More snakes than ladders in our silver anniversary year of democracy
When Nelson Mandela delivered his inspiring inauguration speech on May 10 1994, he imagined a different SA than the one we live in today. Paying tribute to the heroes of the struggle and the sacrifices they made, he said: “Their dreams have become reality. Freedom is their reward.” Sadly, Mandela’s rhetoric soared far higher than the reality that has unfolded since then. His dream of a nonracial, nonsexist, equal society remains just that, a dream. Under apartheid, he said, SA was “the skunk of the world”. Now it is the country with the greatest levels of inequality, one burdened by a schooling system memorably described this week by the man who runs it as “not the worst in the world”.
It is worth reminding ourselves of some of Mandela’s opening words in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in 1994, when he was surrounded by dozens of world leaders who had come to witness one of the 20th century’s defining moments. “Out of the experience of an extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud,” he said. “Our daily deeds as ordinary South Africans must produce an actual South African reality that will reinforce humanity’s belief in justice, strengthen its confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious life for all.”
Mandela’s efforts to build a nonracial society are well documented. He spearheaded a social cohesion project that was meant not only to heal the wounds of the past but to create a society in which we all felt equal. His party committed itself to creating a better life for all by ensuring access to housing, running water, electricity, quality education and decent health care. In addition, we were promised a thriving economy that produced jobs in abundance.
As we prepare to celebrate a quarter of a century of democracy, South Africans have little to show for the vision held out by Mandela. The nonracial project has all but collapsed. Legitimate calls for redistribution have been hijacked by opportunists hellbent on sowing racial tension. Lingering racial discrimination refuses to let the wounds inflicted by apartheid heal.
The disparate strands of society that Mandela was trying to weave into one often seem further apart than ever, and public trust in business, civil society and the churches is waning. Political leaders, in particular, are under pressure as they launch their election campaigns.
The ANC’s dirty linen is being aired in public at the Zondo commission. Though the party insists it is not on trial, its reputation suffers every time a new witness takes the stand. President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a few changes in his cabinet, in state-owned enterprises and in other institutions to show his appetite for reform, but people want visible change that positively affects their lives.
The DA is not much better off, with internal squabbles taking it down the path of paralysis. The acrimonious departure of Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille may cost the party votes in the Western Cape, and as Mmusi Maimane attempts to assert his leadership he will need to be careful not to alienate key allies.
Julius Malema’s EFF, meanwhile, approaches the elections under a cloud. Suspicions that the party and its leaders benefited from the looting of VBS Mutual Bank might make potential supporters think twice.
On Saturday, when he launches the ANC manifesto, Ramaphosa will have to go beyond promising more houses and roads. Changes are needed in all spheres of government. Municipalities will have to deliver services on time. Citizens want functional clinics that are well staffed and can provide the medicines they need. More needs to be done to fix the education system, which should provide a route out of poverty. The economy needs new industries that will create sustainable employment, not just “job opportunities”. Those are the challenges political leaders must address as they vie for our votes.
Ramaphosa will have to go beyond promising more houses and roads