Trump: a reality check for South Africa?

Though it is hard to find a basis for admiring the likes of a Donald Trump I have long suspected that his presidency will lead to a reality check. First of all in his own country where countless formerly thriving and self-sustaining communities experienced slow and painful economic retrogression through neoliberal and globalising forces over half a century under both Republican and Democratic administrations. Their hope was that support for Trump with his earthy anti-establishment rhetoric would help them. At least their plight has now been focused-on, whatever good that will bring.

It had become axiomatic that development aid in Africa tends to land in the pockets of the controlling elites as recent revelations in this country’s faltering public health and other systems continue to demonstrate. In this respect South Africa is a worst case scenario in that at the launch of its new dispensation in 1994 it had at its disposal by far the most advanced infrastructure in Africa, also in health care. The new and inclusive RDP dispensation could have built on this systematically, but dissenting elements within the ruling ANC forced a return of neo-liberalism with all its concomitants of underdevelopment and corruption.

After 20 years this has now led to a crisis of such proportions that at last there are increasing signs of the growth of a popular internal reality check coinciding with the visible dissolution of the power structure. The realisation of being “on our own” with failing crutches from outside can only concentrate the mind and could just force a more sane course in the crisis-ridden country. At the time of Nelson Mandela’s death Trump wrote tweets – his favourite way of thinking aloud -  expressing admiration of the elder statesman and full awareness of the corrupt mess South Africa had become.

It’s only hope is to demonstrate to the world that, as 30 years ago, it has the grassroots will to overcome tyranny. That would give the likes of Trump the opportunity for ready political kudos to support the new dispensation in this still potential powerhouse of Africa as a sign that the USA has the well-being of the Continent at heart. But first, the bullet has to be bitten HERE.