Our country’s problems are not finance, a poor education system or a lack of ideas. Our major problem is politics. There is no political will to fix our country’s problems. If we can get our politics right, everything else will follow. But I digress.
Since the dawn of our democracy, South Africans have surrendered their civic duty to the politicians. This is working against them, as politicians do as they please. The performance of our political leaders is dismal to say the least. They are also arrogant and corrupt. And there is no consequence management for them.
For instance, political leaders who are involved in corruption and mismanagement are continuing with their lives as if nothing has happened. Some remain cabinet ministers, MPs, MPLs and councillors. Only senior managers in government and SOEs are implicated in corrupt activities are facing the wrath of the law. Is that fair?
In April this year, South Africa will celebrate its 26th year of democracy. For the past 25 years, citizens have been spectators in the game they are supposed to be playing. They have watched with disappointment our honourable politicians loot the public coffers. And they did nothing to hold them accountable or stop the practice.
As we enter the year 2020, I hope that the country’s citizens will reclaim their power and be active citizens. I also hope that civic organisations (if they exist. If they don’t, I hope they will be established) will work together in order to challenge the status quo. There is power in unity.
In 2021, the country will hold its sixth democratic municipal elections. The forthcoming local government elections will be hotly contested as a result of the emergence of coalition governments in the municipal councils. Political parties will throw everything into these elections.
For a very long time, political parties have been fielding incompetent individuals to be councillors. Nothing suggests that this will change. As soon as these individuals are elected councillors, they focus on enriching themselves using public funds, instead of delivering the much-needed services to the communities. And this has become normal, but unacceptable.
It’s time that citizens identify individuals with potential within their communities and nominate them to stand as councillor candidates for their wards. If these individuals win and become ward councillors, they will account to their communities.
The above (if it happens) will rattle the cage and challenge the power of political parties. And it will also help to force reform of our electoral system, which favours political parties at the expense of the masses. The ball is in the South African citizen’s court.
