"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela.
((People standing in long queues on April 27 1994 to vote))
(By Subry Govender)
When we were preparing for our first democratic elections in April 1994, there was an air of unbridled excitement, jubiliation and joy among the electorate. I was at that time based in Johannesburg, covering the elections for the Press Trust of India, Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany), Radio Netherlands, Radio France Internationale and several other international foreign radio stations.
All the people - African, coloured, Indian-origin and white - stood in long-winding queues to cast their ballots. It was for the first time, after the struggles of the past few decades, one could see that they were looking forward to the advent of the new non-racial and democratic society.
The majority voted for the ANC and the former liberation movement swept to power under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela.
There was no concern among the people about their future.
The ANC had made it clear that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it" and there would be peace, freedom of association and speech, democracy, reconciliation and security.
The ruling party set about trying to "create a better life for all" and bringing an end to the injustices of the past. It began to build RDP houses for the homeless, create and provide jobs, open up the health and education services and generally creating an environment where no citizen was made to feel inferior in the land of his birth.
Life generally in all areas of life, the ANC claims, has improved for most people over the past 20 years. In fact the ANC says that "South Africa is a better place today than in 1994" and "we have a better story to tell".
But at a time when the country is caught up in the hype and machinations of the fifth democratic elections since 1994, the commitment to overcome decades of deprivation, marginalisation, and inequality has not been easy.
While life for millions had been made easier and thousands of former "comrades" and others had become part of the "new elite", the situation of millions had not changed much.
Most of the marginalised are still disadvantaged and try to eke out a living on the fringes of society and live in wood and iron informal settlements in and around urban areas. One just has to visit the Effingham/Overport/Asherville/Sydenham/and Reservoir Hills areas of Durban to witness the miserable conditions under which the marginalised live. Unemployment and poverty dogs the most disadvantaged and marginalised.
Some of the marginalised have to survive by searching through bins in former white suburbs. This is noticed every Monday when residents put out their waste for collection by the municipality.
This kind of environment is replicated in all the cities, towns and urban areas throughout the country.
Most of these people (or more than 15 million of them) rely on government grants to sustain themselves and their families.
While the marginalised try to improve their lives, opportunist elements have taken advantage of the situation and are enriching themselves through all types of devious methods, bribery and corruption. The area most affected by corruption is at the local government levels where millions or billions are stolen or squandered through corruption.
At the same time another element - violent thugs and criminals - have made life difficult for home owners, businesses and others. They raid and plunder homes and businesses, kill without any thought for life, and generally reduce home owners and business people to "prisoners in their own premises" at their will.
These vile criminals are not deterred even by the best of rapid response alarm systems, high fences, burglar guards and fierce dogs.
In many cases where home owners and business people have been killed, the criminals have not been brought to book.
"No arrests have been made" and "the matter is being investigated" are the common responses of the spokespersons for the police.
The public health and education services have also degenerated for the poor and those not privileged to have medical aids. The state of these services have deteriorated to such an extent that politicians stay a distance away from public hospitals and ensure that their children attend the best private and Model C schools.
The lack of respect for the environment is also visible everywhere you go. Streets and roads have become have become an eyesore with litter and rubbish everywhere.
Drivers and passengers in motor cars, buses, taxis and even trains have no qualms about throwing tin cans, lunch boxes and other rubbish into the environment.
Concerned people only shake their heads and ask: "What has happened to people? Why have they become so unconcerned about our country?"
The degeneration of small towns are there for all to see. What's really shocking is that the new municipalities go all out to ensure that the former white suburbs such as Durban North and Umhlanga Rocks are kept "clean and tidy" but yet don't do much to improve the environment in former African, coloured and Indian townships and residential areas. The filth and litter in these areas is there for all to see.
All these are matters of serious concern for all citizens but the main issue affecting most people (except politicians who are protected by security financed by the taxpayer) during the run-up to the country's fifth democratic elections is the violent crime that is plaguing almost all residential and business areas in the length and breadth of South Africa.
"Why must we live in a state of siege when we are supposed to be free in our new democracy?", is the common question that I am asked by the people.
"South Africa is the greatest place on earth but violent crime and senseless murders during break-ins depresses one", is the genuine expression of the person in the street.
"We are free but not free because of the high rate of violent crime."
The ruling ANC has given a rosy picture of what it has achieved and what it is going to do through the National Developmental Plan to improve the lives of the marginalised. It has also stated that the situation of crime is not as bad as it used to be during the days of apartheid.
The other political parties, such as the IFP, DA, Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF), Cope, Agang and the ACDP, have all made promises to make South Africa a safer place. They have also promised to improve the economic situation of the less privileged and the marginalised.
Whether all of them will deliver is another matter altogether?
(Refuse to be cowed into silence)
What is important for the common voters is that they must make their voices heard and refuse to be swayed by promises and cowed into silence. They must remember that politicians are there to serve the people and not themselves, their families, friends, cronies and the business opportunists.
"South Africa belongs to all who live in it", and not just for the privileged, the greedy hogs in political parties, the new elite, tenderpreneurs and others who have become wealthy through dodgy means.
"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." - Nelson Mandela.
((People standing in long queues on April 27 1994 to vote))
(By Subry Govender)
When we were preparing for our first democratic elections in April 1994, there was an air of unbridled excitement, jubiliation and joy among the electorate. I was at that time based in Johannesburg, covering the elections for the Press Trust of India, Radio Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany), Radio Netherlands, Radio France Internationale and several other international foreign radio stations.
All the people - African, coloured, Indian-origin and white - stood in long-winding queues to cast their ballots. It was for the first time, after the struggles of the past few decades, one could see that they were looking forward to the advent of the new non-racial and democratic society.
The majority voted for the ANC and the former liberation movement swept to power under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela.
There was no concern among the people about their future.
The ANC had made it clear that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it" and there would be peace, freedom of association and speech, democracy, reconciliation and security.
The ruling party set about trying to "create a better life for all" and bringing an end to the injustices of the past. It began to build RDP houses for the homeless, create and provide jobs, open up the health and education services and generally creating an environment where no citizen was made to feel inferior in the land of his birth.
Life generally in all areas of life, the ANC claims, has improved for most people over the past 20 years. In fact the ANC says that "South Africa is a better place today than in 1994" and "we have a better story to tell".
But at a time when the country is caught up in the hype and machinations of the fifth democratic elections since 1994, the commitment to overcome decades of deprivation, marginalisation, and inequality has not been easy.
While life for millions had been made easier and thousands of former "comrades" and others had become part of the "new elite", the situation of millions had not changed much.
Most of the marginalised are still disadvantaged and try to eke out a living on the fringes of society and live in wood and iron informal settlements in and around urban areas. One just has to visit the Effingham/Overport/Asherville/Sydenham/and Reservoir Hills areas of Durban to witness the miserable conditions under which the marginalised live. Unemployment and poverty dogs the most disadvantaged and marginalised.
Some of the marginalised have to survive by searching through bins in former white suburbs. This is noticed every Monday when residents put out their waste for collection by the municipality.
This kind of environment is replicated in all the cities, towns and urban areas throughout the country.
Most of these people (or more than 15 million of them) rely on government grants to sustain themselves and their families.
While the marginalised try to improve their lives, opportunist elements have taken advantage of the situation and are enriching themselves through all types of devious methods, bribery and corruption. The area most affected by corruption is at the local government levels where millions or billions are stolen or squandered through corruption.
At the same time another element - violent thugs and criminals - have made life difficult for home owners, businesses and others. They raid and plunder homes and businesses, kill without any thought for life, and generally reduce home owners and business people to "prisoners in their own premises" at their will.
These vile criminals are not deterred even by the best of rapid response alarm systems, high fences, burglar guards and fierce dogs.
In many cases where home owners and business people have been killed, the criminals have not been brought to book.
"No arrests have been made" and "the matter is being investigated" are the common responses of the spokespersons for the police.
The public health and education services have also degenerated for the poor and those not privileged to have medical aids. The state of these services have deteriorated to such an extent that politicians stay a distance away from public hospitals and ensure that their children attend the best private and Model C schools.
The lack of respect for the environment is also visible everywhere you go. Streets and roads have become have become an eyesore with litter and rubbish everywhere.
Drivers and passengers in motor cars, buses, taxis and even trains have no qualms about throwing tin cans, lunch boxes and other rubbish into the environment.
Concerned people only shake their heads and ask: "What has happened to people? Why have they become so unconcerned about our country?"
The degeneration of small towns are there for all to see. What's really shocking is that the new municipalities go all out to ensure that the former white suburbs such as Durban North and Umhlanga Rocks are kept "clean and tidy" but yet don't do much to improve the environment in former African, coloured and Indian townships and residential areas. The filth and litter in these areas is there for all to see.
All these are matters of serious concern for all citizens but the main issue affecting most people (except politicians who are protected by security financed by the taxpayer) during the run-up to the country's fifth democratic elections is the violent crime that is plaguing almost all residential and business areas in the length and breadth of South Africa.
"Why must we live in a state of siege when we are supposed to be free in our new democracy?", is the common question that I am asked by the people.
"South Africa is the greatest place on earth but violent crime and senseless murders during break-ins depresses one", is the genuine expression of the person in the street.
"We are free but not free because of the high rate of violent crime."
The ruling ANC has given a rosy picture of what it has achieved and what it is going to do through the National Developmental Plan to improve the lives of the marginalised. It has also stated that the situation of crime is not as bad as it used to be during the days of apartheid.
The other political parties, such as the IFP, DA, Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF), Cope, Agang and the ACDP, have all made promises to make South Africa a safer place. They have also promised to improve the economic situation of the less privileged and the marginalised.
Whether all of them will deliver is another matter altogether?
(Refuse to be cowed into silence)
What is important for the common voters is that they must make their voices heard and refuse to be swayed by promises and cowed into silence. They must remember that politicians are there to serve the people and not themselves, their families, friends, cronies and the business opportunists.
"South Africa belongs to all who live in it", and not just for the privileged, the greedy hogs in political parties, the new elite, tenderpreneurs and others who have become wealthy through dodgy means.
ReplyDeleteMy cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
Johannesburg and Umhlanga