How free are we really?
Blogger Fred Boshoff asks whether we are truly free or whether our country simply transferred from an oppressive racist state to an oppressive economic one.
Next week there will be two official holidays, Freedom Day on 27 April and Workers’ Day on 1 May. While politicians will criss-cross the country with the message that the two days are reason for celebrations, the sad truth is that for a large part of the population, they are anything but days filled with joy.
In reality, the two days will be filled with depression and worry. Although our country has made huge strides towards freedom of the individual, most of our citizens are still held in bondage by certain factors that actually went from bad to worse over the past 19 years.
Large parts of our population are still being held captive by the country’s economic situation and some people’s own history of irreversible poverty. While interest rates have remained the same this year, the general cost of living has risen inexorably, which makes it almost impossible for the general salary earner to stay afloat financially. On the other hand, the living conditions of the poorest of the poor have become critical.
Many of these people cannot even apply for any type of grant because they are illiterate. Many South Africans are prisoners in their own homes, huddled behind high security walls because of the rising crime levels in the country.
If anyone wonders why the celebration of Workers’ Day should be somewhat subdued, look at the statistics.
On 1 May this year, 26 people of employable age out of every 100 will be unemployed and only 30 out of every 100 between the ages of 25 and 34 will be employed. Of the 70% unemployed, most have become lost to our economy. For them the future looks bleak, although many promises of job creation are made every day. The majority of them have become chronically unemployed. They have never worked and have no experience or skills, even though many of them have a matric or degrees to their name.
