In pursuance of justice

WE STARTED off our democratic era with Nelson Mandela and ended up with Jacob Zuma. We now have Cyril Ramaphosa sworn in as our fifth president. The flow of leaders gives us an indication into which direction we are heading.

Is it really farewell to corruption and vested interests?

We have said farewell to Zuma, whose leadership was mired in corruption. Besides the prevailing crime, embezzlement and corporate fraud has in recent years been pervading the country.

Many government parastatals are virtually out of control, bloated and infested with fraud, deceit, cronyism, and abuse of power.

All this while the masses are denied basic needs and those who are politically connected are losing the beauty of their souls in exchange for the perks that come with corrupt selfenrichment.

What does Ramaphosa offer? Does the leader have the aptitude, ability, humility, honesty, transparency and capacity to lead us in the right direction?

Does the leader offer optimism or pessimism, hope or despair, genuine change or cosmetic alteration, will he alleviate the condition of the nation and elevate the quality of the lives of the people by addressing their concerns and championing their cause?

The dominance of corruption has tarnished the memory of our noble Struggle as crooked politicians betrayed the working man. Ramaphosa has experienced the poverty of Soweto, was imprisoned for opposing the racist regime, was an accomplished trade union leader, and is now president of South Africa.

These are great credentials; but this businessman who has amassed tremendous wealth has a lot to do to prove that he has the genuine concerns of the poor and downtrodden at heart.

The least we expect from the newly elected President Ramaphosa is to clean up those in Parliament who profited at the expense of others; filling their pockets while the people went hungry.

For Ramaphosa to be a truly credible president he must lead a government that cares about the elderly and the young, the poor and the oppressed and remain unapologetic about the obligation to the ongoing project of freedom and liberation in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.

He should be unyielding in pursuance of justice; restoration of rights, standing firm on principles demanding accountability from “comrade” leaders who sacrifice the objectives of the Struggle at the altar of greedy, selfish, self-interests.

The least expected of Ramaphosa is to empty the swamp of the corrupt ones in positions of leadership, move away from the selfish “business as usual” mentality. Let there be a committed response to the plea of the great revolutionary leader, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe; “Let me plead with you, lovers of my Africa, to carry with you into the world the vision of a new and better Africa”.