Corruptheid killing SA
Let’s try not to be bitter, which is our right, but make a difference
HOW does one cope at an individual level with the daily shocking revelations of corruption in government, business and trusted institutions such as religious organisations, auditing firms and medical doctors?
While ordinary citizens struggle to pay mortgages and rent, feed families and pay school and transport fees, elected and government officials use public money for personal enrichment, as if it was Monopoly money. SA is truly now in the era of corruptheid.
Astonishingly incompetent but politically connected people are appointed to lead critical state-owned entities (SOEs), causing public service delivery failures, company collapses and country debt ballooning, which have slashed economic growth, causing mass job losses and hopelessness, which have fuelled spiralling crime.
Opportunistic political leaders spout populist slogans daily, cynically whipping up the emotions of the desperate, the illiterate and the poor.
Unscrupulous politicians deliberately create tensions between communities, blame the past wholly for current problems and generate expectations for immediate nirvana which they themselves will never be able to deliver on, as part of a political strategy to garner votes and supporters and enrich themselves.
The latest is calls for “land expropriation without compensation”, to shore up their supposedly “revolutionary” credentials when the constitution already makes provision for that.
Some are manipulating legitimate redistribution strategies such as black economic empowerment (BEE) for selfgain, undermining the very credibility of these policies. Yet others are using post-truth-like slogans such as blaming “white monopoly capital”, Western “imperialists” or “third force” conspiracies to cover up their own greed, corruption and incompetence.
For years now, critics of corruption, incompetence and populism have been publicly demeaned, marginalised and pushed out of jobs.
Traditional leaders are manipulating the gullible poor who are looking for answers in confusing times by distorting African “culture”, “traditions” and “practices”.
The danger is to become angry, paralysed or slump into apathy. Or, take out one’s frustration on loved ones, engage in self-harm or in the fight-or-flight mode, engage in rages against strangers over the smallest perceived slight, or falling on crude racialised, ethnic or populist rationalisation for all the badness around us. Try not to be bitter, even if you have the right to be.
“Ordinary” South Africans are stressed out, anxious and tense. Ordinary citizens will have to practise individual and collective self-care of others in these terrifyingly troubling times.
Despondent South Africans must, at the individual, self-care level, set up walking clubs or communal gyms, or join sports clubs or cultural groups. At the collective level they must get involved and bring goodness in their immediate sphere of activity, whether at schools, community level or the workplace. Behave as active citizens in these immediate spheres of influence with kindness and empathy, using one’s expertise to improve lives and the environment and bring positivity.
Getting involved in public life strengthens one’s sense of purpose, and boosts self-care; but it also builds the collective self-care of the immediate and extended community.
Join the local community association, police forum or neighbourhood watch – or start one, if there isn’t one. If you have children at school, join the parents’ association or school governing body. Volunteer your skills to a civil society, charity or community organisation.
At municipal level, join ward committees, which are supposed to be the voice of the community, but which have in many cases been captured by corrupt local politicians. Not only will this give one a sense of purpose, but it will make a difference in the community and in other people’s lives.
If you’re a member of a political party, ensure that morally credible, honest and competent leaders are elected. Become the voice of reason within your political party; push for evidence-based, pragmatic and practical policies rather than populist, ideological or pie-in-the sky ones.
Join civil society protests against corruption, incompetence and mismanagement, whether on the streets, signing petitions or on social media platforms. Socially, shun those who make their money through corruption.
If you’re a public servant, be conscientious; serve with care and diligence, in the spirit of Batho Pele, even if your managers are politically connected, incompetent, corrupt and uncaring.
If you’re a private sector business owner or manager, treat employees as your family: fairly, equitably and involve them in decisions. It also make good business sense. Practise BEE, which gives employees and local communities share ownership and assets, transfers industrially relevant technical skills and supports social-justice civil society organisations.
Vote wisely. Base your vote on the current performance of parties and leaders. Don’t vote based on past Struggle credentials, ideological, colour or ethnic affinity. Voting against one’s own preferred party, but which does not deliver, could be the catalyst to make that party more accountable, responsive and honest.