We need a reinvigorated campaign by civil society to fix our economic and social ills

In “Mkhwebane turns back on free advice” (Sunday Times, June 10), Andisiwe Makinana wrote about the governance advisory board appointed by former public protector Thuli Madonsela, which has been disbanded by her successor Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

The article stated that Mkhwebane “has hired a special adviser to give her counsel on current affairs, sociopolitical and legal issues at a cost of R1.2-million a year instead of using a panel that advised her office for free”.

Along with Wendy Luhabe and Vusi Mokwena, I was a member of the board that provided pro bono services to Madonsela.

I am an ordinary South African citizen who, like millions of other South Africans, contributed to the attainment of our democracy in 1994.

With this achievement came a lot of hope for a free, equal and just society.

It is a long time since 1994 and this hope has yet to be translated into reality. In its wake lies desperation, hardship and despondency affecting the same South Africans who fought for our democracy.

Every day we are faced with reports of corruption, maladministration, obscene wealth, dishonesty and lack of ethics and integrity in senior leadership positions. All these things serve to widen the gaps of unemployment, inequality and poverty.

In 1994, South Africa was one of the most unequal societies in the world. In 2018 we remain one of the most unequal societies. This is an indictment against the legacies of Nelson Mandela and our forebears.

As an ordinary citizen I ask: do we stand by as spectators and watch our families fall into despair, or do we assume the role of active citizenry and continue the struggle of our forebears for dignity, equality and social justice?

That was my calling when I walked away from the private sector and all its capital gains and gave my skills and competence freely to the office of the public protector to assist in righting the wrongs in society.

The South African constitution is revered around the world as a progressive-governance blueprint, following centuries of exploitation under colonialism and apartheid rule. In 2014, Jesse Jackson lauded the South African constitution as the best in the world when he joined in the celebration of struggle heroes Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Ahmed Kathrada.

The constitution guaranteed the right to vote and to have access to healthcare, education, electricity, water and social grants, and entrenched the freedom to own land and houses.

The constitution was meant to serve as an instrument to help achieve the economic and social transformation that was needed following the breakthrough in 1994. Attainment of political freedom was the first step.

Chapter 9 of the constitution provides for the office of the public protector as a key and vital constitutional mechanism to safeguard and protect the interests of South African citizens against abuse of office and resources by elected officials.

Resource capacitation is fundamental to this office’s success in executing its mandate to strengthen our constitutional democracy.

I saw my offer to assist the public protector’s office as a calling, no different from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to all South Africans to “Thuma Mina” in his state of the nation address in February. I wished to contribute, to make a difference to the lives of South Africans.

This is a calling that cannot be fulfilled by only a handful of South Africans. It needs many with the necessary skills, competencies and resources to make a difference. If ever there was a time for civil society to rise, that time is now.

We have seen the power of organised civil society when in the mid-1980s the United Democratic Front, together with labour federation Cosatu, started a process of rolling mass action that brought the illegitimate apartheid government to its knees, leading to the unbanning of the ANC and the release of Mandela and all other political prisoners.

Similarly, it was the public protector’s office, under Madonsela, together with civil society and a robust media, that led to the exposure of state capture and corruption.

Madiba said: “Poverty is not natural. It is man-made.” I would like to add that so are unemployment and inequality, which can only be rectified by honest, ethical people with a shared set of beliefs and values in taking South Africa forward on the right path, for all its people.