Morality missing ingredient in SA mix

IN WHAT is a chilling quote, that master of human rights abuse, Joseph Stalin, said: “It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes, decide nothing. The people who count the votes, decide everything”.

This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic elections.

One of the organisations to measure how Mzansi is doing after two decades, is Freedom House, who describe themselves as “an independent watchdog organisation dedicated to the expansion of freedom around the world”.

Founded in 1941, Freedom House claims it was the first American organisation to champion the advancement of freedom globally.

Last year, between June and October, this organisation conducted a study of South Africa’s democracy by convening 27 focus groups spanning all economic, cultural and demographic groups.

The main finding was, “After 20 years of democracy, South Africans celebrate that human rights have been realised and that society is transforming. While there is strong disappointment with the government and its leaders, South Africans retain their faith in the democratic system and do not transfer their discontent to the African National Congress”.

Since the tasking of this survey, we have mourned the death of Mandela, received the Nkandla report, begun to pay e-toll taxes, and continued to witness the rape of children and the elderly.

The question that puzzles me as I prepare to cast my vote next month, is whether any of the other parties clamouring for my cross in their box, will be able to do more than is not being done already.

South Africa’s challenges are far more than merely political. They are statistical, economic, demographic and, dare I say, moral. Sadly, I doubt this election will really change much at a moral level which is where change is required.

Like the absence of salt in an otherwise wonderful stew, the missing ingredient in our national mix is a deep sense of values.

I don’t mean narrow moralism either. Under apartheid we were ever so moralistic, yet our values sucked. We are in need of the values of integrity, humility, compassion and service.

It was Ghandi who said the test of any nation is how they treat their poor. If Ghandi was correct, we as a nation must declare ourselves less than competent at this time.

So while the politicians huff and haggle, I hum an old struggle hymn: “Who will save our land and people? Who can rescue us from wrong? We are lost – faint, false and foolish – We have slighted God too long”.

With apologies to Comrade Kasrils, I will use my vote. My vote will go to be the party that best embodies human values, not as lip service but as a way of sharing life for all.

Peter is a pastoral therapist and conflict mediator