Acts of greatness in time of calamity

THE extent to which the ANC has become compromised and incapacitated is demonstrated by its inability to halt South Africa’s downward slide – socially, economically and politically.

It is only “stubborn hope” that still deludes some into thinking the ANC can, in some way, pull itself back from the brink of its demise and in the process save South Africa.

The unacceptably high levels of crime in the country are a terrible indicator of its incapacity.

Now rape and the murder of women and children seems to be surging dramatically upward.

The shockingly high levels of unemployment are another glaring indicator of the ANC’s lack of focus in its core duties as government.

The latest official unemployment figures are at a dismal 27,7% with expanded unemployment at 36.4%.

We have been downgraded by rating agencies, Standard & Poor and Fitch to junk status. Moody’s has most recently downgraded South Africa to one notch above junk status.

First quarter GDP growth rate is negative at -0,7%. Our economy has just slipped into a recession. We are in serious trouble!

The complete inability of the ANC to find solutions to matters in the political sphere has left no other option but to draw in the courts to make judgments on matters which could easily have been solved politically.

One of many of these is the Nkandla scandal, which could and should have been dealt with in parliament.

Now, as thousands and thousands of e-mails implicate senior ANC and government officials in criminal activities day after day, it is again evident that the ANC is again incapable of addressing the crisis of state that has been made abundantly clear by the revelations.

The tragedy here is that the organisation, much like its leader President Jacob Zuma, continues to occupy the central space of leadership that is supposed to enable South Africa to maintain its focus and sovereignty!

We should long ago have witnessed decisive action against those implicated in monstrous crimes of treason, corruption and money laundering, among others, yet here we sit, watching a paralysed ANC either scratching its head or its navel!

The idea expressed by ANC SG, Gwede Mantashe that South Africa must wait until the December ANC elective conference, where Zuma, will hopefully be politely asked to step down is horrendous!

This ignores completely what Zuma will do in the interim while still at the helm with full presidential powers. Further that in such circumstances it is virtually impossible to guarantee anything, let alone national renewal. It is not even possible to guarantee that the man will step down.

Mantashe’s assertion that recalling Zuma now would tear apart the ANC, ignores another obvious reality – that the ANC is already torn apart. And far more important than the wreckage of the ANC is to rescue the sovereignty, economy and future of our country

The only saving grace of ANC members at this juncture would be to behave like patriots – stand up for South Africa and institute massive legal and disciplinary action against all of those implicated in Guptaleaks. And with immediate effect.

Doing nothing, let alone doing the right thing when circumstances clearly demand it, will allow the party and the country to continue spiralling downwards.

It is in this tragedy of non-existent leadership that we must ask, if the ANC has sold us out, who will reclaim us? Who cares enough to step up and reclaim South Africa?

The crisis in our political and economic sphere is so dire that is comparable to the fires of Knysna and the gale-force winds wreaking havoc in Cape Town, both causing massive loss of life and property.

My heart goes out to the victims of these natural disasters and their families. But the support which came from far and wide around the country demonstrated the kind of attitudes which are necessary in our country, especially in times of great calamity.

The quick responses of ordinary South Africans, sounding the alarm and moving quickly to help displaced people has been truly inspirational.

South Africans did not wait for the authorities, but took it upon themselves to help. This collective action of individuals, each contributing what they can, is how we can extricate ourselves from the larger social, economic and political quagmire we find ourselves in.

We need more collaborations to occupy the leadership void created by those at the top who have their eyes on goals other than the good of South Africa.

As Knysna and Cape Town start to rebuild, we must stand with them. In the same manner, we must stand with those determined to rebuild South Africa.