Illusions of grandeur

I have come to the conclusion that South Africa is suffering from illusions of grandeur.

Anybody who is still holding onto the aspirations of a mighty Rainbow Nation full of valour and glory is like trying to hold onto a tornado while the cows go flying past.

A perfect example of such an illusion is when Bafana Bafana – our beloved national football team – defeated Namibia 2-1 in the Cosafa Cup.

South Africa was rather weary of their opponents before the match. When the final whistle blew, there was wild celebrations as if we have achieved something spectacular.

But wait … let us for a moment stick the Vuvuzela back in the bag and pack away our hotdogs before we get too excited.

We are talking here about jubilations after South African beat Namibia.

Namibia? This is a land that has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, and has but a handful of players to choose from that play in the professional league.

Now, back home, we have the so-called mighty PSL, and we have hundreds of clubs playing in the lower divisions. Talk about a pool of players.

Isn’t this is a bit like the David and Goliath story? Instead, in our case, David (this is of course Namibia) is not supposed to be walking away in this victory, since Goliath has a backing of huge sponsorships and heavily invested development structures.

Namibia is a wonderful country, and half of my blood hails from this land, but come on, the day that we run around the soccer park hugging each other and sighing with relief for beating our neighbours, is surely a sign of our illusions of grandeur.

We after all think we are now the team to beat, forgetting that we are hanging on to a thin thread to even qualify for the World Cup.

We had similar illusions of grandeur during the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and when it all came crashing down, it is as if we were shocked by the result. What did we expect – to win?

And then I wonder why the nation suffered in shock when our national cricket side bowed out limply at the recent ICC tournament – shouldn’t we just face the facts that maybe we have willed this nation to be larger than life when, in fact, we are the David facing the Goliaths in life.

I am also still trying to wrap my mind around President Zuma who recently said that this country is now offering a better life for all.

Surely, this is illusion of grandeur.

Last time I checked, fuel prices is heading for R14 a litre, gold prices keep on plummeting, food prices keep on soaring and unemployment remains rife.

And no, I will not be fooled that we are winning the war against crime or the war against Rhino poaching. We are not.

And neither are we winning the war against the drug trade – it just seems worse because it is getting more exposure, but it hasn’t been a part of our society.

And neither is our education system a pillar of hope – after all, why are so many youths without matric, or without any real form of education, or sitting in jail today?

I am, therefore, under no illusion that all is right in our proverbial Kansas, and no matter what is promised during summits and imbizos, this Rainbow Nation looks rather washed out.

Let us start admitting that our natural resources are in dire straits.

I have heard enough stories and rumours, and I have read enough between the lines to know as a rational human being that there is a serious crisis with our water, with so many pools and dams and lakes being polluted, and with acid mine drainage a real threat.

Our very livelihood and well-being is in danger.

Right here in our backyard we have the infamous Boksburg Lake – after years of reporting on this matter, it can be reported that by all accounts, if there is a political will, this lake can be remediated.

But, alas, nothing has happened, despite all the talk and plans drawn up. However, for some obscure reason, the lake boathouse has been built.

No longer can we remain under the illusion that our energy supply is dandy, considering our ailing and also lack of infrastructure to cater for a growing nation.

This is also applicable to sewerage plants, roads, and stormwater drainage.

No longer can we be under the illusion that this is a land of law and order, with police officers being charged with corruption and so much finger pointing of mismanagement of funds on government level.

We would all love to keep believing that we live in a land of peace and glorious hope, but sadly this illusion of grandeur has blinded us to the fact that we must strive for excellence and not be content with our mediocre state of life.

Bafana Bafana should have been on their knees weeping out of shame for beating Namibia only 2-1. We should have thrashed them by ten goals at least.

How we need to once again begin to strive for level of excellence in this land, do away with all the excuses, and also face up to reality that even though we see ourselves as a big dog barking in the south of Africa, to the rest of the world we are but at best a poodle.

I love what Bryant H. McGill – an American author, speaker and activist in the fields of personal freedom – once said: “Architects of grandeur are often the master builders of disillusionment.”

And this is surely where we are heading – for those who are responsible for our illusions of grandeur are also the ones who have caused our state of disillusionment.