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Just over a year ago, we stood at the polls to cast our votes at the fifth general elections in a democratic South Africa. For about one million South Africans, this was their first time exercising this hard-won right as enshrined in that small book, which forms the foundation of our boisterous democracy – the constitution. I was one of these South Africans (I just gave away my age there).
In about 10 months time, this one million strong will once again be called upon at the local government elections. Although with an increased compliment, to make that all important mark next to the political party which they think can take this embattled Nelson Mandela Bay metro, and other municipalities forward.
Of course, things have changed in the past year. What was once known as an apolitical and apathetic generation, concerned solely with the mass consumption of pop-culture, has displayed a maturity and wisdom (although some may resolve to say militancy and radicalism) that has left them flabbergasted.
The fallacy of the “born free” narrative that has dominated our socio-political discourse has been exposed. “Born frees” are no longer pacified.
They are free to think and express themselves with an agency and tenacity that has proven to be unpopular to those who have for so long, enjoyed this false sense of comfort.
The level of intellectual debate that is currently taking place around transformation at institutions of higher learning in South Africa which was sparked by one human-excrement-hurling University of Cape Town student, only goes to show to what lengths we have to go in order for our born free voices to be heard.
his would also be the catalyst of the hashtag RhodesMustFall movement.
I find this interesting considering how erudition is denounced by our very own first citizen, who will be quick to call you a “clever black” should you attempt to hold him to account. Because you know, our government is above reproach.
It is the same false sense of comfort that has landed the Nelson Mandela Metro in the morass in which it currently finds itself. Rampant corruption, a deep rooted culture of patronage and the failure to exercise sound fiduciary responsibility over the public purse are just some of the reasons why our metro’s economy has performed so poorly in comparison to its counterparts.
A few hours away from this metro we recently witnessed history when the SRC elections at the University of Fort Hare, historically an ANC stronghold, were won by the DA affiliated DASO. In true ANC style, attempts to rescue these elections by sending the Minister of Fun… I mean, Sport, Fikile Mbalula – As well as Deputy President of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa were in vain. This unfortunately, is akin to using band-aid to cover bullet holes. This victory is indicative of how the youth can displace those who have become complacent in positions which they were mandated to deliver services to those who have placed them there. After all, public servants serve at the behest of the ordinary South African. Or at least they are supposed to.
We recently saw this quick-fix approach being employed by the ruling party when Mr. Fix It, Danny Jordaan was placed at the helm of NMB, to steer us clear of the rough seas in which we currently find ourselves.
The power that lies within this smart, dynamic and hyper-tasking generation is often underestimated. In just six months, this generation has championed the discourse around race relations in South Africa. They have made everyone sit up and listen.
We have begun to re-imagine and redefine what it means to be a “born free”, just as we are currently redefining and understanding what it means to be an African in a largely Europeanised Africa.
The leadership in the Nelson Mandela Bay needs to be shaken up, just as UCT was when Rhodes fell. In the same way that SASCO was displaced by DASO at the University of Fort Hare.
The culture of self-preservation and the false sense of comfort in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality must fall.
