Plenty of cause for optimism

Look how far SA has come

THE extant political situation in South Africa is problematic and there is a manifest lack of inspired and cogent political leadership, particularly in the governing ANC. Indeed, it is nought for our comfort.

South Africa has the resources, both human and natural, to bring an end to poverty, economic inequality and unemployment. In this regard, it is of fundamental importance that we as a heterogeneous nation should not be engulfed by pessimistic perceptions and negativity.

The South African Institute of Race Relations, which has an international reputation for its accurate and scientific analysis of politics, the economy and socio-economic issues in South Africa, has released a comprehensive survey of socioeconomic trends and political perceptions in a report titled Life in South Africa: Reasons for Hope. This survey spans the period from 1985 to 2016.

After thorough and penetrating analysis, its conclusion is that South Africa is a manifestly improved and better country than it was 20 years ago, with the advent of our final and democratic constitution, which was drafted and accepted by the Constitutional Assembly, representative of all the people of this country.

To support its viewpoint it provides certain key statistics. So for instance, as far as the economy is concerned, our inflation rate has virtually halved from 9% to 4.6%. Also for example, despite the extant problem of unemployment, the total number of persons with jobs has almost doubled, from 7 971 000 to 15 657 000.

Also, as a nation we have made significant progress in relation to living conditions. This is clearly reflected in the number of households that have access to formal housing, which has risen by 131% since 1996. This means that 1 042 houses have been built every day. The SAIRR survey calculates that for every informal shelter erected after 1994, about 10 formal houses have been constructed.

Despite intractable problems with all kinds of service delivery, significant progress has been made in all areas. So for instance, in university education, concerning which there have been violent protests and controversy, remarkable progress has been made.

Enrolments at tertiary institutions increased in the period 1985-2014 by a staggering 281.4%. Of great importance is the increase in African students from 19.8% to 70.1%, while Indian and white students decreased from 7.9% to 5.5% and from 64.1% to 17.1% respectively.

Even in some aspects of the controversial field of crime there has been a decline. This is the position in relation to the murder rate, which has fallen from 68 per 100 000 in the 1995-96 financial year to 34 per 100 000 in the 2015-16 year.

In relation to the cardinal issue of race relations, the survey states that: The views of the overwhelming majority of people are very different from the vitriol so often evident in the debate this year. Far from being hostile towards one another, most South Africans, black and white, occupy a pragmatic middle ground on race relations.

White South Africans understand and support the need for redress. Black South Africans do not believe that their white compatriots should be treated as second-class citizens. The overwhelming majority of both groups believe that they need each other for progress to be made.

It is submitted that this important and dispassionate survey should be a cause for hope, but certainly not complacency.

The leaders and people of South Africa have to redouble their efforts to meaningfully redress, inter alia, the vast economic inequality, poverty, vestiges of racism and unemployment that particularly Africans are still subject to. We need inspired and strong political leadership to diminish endemic corruption and improve service delivery to all.

Although the present political situation leaves a great deal to be desired, what is clear is that our system of democratic government, rooted in an exceptional constitution, is vibrant and robust, with checks and balances.

The contribution of the judiciary, particularly the Constitutional Court and the public protector, have resulted in accountable government, in relation to the executive branch and the president. The organisations of civil society, such as, inter alia, Freedom Under Law, the Helen Suzman, Mandela and De Klerk foundations, are also exerting an important influence.

However, it is submitted that both the national executive government and parliament are not providing the kind of inspired political leadership that is essential for us to become a successful and winning nation.

We need the kind of selfless and charismatic leadership that Nelson Mandela epitomised and bequeathed to us as a legacy. South Africa is a land of infinite potential and promise and we need such leaders to realise this. George Devenish, emeritus

professor, UKZN, Durban