There can be no arguing against the fact that SA is a broken society facing crises from different fronts and that the time has come to look beyond the governing African National Congress (ANC) for solutions to the crises.
For some people, the crisis has reached systemic levels marked by the dysfunctionality of the South African state. Wherever one looks, a sense of gloom and doom pervades the country with no hope for the future. A case in point for this state of gloom can be discerned from the latest crime statistics, which revealed that 6,083 people were killed in SA between January and March this year.
What this implies is that even war-torn Ukraine is much safer than SA, as the number of civilians who have been killed since the war started on February 24 to end of June is put at 3,700.
Added to this catalogue of woe are other incidents of violent crimes such as rape and gender-based violence with 10,818 cases of rape reported in three months. Besides the crime horror, South Africans have to contend with the most disruptive episodes of power interruptions owing to load-shedding and incidents of cable theft. Rising fuel and food costs have exacerbated the miserable conditions of especially poor people. All this takes place while the economy is not showing any signs of growth with the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality still staring us in the face.
It is indeed the poor people who have to bear the brunt of the broken promises owing to the ANC’s corruption and incompetence. The mantra of “a better life for all” has become an empty slogan. In his recently published book, public intellectual, Songezo Zibi points out that, “In short, we are governed at all levels by people who either do not know what they are doing, with its attendant implication; are only interested in power for its own sake; or want to steal as much money they can from the public purse.”
The ANC does not have a rescue plan for the country. Had it been a boxer, the ANC would have long thrown in the towel to signal its inability to build a better society. Its preoccupation with power stems from its need to dispense patronage to retain such power and not effect systemic change.
Looking beyond the ANC after the 2024 elections entails all South Africans looking to themselves for solutions to the problems that affect our communities, and by holding those in power accountable for their promises and actions. It is only then that we can take the step from passive subjects to active citizens and reclaim control over our lives. At this point, the words of Plato are worth remembering: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
Being literate in citizenship education will put citizens in a position to understand, challenge and engage with democracy, in politics, media, civil society and the economy. Education must be at the centre of all efforts to build a prosperous society in which all enjoy equal opportunities and equal benefit. It has the greatest potential to grow our economy in a sustainable manner and to empower citizens. Education is and should be a societal concern and all within society need to be involved in efforts to improve it.
It is through initiatives such as Back to School for a Day that the attention of corporate SA can be drawn to the needs of disadvantaged schools and to demonstrate practical ways in which business can help the development of these schools. The initiative is a brainchild of the Adopt-a-School Foundation and demonstrates the kind of active citizenship SA needs if we are to meet and overcome the social challenges we face.
Citizens are invited to commit to the values of active citizenship and to engage in positive action to realise this vision, “Each day I use the resources I have – at home, at school or college, in my workplace – to do things that create more value for our society.”
Active citizenship can play a crucial role especially in the era of demands for extreme solutions and vigilantism. Citizens can be given platforms to soberly interrogate real solutions to problems rather than indulging in scapegoating, discrimination and other tactics peddled by extremists.
To repair South African society, citizens have to be educated about how to use their power to drastically change and improve their communities and the people in them only if they put their minds to it.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.