Time to work together for SA
Youth can still make a difference
AS a teenager, I’m troubled by how many adults I meet who see no hope for the future of this country. When I talk to them about the way forward for our government and our economy, they usually shake their heads and use words like “hopeless” and “useless”.
I wonder what has happened to us? I read that 20 years ago these same adults were rejoicing at the election of our first democratically elected president – we were the centre of the world’s stage.
We had such hope and unity. What an amazing time it was for our land. I wish I’d been there to see it. In contrast, I’m growing up in a country full of cynical adults who are so used to being let down by the corruption and failure in the government that they don’t even dare to dream anymore.
Is this the country Tata Madiba wanted us to be? I think not.
Maybe people assume that, because I am young, my opinion can’t change our future, but the adults of today were young in 1976 and 1994, and they made a difference. Why can’t we do that again?
I believe in the potential of all South Africans that exists deep down in our hearts. Our weird, wonderful, crazy “Safrikan” unity.
Call it “ubuntu” or “gees” or whatever. Ultimately it’s the substance that is uniquely “us”.
When we come to the end of our rope, we are able to stand together and get things done.
Last week I watched a news video of a white Afrikaner man help a black woman get her handbag back from a bag snatcher. When I saw that I knew, it’s time.
Time for the Madiba spirit of unity to rise again and for us all to stand together and say “enough is enough”. Let’s build our land.