BEACONS IN OUR DARKNESS
Good people doing good work help strengthen our resolve
These are, literally, dark days for South Africa. The electricity blackouts have left many of us sitting and working in the dark, feeling despondent and apprehensive about the future.
The senseless political squabbles — and a president and cabinet that seem to be caught in the headlights instead of acting decisively — add a layer of desperation to the discourse. Many of us wonder: where is the ethical and resolute leadership we hanker for?
So, it’s justified to feel a bit down about the state of the country. The crime statistics are horrendous, and this trend is unlikely to change under the current police leaders. The behaviour of local politicians in municipal coalitions makes you anxious about a post-2024 future in which national political partnerships must be forged.
Yet let’s not forget about the (still) many people and institutions in this country that try to make things work. Even in these desperate times, it is worth encouraging them and reminding ourselves that we can be good.
Last week chief justice Raymond Zondo presented the judiciary’s annual report for 2021/2022. There is much to lament about the state of the courts. Watching trials such as that of the alleged killers of footballer Senzo Meyiwa (shot in 2014!), you wonder whether justice will ever be delivered for him and his family, given the poor quality of investigative, prosecutorial and judicial officers. Yet the work of many others in the same field is stellar, and to be admired.
So when Zondo spoke, a hint of pride touched me. The chief justice is brave, open and committed to trying to make the work of the judiciary meaningful for the poorest and most vulnerable people in our country. Zondo, in his presentation, chose to call out former president Jacob Zuma and tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu for their defiance of and attacks on the judiciary over the past two years.
Part of Zuma’s actions, for example, led to the July 2021 riots (at least 354 people killed) and, as Zondo pointed out, compromised the personal security of Constitutional Court judges.
“These attacks are from people who want judges to decide certain cases in a certain way or who are upset that the judge decided in a case in one or another way,” Zondo said.
“The judiciary will not be intimidated by anybody, no matter his or her standing in society.”
It takes a brave person to lay it down straight like this. Long may Zondo and his colleagues live. Long may they be protected.
Another institution that seems to be on the mend is the South African
Revenue Service (Sars), despite the many complaints that still come through.
In the days following finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget on February 22, the star of the show has been Sars’s improvement from the days when it was turned into the Gupta family’s plaything by some of its leaders and the Zuma presidency.
The case against management consultancy Bain centres on its toxic work for the Zuma administration to undermine and weaken Sars.
Well, the rescue under commissioner Edward Kieswetter seems to be well under way and paying dividends.
Godongwana praised Sars in his speech, saying: “Our country is reaping the benefits of a more efficient and effective tax administration that is building trust to increase voluntary compliance and boost revenue collections.”
Long may this improvement and efficiency last.
There are other places where you often see a glimmer of improvement. The law enforcement agencies the National Prosecuting Authority and others often make mistakes, but also incredibly good calls. With little resources, they are trying.
Even at Eskom, there are some areas where you could be encouraged.
I am not writing this to paper over the cracks. Our country is in trouble and needs fixing fast. Yet every so often we must remind ourselves that though there is much that is confidence-sapping, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are still many good people, doing great work, in this country.
The corrupt and selfish shake our resolve and make us doubt our trajectory. Many times, with their noise, they make me wonder if we should not just give up.
Failure is not an option, though. So we must build on the little light emanating from Zondo, Kieswetter and others.