Dear South Africa,
After centuries of racial discrimination and injustice, we stand at a crucial moment in the history of our country. Our leaders have wisely concluded a grand pact to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society that is built on democracy, justice and fundamental human rights.
The first and formidable hurdle in this long and hazardous journey is electing our representatives to govern us over the threshold. This major undertaking dare not fail. We are commencing a task of tremendous complexity and risk. In essence, a competent but discredited government of a highly developed modern industrial state will be handing over control to a legitimate yet ill-equipped and inexperienced liberation movement.
This will require wisdom, statesmanship, a great deal of skill and a large measure of give-and-take from all sectors of society for many years.
The first risk that lies
Retired Justice Johann Kriegler. Photo: Elizabeth Sejake/
Gallo Images ahead is overhastiness when faced with demands by comrades eager to play a role in the new South Africa. A skills transfer is necessary, or we will seriously impair governance and frustrate our transition.
The provision of public services is dependent on skilled and experienced staff, without which we’ll see the collapse of public transport, water and electricity supply, health services and law and order. Even just filling potholes, removing garbage and maintaining sewerage systems are essential for decent living.
A kindred risk is hubris – the arrogant refusal to accept expert advice, for example in public health, which could lead to the unnecessary death of many thousands of our people, or cause the collapse of Eskom, the railways and harbours and the police service.
Yet another risk is that of corruption, the most damaging and ineradicable public disease.
The lack of competence and integrity in public administration will prove gravely harmful, but the appointment – and retention – of dishonest civil servants and their political masters will be disastrous.
Corruption will definitely metastasise, eventually infecting all public institutions, even, for instance, impairing the authority of the criminal justice system and besmirching the academic integrity of our universities.
South Africa, these risks are foreseeable in light of our history. The ANC, the major liberation movement, will undoubtedly gain a large electoral majority at all levels of government, and it is likely to maintain the support of the majority for decades to come, faults or no faults.
Though historically warranted, this will deny the country the essential benefit of democracy, namely, the rejection by the electorate of unworthy rulers. Whether the ANC will have the vision and courage to combat corruption in its ranks is the biggest concern.
But, for the moment, put away these depressing thoughts. Prepare to exercise your right as a free citizen to choose your government in our country’s elections of national liberation. 1994 - Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission
2024- Retired Justice of the Constitutional Court
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