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Figthing a different struggle

Not a big fan of politics, however, when I was in university studying towards becoming a journalist, I was made aware of how many issues are affected by politics.

My most memorable moment studying political sciences was having my lecturer come into the class and utter: “The problem with African politics is not achieving democracy, but rather the reluctance of leaders to let go of the power”.

I don’t remember much of what he said afterwards, as I was so intrigued by that statement.

I thought about the situation in many African countries where presidents had been in power for many years, unwilling to step down.

Months later, I remember sitting in the car with my father just weeks before the 2009 national elections, and him pointing out that I had no choice but to vote for the ANC, as it had fought for our freedom and I owed them that much.

“But dad didn’t the ANC fight for me to have the right to make my own decisions and not be punished for believing in something?” I asked.

He never answered me, but then I began to understand what my lecturer meant with his statement.

Do our leaders deserve our votes until the end of time because of what they put into the struggle? Do they feel entitled to our “loyal” votes?

Sitting in a recent council meeting, one of the councillors, Clr Nocawe Mafu confidently said in a room filled with politicians, members of the public and news media, that the “ANC is here to rule, now and forever”.

Here I was thinking that councillors and the government are here to serve rather than rule, but I guess I was wrong.

Forever is a very long time, however, I thought, this is what my lecturer meant – one of the biggest challenges threatening South Africa’s democracy is the resistance of people towards change.

Power is hard to relinquish when you feel entitled to it.

I am a grateful child of a free South Africa, a country with a history and legacy that would make anyone proud to be a part of, but I realise that we are no longer fighting the same struggle.

Our struggle now is that of a poor education being received by the heirs of a free South Africa.

The fight now is for the lives being destroyed by drug abuse among the youth.

Combating unemployment is high on the government’s priority list, but sadly, not much is being done about it.

Are our leaders so concerned with staying in power that they aren’t focused on fighting this new battle?

I want to believe that democracy doesn’t belong to a political party but that it is based on the will of the people.

I believe that in order to build a united nation, freedom, growth and development needs to be what characterises the kind of democracy a country strives for.

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