Urgent need for healing of SA

There is an oft-quoted verse in the Old Testament book of Chronicles (7:14) which reads: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.

At no time since the inception of our non-racial democracy in 1994 has this sentiment been more apposite than at the present time.

What is required is deep spiritual and moral introspection, and self-examination by our leaders, our people and diverse communities for the present plight of our beloved country and its long-suffering people.

The need for healing is epitomised by the heart-rending testimony of Cheryl Zondi in the trial for sexual and related offences of Pastor Tim Omotoso in the Port Elizabeth High Court.

This is also manifest from, inter alia, the evidence presented before the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture indicating the debilitating extent of corruption and maladministration that occurred during the Zuma administration.

There is also the alarming increase in crime, reflected in the most recent official crime statistics, and the carnage on the roads.

There has also been a most unfortunate increase in hate speech.

It is essential that we as a people realise the extent to which healing is required in our land.

SA must continue to address the tragic legacy of nearly 50 years of apartheid rule, centuries of colonial oppression and, unfortunately, the state capture, corruption and maladministration of the years of the Zuma presidency.

Positive and proactive strategies are required to address this legacy, and continue with a process of healing spiritually, morally and politically.

There is obviously a powerful religious element involved in such a process and all the faith-based institutions and religions have a fundamental role to play.

The government and civil society also have an indispensable role to play.

It is insufficient for the public and organisations to merely react by expressing their horror at the moral decline and increase in criminality in our society, proactive strategies are required to bring about healing.

In this regard we need as a nation to become a far more caring and compassionate society. SA is unfortunately one of the most unequal societies in the world.

This is a spiritual, moral and political issue, and it is essential that the great wealth of the country be shared to diminish the vast poverty and inequality that exists.

Although at present exemplary charitable work is done in relation to the poor, very much more needs to be done.

Communities and people, rich and poor, need to reach out to one another across the divisions in our immensely rich culturally and diverse communities.

We cannot afford to have islands of poverty and affluence without communication and contact between them.

The substantial middle class, of all races, has a singular role to play in poverty alleviation and reaching out to those in dire need, and in so doing contribute to the healing of the nation by acts of compassion and caring.

This can be done by individuals, faith-based organisations and other organs of civil society.

However, greater co-ordination between such individuals and organisations would be beneficial, and the state should take a leading role.

Unfortunately the relevant departments of state have failed abysmally in not co-ordinating and leading relief work between them, and organisations of civil societies and faith-based organisations.

The healing of our land requires that we revisit the fundamental values set out in the constitution, such as nonracialism, human dignity and gender equality.

This is the unique and formidable challenge facing the Ramaphosa administration.

What is desperately needed is professional integrity from the civil service and the private sector which can also play an indispensable role in upliftment.

George Devenish, emeritus

professor at UKZN