Hope after the big break-up

WHEN then president Jacob Zuma resigned as South Africa’s head of state on February 14, it was ultimately the most talked about break-up on Valentine’s Day.

Now it has been just over a week since Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as the country’s president. While some people question whether our new president can truly change anything, most seem prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, myself included.

Many South Africans are relieved to see Ramaphosa at the helm.

In his speech he addressed the nation’s problems while still managing to evoke a level of optimism.

There was a sense of hope for the future – the future of the 54 million South Africans watching and the countless others across the world who tuned in for the highly anticipated address.

The billionaire businessman and former trade unionist was one of the architects of the democratic transition of 1994 and now many years later carries the hopes and dreams of many South Africans today.

In his State of the Nation address on his second day of office, he pledged to tackle corruption, unemployment and inequality. He said that fighting the mismanagement in state-owned enterprises would be a priority of his new administration. A great deal is expected from Ramaphosa.

The only way to silence critics is to solve the country’s problems, but that’s easier said than done. Yet after years of corruption and disappointment, it has been inspiring to see the shift in the mood-set of South Africans young and old.

Thanks to Zuma’s fall, South Africa is in the global spotlight. I just hope we can use this exposure for the better.

Through all the negativity and criticism about South Africa, it still holds a special place in my heart and will always be home to me.

And just like only you can complain about your mother, perhaps only a South African is allowed to find fault with South Africa. Besides, where else in the world will you immediately assume it’s loadshedding when the electricity cuts out?

Or how can you explain the phenomenon of instantly recognising the theme songs from local soapies like Isidingo or Muvhango, even when you never watch them?

You know “now” and “now now” are two different things and that “now now” can mean anything from a few minutes late to just under an hour.

And let’s not forget the birthday lie we have all told at least once to embarrass our friends at Spur and ensure we get the free ice cream and unforgettable live performance of the birthday song by all staff.

As a nation as we face many challenges – to once and for all clean out corruption, bridge the gap of inequality and truly assist with poverty. I have hope for the future of SA and wish that we can move away from the darkness.

We have a beautiful country, and while we don’t always get the best rap for it, I think that we may finally be on the right road.

While the nation is all for an era of change and new beginnings, I look forward to seeing a few local traits remain forever ingrained in our people.

In life, we sometimes find ourselves at a crossroads. Thanks to our recent political scandals, that crossroads seems to be busy and very loud.

There were so many detours and so many mistakes made. As we drive along this little road called life to a truly democratic South Africa, I can’t help but ask our new president – are we there yet?