SOME SUGGESTIONS FROM A FRIENDLY FOREIGNER ON HOW TO FIX A BEAUTIFUL BUT BATTERED COUNTRY
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Response to the the editor’s request for suggestions on how to improve SA
My name is Bert. I live in the Netherlands and I am an idealist. Three years ago I set up a travel company doing tours to South Africa. I try to involve local communities.
You have an amazing country with loads of opportunities and friendly, good people. But recently I’ve had trouble explaining that. South African news is depressing.
On tours to South Africa in 2021 and 2022, people we met – e.g. a guide on a hiking trip – asked me for ideas to get rid of corruption. Ten years ago I was the one asking South Africans about their country.
Almost everyone sees corruption as the main problem. I see four major problems: inequality, corruption, unemployment and bad infrastructure. Is your country a democracy? On paper, maybe. In practice, it is run by criminal organisations.
Ubuntu is thrown out of the window. Corruption, greed and violence are everywhere.
How to change this?
Real progressive income tax; high wealth tax; high inheritance tax. Give tax relief for projects that create jobs. The problem is that a reliable government is needed to spend wisely.
A focus on maintenance: infrastructure problems come from no maintenance. A change of mindset. Get basics in order. Halve salaries of politicians. If they perform, they can get a bonus.
No expensive cars for politicians. Politicians must step down if there is a suspicion of corruption.
Fix non-performing government staff. South Africa is fifth in the world for sunshine hours. Use that.
Set up huge training programmes for engineers. Equal opportunities for girls. A platform to connect people who have job-creating ideas with people who have money. How else do we prevent a few people from destroying a country?