMadiba
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
