On May 29, South Africans will vote in the 7th national and provincial elections since entering into an era of democracy 30 years ago.

Tutu famously said about injustice that “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”

Building political power is an art than a science. It should be no surprise what the role of art, culture and heritage has been in political change throughout history. Art has been a tool for articulating new ideas, organising around common issues and mobilising people to take collective action. Yet, in SA where political change is once again urgent, the arts remain undervalued and untapped.

Since the release of the book in early September, we have heard this repeatedly, people saying thank you for a book that allows people to feel seen, heard and to speak freely.

Hope in this situation has been located in the one good thing I have found because of the fire; the commitment of community activists who have and continue to show up for survivors in and outside the shelters and fragmented state response.

When it comes to hijacked buildings, the government must deal with the crimes rather than the consequences. As it relates to basic human rights, it must either plan to deliver on them or denounce them openly.

The recent elections in Zimbabwe have once again shone a light on the importance of election processes in the advancement of democracy as the will of the people.

Politicians do not have a monopoly on influencing politics. That was one of the great lessons of the UDF. Communities came together across differences to build political power.

While these are clear threats to democracy, perhaps the greatest threats are countries like SA where we tick so many of the correct boxes for what makes a functional democracy but continue to have disastrous outcomes of poverty, unemployment, corruption and crime.

For SA to change, improve and become a safe and more prosperous country, we must all protect and build the state and the nation collectively.