President skirts the real issues
HOT TOPIC: State of the nation address
WITH bated breath the president’s state of the nation address was awaited.
Yet one’s sad premonition that the “same old, same old” hesitant parody of platitudes and lame excuses would again be dished up and read in the president’s disinterested monotone again regrettably proved to be a reality.
The tragic mayhem our parliament erupted into is a sad parody of the present state of our democracy showcased to the world at large: cable ties, fisticuffs, obscene shouting and forced ejection of members. What next?
Once again one despairs at the ANC’s shared responsibility form of governance which permeates all it does, including the presidential report which simply glossed over some of the real issues confronting this country and took no responsibility for anything.
From past experience we know nobody is or is made to be accountable and therefore the implementation will once again be pathetic.
Objectives were bandied about, yet not once was any time limit or line of responsibility spelt out!
At a time like this it is just as well to remind ourselves of the actual state of our beloved South Africa:
Economy: South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world with some 27% of the working force unemployed.
This government is clearly at a loss to provide meaningful solutions, but seems hell-bent on exacerbating the crisis by not addressing some of the real on-the-ground issues such as eliminating all the red tape frustrating emerging entrepreneurs and so forth.
Virtually a zero growth rate in our economy, which speaks for itself: no growth, no new job opportunities, no income, poverty, starvation, Marikana, hunger strikes, etc.
The president’s forecast of more than 1% growth for this year is optimistic to say the least!
Has this government explained the consequences of this country being relegated to junk status fully to its people?
Does South Africa realise Thursday evening’s shambolic parliament and pathetic presidential state of the nation speech will exacerbate our already parlous standing and drive us closer to junk status?
It is estimated by some that about 40% of foreign investment in South Africa is in the long-term category and, in terms of the investment mandates of most countries, long-term monies are precluded from being invested in a junk status economy.
Thus, it effectively means that an estimated R600-billion will be withdrawn from South Africa should the country be relegated.
In addition to this consider the current R2-trillion debt this country labours under.
The interest payable on this debt will be dramatically increased if junk status is declared.
These two items alone could severely affect this government’s ability to function to the extent that it may find difficulty in meeting its salary bill.
One can only, with horror, contemplate the consequences.
Do folk understand that the brunt of this disaster will then consequently have to be borne by the long-suffering taxpayers who will be faced with appalling income tax increases?
Education: a few years ago the World Economic Forum rated South Africa’s education system as the worst of some 140 countries and, with despair, one would postulate that we have since regressed, if that is at all possible.
The president says we have improved, which one finds difficult to believe after reading all the negative press releases in the last few months.
However much is regrettably said and promised, the execution is woefully poor and will remain so unless Education Minister Angie Motshekga is held accountable and fired if necessary;
Crime: according to police reports 51.2 murders are committed per day in South Africa!
South Africa is referred to as the “rape capital of the world” by many people worldwide. Gender abuse is rampant and many would say out of control.
When we cannot even appoint a credible chief of police, what chances do our police services stand of becoming an effective force to combat the rampant crime in this country?
Police Minister Nathi Nhleko is on record as saying that we South Africans are violent and have a prevalent culture for violence. What a sad indictment of our South African society that has to rely on a weak police force;
Racial inequality: racism is on the increase and what is truly worrying is the intensification in the virulent nature of the incidents.
One of the reasons is the pent-up frustration of people who are simply fed up with the current state of affairs, lack of leadership and broken promises in this country and are lashing out;
Corruption: the country is rotten with corrupt people in virtually all spheres permeating the very fabric of our society and with a president who himself is under suspicion, the ANC can only play lip service to this, the scourge of our country;
President: blithely Jacob Zuma giggles, and carries on ducking and diving in true ANC fashion, providing zero leadership.
What is truly frightening is that despite all his failures, Zuma’s cronies can see him doing no wrong, and condone all his infidelities and the disgrace he is to himself and our country.
And now the ANC-led regional government blatantly murders our vulnerable people – 92 deaths in Gauteng and still counting. Once again we see a scurry of officials disappearing into the woodwork to escape responsibility.
The unauthorised transferral of mental patients to unregistered NGOs without supervision or follow-up is tantamount to unmitigated murder and more so as it was committed on defenceless people.
It will be interesting to see if Gauteng Premier David Makhura, former Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu and fellow decision-makers will be held accountable and convicted of murder and, if so, jailed for life, as would be the right thing to do.
All of this speaks to some, and I repeat some, of the many real issues facing our country.
It is a sad litany of a government too weak to accept accountability and that flounders from one crisis to the next.
A change of government has become absolutely critical!
Talbot Cox, Schoenmakerskop, Port Elizabeth