SA FACING REALITY OF ‘FULL-BLOWN STATE FAILURE’

North West University professor and political analyst Professor André Duvenhage says South Africa is facing the reality of state failure by 2030 if citizens vote for corrupt politicians in next month’s polls.

Duvenhage was sharing his analysis of former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s warning that if the likes of former president Jacob Zuma are brought back to public office, they will bring the country to total collapse. Former Finance minister Trevor Manuel has also criticised Zuma, describing him as a “totally abusive” individual who has taken the ANC's uMkhonto we Sizwe logo and used it against the governing party.

Duvenhage said analysts have studied the scenarios of a failed state. “Let’s take the hypothetical point that a government combining certain ANC groups, certain MK groups and certain EFF groups is formed; what will happen? I think the reaction economically and financially will be in a way similar to the reaction when Zuma appointed Des van Rooyen as minister of Finance and the chaos that followed,” Duvenhage said.

“What I am picking up is that systems are shifting power away from the state towards other sectors, like individuals starting to take responsibility for their own safety, housing, infrastructure, education, etc.

“This is making the state a lesser role-player in its environment. There are already parallel structures which will keep the community and society going. But yes, the failed state scenario is there and it’s going to increase, and I’m in agreement that in around 2030 we could become a full-blown failed state,” Duvenhage said.

Earlier this year, socio-political analyst Bronwyn Williams said South African politics needed “a redeemer, a messiah” who people can believe in and there was no such person or party to votefor.—