Ramaphosa must lead SA to its 'Golden Age'

2019-11-20 10:16

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

News24

President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo by Michele Spatari / AFP)

As President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to be settling down into the highest position in the land, albeit leading a divided ANC and country that has fallen back from the united nation it promised to be after 1994.

We need to make our way back to winning ways, with a less polluted political and economic space.

The guys in Parliament can help here a great deal by providing a disciplined, diplomatic and robustly debating National Assembly were millions of people who follow the proceedings in Parliament can be indeed inspired with thought-provoking, informative and educational discussions.

Parliament should not only serve as an instrument of making and passing laws.

The National Assembly must also serve as our marketing tool.

SA should be using the leaders arguments made in parliament as another communication channel to spread what SA is about and why we are the best investment destination.

The dream of being the most powerful nation on earth; the greatest super-power the world has ever seen; and the best nation to live in must be sold daily in parliament without neglecting the serious challenges the country faces.

All parliamentarians should perfectly understand that they should be the role models for all South Africans.

The haulings, fighting and insults that have become the fabric of parliament must belong to the past. This, South Africans must demand from the leaders they elect.

Or else, those parliamentarians who put the country's image in tatters will be punished at the polls.

They must made to understand that they are the face and ambassadors of the country in whatever they do and wherever they go.

Their conduct in Parliament should be so up to scratch, that in spheres of life of the nation people must be able to say just look at how our

South African Members of Parliament (MPs) do things. And inspire everyone to follow in their footsteps.

They must find common ground in the fact that South Africa must be the best no matter what.

And all elected representatives MPs and councillors including government servants irrespective of party affiliation or ideological identity, must vow to always commit to putting South Africa first at all times and by all means.

All the countries economic, investment and business clusters in and out of parliament must be the mirror that the nation's leaders will reflect when going to international gatherings.

In short, SA must speak with one united, positive and developmental voice.

Because as things stand, that is not the case. And we run the risk of throwing away an opportunity to make South Africa the greatest country in the world, with the best standards of living not seen in history.

Not all is lost though.

And in the hour of Ramaphosa's 100 days and beyond, the lawyer, turned trade unionist, turned politician, turned businessman and then turned politician again, is somewhat a season campaigner it seems.

Although his political style of avoiding confrontation, at least publicly, annoys others, for me, it is showing signs that it could be the main factor that he will use to champion his political power and survival and possibly triumph.

So far so good, Mr President. Considering what he inherited from the not so spectacular Zuma years.

And judging by the developments unfolding at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, certain sections of the public so far have a feeling that it could take time for the Ramaphosa presidency to find its best form and lead the country into the most glorious future for all.

In any event, the work of building a prosperous nation for all, can never be a sole responsibility of any government alone, as history has shown.

The government's role among others is to facilitate and mobilise all sectors to work in unison for the total development of the nation.

In the case of South Africa, this kind of attitude in certain cases in the political leadership does exist.

Any government and leadership that does not think like this, should certainly not be in power leading any people.

Of course, political will can always be questioned.

However, judging by the standards set in motion from 1994 when we became a democracy, it is fair to say that the country's democratic institutions set up after a negotiated settlement and constitution, are fit for purpose.

The country's constitution is still revered as the most progressive and developmental in the world. Developmental, in its approach to reversing the social and economic imbalances from centuries of inequalities.

The country's democratic structures including the Chapter 9 institutions, are on top gear even though it can be said that there's room for progress.

The sad part of the story involves the state-owned enterprise (SOEs), of course.

Here is the story of how a nation's golden dream can turn into a social and economic nightmare.

A case in point, millions of South Africans who don't have pay TV, could not watch the Rugby Wold Cup 2019 on public broadcasters such as the SABC and ETV. Thanks to Heineken, the final was broadcasted on SABC.

Imagine how many more people, especially struggling young kids living in trying conditions could have been inspired more by Siya Kolisi and legends on their way to RWC 2019 glory.

Trying to find out why most of the RWC 2019 was not available on national broadcasters, has been a mission in itself. Government was not jumping up and down to fix this, so it seemed.

Some of the explanations doing the rounds ranged from Multichoice is monopolising all sports, because they can, they don't care about others; to that the SABC is in financial trouble. They can't buy the 'Rights' to broadcast the matches, some have asserted.

The same can be said about pains caused by Eskom, SAA, PRASA etc. Today it is this; tomorrow it is that. Cadre deployment of unqualified staff perhaps could be at the heart of the problem.

This all leads me to think about one great cause, leadership.

Sometime before SA hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, then president Nelson Mandela invited the then Springbok captain Francois Pienaar into his office at the Union Buildings.

One of the things Mandela said came in a form of a question to Pienaar. Mandela wanted to know what was Pienaar's understanding of leadership. Caught off guard, so to speak, Pienaar mumbled something back. Mandela took it.

But as it later transpired, Pienaar later realised what the meeting was all about.

The country's president wanted nothing less than the Rugby World Cup glory in the then upcoming 1995 tournament, Pienaar had come to understand.

The moral of this story is that a nation's leader must have certain expectations from all those who are in leadership positions in his country irrespective of which field they are in.

Then the nation's leader should then set his sights on communicating his wishes and vision clear to all he's country's protégés.

In other words, a business and comradely partnership must be alive and working at all times between the president and the protégés, in this case.

With regular feedback to the people, through various communication channels including the media, the president should further seek to debate the issues facing the nation on public platforms like TV and radio with all sectors involved so that more clarity is provided for the nation to know what's happening or not happening.

The 'From the Desk of the President' newsletter, offering weekly updates on the current state of the nation and progress made by government to address some of the issues affecting South Africans, is a step in the right direction.

Ramaphosa should also be concerned for example, about how many of the elected representatives and other industry leaders have taken in on the walks he does to promote a healthy lifestyle.

He should publicly send a strong message to those leaders that are failing to promote a culture of exercising in their constituencies to be warned about failing to lead the people.

And that he would see to it that some form of punishment is metered out to those elected representatives guilty of failing to lead by example.

For now though, a close look at the Ramaphosa presidency will show a leader who is hands-on and listens to the people.

But he can't fix the country alone.

NEWS24

Let’s revive ubuntu to save our country

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa2019-09-19 23:55

This philosophy of ubuntu, a Nguni word meaning humanity in the Queen’s language, appeared in South Africa around the mid-19th century.Once upon a time there was a philosophy called ubuntu.

Although ubuntu has not always received the support and following it should have received from all sectors of South African society, it nevertheless espoused the promotion of humanness through goodness, kindness, sharing, loving and all the qualities encouraged by most faiths universally.

Somehow, by the attainment of democracy in South Africa in 1994, ubuntu, for whatever reason, became an afterthought.

The democratic government, although not opposed to it, at least publicly, did not go out of its way to promote the philosophy of ubuntu as the guiding principle of the post-apartheid dispensation.

Instead, ubuntu would be mostly mentioned in passing by various leaders when and where it suited them to talk about this noble humanistic programme.

THE DEFINITIONS OF UBUNTU RANGE FROM A PERSON IS A PERSON THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE TO I AM BECAUSE WE ARE OR HUMANITY TOWARDS OTHERS. BUT MORE ROBUSTLY IT WOULD MEAN THE BELIEF IN A UNIVERSAL BOND OF SHARING THAT CONNECTS ALL HUMANITY.

The anarchy that has come to characterise the post-1994 dispensation can and must be linked to the demotion of the ubuntu philosophy.

The definitions of ubuntu range from “a person is a person through other people” to “I am because we are” or “humanity towards others”.

But more robustly it would mean “the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity”.

The toxic news on violence against women and children, including that on foreign African nationals living in South Africa, which is the talk of the town all over the world these days, is a sign that South Africa remains a traumatised society.

The blatant truth is that all people, including men, are victims of this violence and anarchy crippling the land.

And the sad part of all this, apart from the loss of lives and injuries inflicted on other human beings by supposedly other “human beings”, is a setback to investments that South Africa desperately needs.

FROM CORRUPTION TO POOR SERVICE DELIVERY, SOUTH AFRICA IS FURTHER SLIPPING AWAY FROM BECOMING A CARING AND PEOPLE-CENTRED NATION. 

From corruption to poor service delivery, South Africa is further slipping away from becoming a caring and people-centred nation.

The triple effects of unemployment, poverty and inequality surely do not make matters better, more so when they are not declining but increasing because of poor leadership.

Many of our societal ills are centuries-old challenges that have not been met with the same measure of leadership needed to overcome them.

HAD THERE BEEN A MORE DETERMINED EFFORT BY THE NATION’S GOVERNORS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SYSTEMATIC INSTITUTIONALISATION OF UBUNTU IN EVERY FACET OF SOUTH AFRICAN LIFE – INCLUDING SCHOOLS AND MOST CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS. 

The many commissions of inquiry that have unfolded since the dawn of democracy in 1994 are testament to this.

But I get the feeling that, just like the increasing number of South Africans from all walks of life, marching in solidarity with those directly affected by the madness that is crippling the nation right now, people are sincere and genuine in calling for an end to violence against others.

Had there been a more determined effort by the nation’s governors, there would have been a systematic institutionalisation of ubuntu in every facet of South African life – including schools and most civil society groups.

Today, South Africa is a shadow of itself. We are no longer the beacon of hope many in the world thought we were when we embarked on what seemed to be a “new beginning” in 1994.

Those who can possibly make a positive contribution in the nation-building project are ignored, and they lack capacity and resources to make themselves heard through the limited platforms and forums they can access.

A lack of a united and coherent voice on what it will take to make South Africa the best in all its endeavours does little to inspire a citizenry starved of meaningful participation and involvement in the development of their communities and country.

As a way forward, all South Africans and the country’s various sectors, industries, institutions and organisations, have to rise to the occasion by providing leadership in how the ubuntu philosophy can be renewed and made to heal the country’s centuries-old traumas.

• Mgudlwa is a journalist and writer of the bestselling children’s book Kiddies World

Imagine if South Africa was like this ...

Thandisizwe Mgudlwa2019-08-02 16:24

The South African flag in the Constitutional Court.

Imagine if this governing party was fully behind its president and leadership as they tried to attract investment and create jobs for all in an effort to end poverty.Imagine if South Africa had a governing party that was united. This governing party had cadres who woke up every day more determined to serve the people of the country, be it in their communities, in the three spheres of government and in every other sector.

Imagine if South Africans woke up every day to the news of another corruption-free delivered government project to create jobs and improve the living conditions of the people.

Imagine if all South Africans woke up every day, knowing that by the end of business and by the end of the day, they would celebrate in the knowledge that they’d had another productive day. And that the results meant that fellow South Africans had a better life than yesterday.

For now, at least, President Cyril Ramaphosa is mostly dreaming, it seems. And, perhaps, the time for all South Africans to dream has come.

Polarising politics is the reality in the republic, be it the Public Protector going against the president or against the SA Revenue Service, the DA against Ramaphosa, or the EFF against Pravin Gordhan.

Imagine, instead, leaders, parties and people who trusted and respected the decisions of the country’s democratic institutions, even if they went against them.

Imagine if our politics were not about going against those with whom we differed, but rather about finding a half-way point at which we trusted one another and worked together to find solutions to the challenges confronting us as a country. It would make a great change from searching for loopholes to destroy others.

Imagine if our leaders, irrespective of party affiliation or ideological differences, worked every day to unite and build South Africa to be the safest, most powerful and prosperous nation on Earth, far surpassing what all the “superpowers” have achieved.

Imagine if all South Africans, every day, were united in dreaming, imagining and building a democratic and nondiscriminating country and the best nationon the planet.

Imagine a country where all its people had enough to eat and drink and acceptable living conditions.

And imagine a country that strived every day to create equal opportunities for all its citizens without regard for race, gender, culture, community and belief.

It could be that for the past 25 years of our constitutional democracy we have been overtrying to do rather than imagining and dreaming of the country in which we want to live.

And, as a way forward, we could join our president in dreaming of the most prosperous nation in the world and eventually achieve it through informed and positive action.

Let’s start dreaming and share our dreams of being a “superpower”, the best the world has seen, and then act on the dreams.

Dream, South Africa, Dream.

Mgudlwa is a journalist and writer of the bestselling children’s book Kiddies World

GUEST COLUMN

Give power to the people

2017-02-12 06:06

(iStock)

After a hectic 22 years’ rule by a democratically elected ANC government, South Africa’s post-1994 dispensation has proved too much to bear for many citizens.

There was a time when the world regarded our country as a beacon of hope. This occurred after we succeeded in narrowly avoiding a racially charged civil war in the 1994 build-up to our new democracy.

When elections and the transfer of power proved to be a relatively peaceful process, global observers called South Africa “the greatest racial miracle the world as ever seen”.

Fast-forward to today, and South Africa has been pegged as a country to avoid. One reason is the high crime rate which continues to plague our nation.

This continuing curse is defined by violence in its many and varied forms.

For example, towards the end of 2003, South Africa experienced its first wave of service-delivery protests.

At the time of the outbreak, many dismissed it as temporary, and part and parcel of the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy. It would not be long before matters returned to normal, they said.

We all know how wrong they were.

The flames of violent protests have been vigorously fanned, culminating in the Marikana massacre of August 2012 – described online as “the single most lethal use of force by South African security forces against civilians since 1960”.

Earlier, in 2006, the trade union movement experienced its darkest hour post democracy when a series of killings – the brutal byproduct of trade union rivalry – brought the country to the brink of instability.

And recently, the higher education sector has been brought to a standstill by students calling for economic transformation and a change in the education system.

Having seen what has happened since democracy, it is safe to assume that the country cannot depend on leaders who were involved in bringing about the new dispensation to turn things around and instil order.

Where did it all go wrong for South Africa? How did we get here? Let us go back to the early 1990s, during the series of negotiations for a new South Africa. These took place under the banner of the Convention for a Democratic SA (Codesa).

A major oversight then was that not all communities, organisations and other South African stakeholders were present at those talks.

The political organisations which took part in the discussions were more concerned about their own agendas than what was best for the country.

If they had placed South Africa’s interests first, we would not still be calling for an electoral system favouring the masses, who remain as voiceless and marginalised as they were during Codesa.

The political organisations which dominated the Codesa talks engineered a party-based democracy.

It looked good on paper, but these days has come to refer to a governing party which calls the shots. Its cadres have to toe the party line or risk being punished for disloyalty.

Codesa proved to be flawed as the electorate have now become mere voters during election time. At other times, they have no say in how and what the party they vote for does, including how they elect their president.

Accountability and transparency from party leaders and elected representatives are nonexistent.

What’s more disturbing is that the opposition parties do not appear to bother much about the masses either.

If the country has a credible civil society, it must campaign for presidential electoral reform to restore power to the people – and do so now.

Mgudlwa is a journalist and writer of the bestselling children’s book Kiddies World