Germans can teach SA a lesson or two

A new generation of leadership could steer SA back to winning ways writes,

ADawie Jacobs

s a young SA diplomat responsible for political reporting in the SA embassy in Bonn, I had the privilege of observing Helmut Kohl closely as he launched his challenge to become chancellor.

His greatest achievement was the realisation of European integration and the unification of Germany, as well as its inclusion in a united Europe and Western alliances. Angela Merkel, then a young politician from East Germany, describes Kohl as the right man for the right time.

East and West Germans shared a common heritage (one language, one culture) and both sides enjoyed top education and training. Despite this, there were huge differences in work ethics after the East Germans were subjected to Communism for 40 years.

The process was made easier in the sense that the West German economy was vibrant and there were abound 60 million financially stable West Germans and only 17 million financially vulnerable East Germans.

In contrast the SA transition involved a diverse nation with different languages, cultures, beliefs and levels of training and education, exposed to colonialism and apartheid for generations. Plus there were only about four million people who were financially stable as opposed to about 40 million people economy vulnerable.

We are currently on a slippery slope, but I remain optimistic that a new generation of leadership could steer us back to winning ways.