Unified national vision needed to eradicate fallout from colonialism
Plethora of political parties sending out mixed signals to the electorate
At the birth of the ANC a set of national indicators was laid down that a future SA must be united, peaceful, democratic, equal, prosperous, free, nonracial and non-sexist.
Every effort of the liberation struggle waged was anchored around achieving these ideals. It was these ideals which inspired liberation fighters and served as their compass during the struggle.
The 1994 democratic elections paved a way for a new era of the liberation struggle. The elections ushered in a new dispensation in which a democratic environment was set to fulfil the ideals of the national democratic revolution (NDR).
The elected government in 1994 obtained a mandate to use the democratic environment to lead and drive a transformation agenda.
It was given a duty to transform a society whose social fibre and psyche had been ravaged by centuries of colonialism and imperialism. By no means was this a small task; it was a monumental one.
What the national democratic revolution set out to achieve through the eight objectives of the liberation struggle was a set of national indicators as a measure of the progress to undo the damage caused by colonialism and imperialism.
This must be a mandate to any government elected democratically in every term of office if we are to kill the monstrous imperial and colonial impact on the society of our country.
We cannot defeat the imperial and colonial monster if we are not consistent and united in the application of the transformation agenda for the achievement of the eight pillars that inspired the national democratic revolution.
Central to our cause to defeat the colonial and imperial monster in our land is a national vision in which the democratic indicators are fused into a single vision around which citizens are rallied.
SA must have one national vision across the length and breadth of the country, uniting citizens in a single goal, with a transformation agenda as the vehicle.
We cannot, after 30 years of democracy in which we have had an opportunity to determine our future, be still debating whether we have made meaningful progress or not.
That, after 30 years, we are still unable to say what is the national vision of the country is cause for concern.
There’s no need to be convinced that we have or haven’t made progress. Everyone must know and see without having to be convinced about the presence of change or not.
A period of 30 years is a generation. This means that since the dawn of democracy a generation has been born into the new era.
It is that generation who should be seeing the effects and impact of the transformation agenda to alter the imperial and colonial effect on the lives in our society.
When politicians try to convince us about the presence of change, for me, that is an act of desperation.
People who are the beneficiaries of change need not be told that there is change. It should be a lived experience which they must appreciate without being reminded it exists.
It would be unrealistic to expect that in 30 years all the effects of colonial and imperial governments would be completely wiped out. No.
However, clarity in the minds and lives of the people, a spirit of hope for change, must have been planted through some tangible evidence over the 30year journey.
This would have been possible through the consistency and collective effort of the country in the realisation of the transformation goals measurable against the eight inspirational goals of the national democratic revolution.
If we cannot do the measurements of success through the three levers of government
— parliament, judiciary and executive — in collaboration with the private and corporate sector we won’t be able to strategically and courageously choose the right team to lead the battle to defeat the colonial and imperial monster.
Currently we are scattered, fighting sprinkles of socio-economic challenges in silos that divide us further than uniting us.
The mushrooming of political parties and and their diverse messaging to a confused electorate is a dangerous indicator of the absence of a national vision, a situation which could easily lead to a deterioration and lack of certainty and confidence in governance.
Competing against each other for the common good is fine. However, lack of unity in attacking a common enemy, namely, the colonial and imperial monster, is evidence enough that it will take us centuries to transform SA.
The constitution of the country promises the citizen a capable state. A capable state is a vehicle for change because government is a change agent from which a capable state is derived.
A government installed through democratic means has an obligation to meet the aspirations of a democratic country.
Part of what needs to happen is to position and institute capacity in government so that it may be able to lead the change on behalf of the citizens.
Government does not exist for its own sake but to serve the citizens. An incapable state is the weakest link in the battle for the demolishing of imperial and colonial pillars.
Those placed in positions of power in government are responsible for planting of the seeds of change and the implementation of constitutional policies for the realisation of the transformation agenda.
When we fail to elect suitable leaders for parliament we are actually defeating the purpose of the election.
SA does not lack people of high calibre. Maybe we need to change the criteria of their selection for election.
Serving in government should have limited time for everyone. No civil servant must be in permanently. They must serve on contracted and limited periods.
In that way competent people and a culture of excellence can serve the mandate with diligence. Public service is not a milking cow, but a space to serve and leave.
A new public service commission must be instituted with a panel of judges to instil discipline in the sector.
Transgression and serious misconduct in public service must be punished with criminal sentencing and jail time for offenders.
A public service college must be established for training and education of public servants with a six-month certification duration in equipping them to serve in all spheres of government.
Public servants must be invited to serve, not be employed in the public service. They must be paid competently, fairly and equitably. Bonuses must be performance-based, not automatic, and be paid at the end of a financial year.
In our country, where the majority are in perpetual poverty and underdeveloped, and dependent wholly on state services rendered by public servants, in my view, automatic payment of bonuses constitutes an injustice. It places an unfair burden on taxpayers.
Public servants, in all spheres of government, must be competently and fairly paid.
Ministers and members of parliament must be known as first servants of the country and must also get constitutional orientation during induction and before assumption of office.
If we are to handle change in our society, how we position ourselves at strategic points in our land becomes critically important. One of those critical and strategic points is government.
A capable state, the constitution promises to the citizens, is a possibility that depends on the courage and vision on the implementation of constitutional legislation.
The constitution is a tool to use as we navigate the new path of transformation to demolish the demons of colonialism and imperialism.
If activated through implementation by courageous leadership, its aspirations can be realised.
The noble ideals espoused in the national democratic revolution are concrete enough to hold on to and upon which to stand as we strive for a better SA.
We just cannot afford to fail. We just cannot drop the ball. We just cannot be complacent. We just cannot be discouraged. We just cannot disappoint ourselves. We just cannot betray the future of our children.
Colonialism and imperialism can, and must be, defeated.
We are called to be loyal in the restoration of dignity to God’s human race. We are called to serve him. If God is for us, who can be against us. God bless Africa.