Citizens, fed up with poor governance, are understandably furious

TWe want to know when this dark cloud will lift from our country

he elation we all felt at returning to a semblance of normality with the waning of the pandemic has been short lived and SA is again facing a winter of discontent. Yesterday, we learnt that despite the economy showing signs of growth, SA consumer confidence in the second quarter of 2022 was at its lowest level in more than three decades, aside from at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Meanwhile, Eskom imposed Stage 6 load-shedding — the worst power cuts since 2019 — in response to problems arising from a wildcat strike. The public’s reaction was understandably furious.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has led to spiraling food and fuel prices across the world, including SA. It did not help that the state failed to pay the monthly R350 unemployment grant to millions in April and May. Those in a higher income bracket are also feeling the pinch with the likelihood of steep interest hikes ahead.

Adding to the gloom are problems with basic services provision. In many cities and towns, water is not guaranteed, with interrupted supply, dwindling reserves and mistrust over whether the water is safe to drink. In the Eastern Cape, for example, as many as 90% of residents doubt the quality of their municipalities’ water.

Public transport, which is essential for the efficient functioning of a country and particularly important for the less affluent, is a mess. Two decades ago, rail transport was used by millions of commuters; today rail is a disaster zone in much of SA.

All of this is a misery for citizens and an indictment on the government with the ruling party to blame for allowing, even aiding and abetting, the looting of state resources and the appointment of the corrupt and incompetent.

We want to know when this dark cloud will lift from our country.

The debacles at Eskom, Transnet and Prasa, as well as in local government and many state departments, have to be addressed if SA’S economy is to improve. We concur with Business SA that those responsible for the sabotage at Eskom, that we keep hearing about, should be brought to book and that private sector generation of power should be enabled rapidly. The same applies to ending the sabotage and vandalism at Transnet and Prasa as well as the corruption that is endemic in swathes of the state.

South Africans are thoroughly fed up with poor governance and the government would be wise to heed the extent of public anger.