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One can fully agree with most sentiments expressed by Mr. Hatang, but in me there is an overwhelming sense that something is missing. A sense that something fundamental is being overlooked. I am still not quite sure as how to articulate this, but I will try. It has to do with history, with momentum, realism and idealism. It has to do with vision.
Yes, there is no question about it. We need radical change. Social justice. But what are the ills we see? What are the solutions? Is it merely the absence of "Ubuntu" and "anti-black" racism? Are the solutions merely "riding the historical wave" as the author puts it? Does the answer lie in creating an internal historical enemy and polarizing the nation? Our democracy has indeed been "captured" as Sello puts it, but not captured by someone or something external. It was captured by our very own minds. The "capture" lies in the way we see things - the way they are - as opposed to the way they could or should be. Let me explain.
Reference is made to "the elite", for instance. Governmental "elite". Now, what exactly makes these people the "elite" ? Is it the fact that they can travel in multi-vehicle blue-light convoys on their way to an airport to proceed on a trip abroad? Is it their 13 luxury homesteads and their ability to pay R millions for a buffalo? Is it the fact that they can appoint friends, family and cronies to lucrative positions? Is it the fact that they have accumulated R Billions in cash, shares and properties? Is it the fact that they have business interests and that they are popular - or the fact that they control the armed forces? Is it because they merely belong to the same organisation as the late Mr. Mandela?
When we talk about poverty and inequality, it is so easy and popular to put this in the historical context. To blame someone else. The Past. What we fail to see, is that our leaders are actually the creators of this poverty and inequality. But how do we see our leaders?We see them as the "elite".The celebrities. This is what needs to change.
Democracy is Government by the people for the people. This implies that Government is not the "Boss", but the servant of the people. The highest democratic level is not our President, but the people. The People do not take orders from the Government. The people do not take orders from a Political Party.
Until we see our Government as a servant - put systems in place to ensure they do the job for which we appointed them - and only that job - no outside "business interests - until that time our democracy will be "captured". Until that time we stop allowing our politicians the stage of populism, and treating them as Idols competitors, our democracy will remain "captured".
Until that time we demand cost-benefit figures justifying trips abroad and other governmental expenditure- until that time we invert the authorization pyramid - until that time our democracy will remain "captured". Until we see political "elite" for what they have done for the people and not for what they have done for themselves, their families , friends or cronies - our democracy will remain "captured".
Until that time we stop being mesmerized by "injustices of the past"; until that time we stop polarizing the nation along racial lines for political expedience ; until that time we open our eyes to the reality of present injustices - focus on the future with all its possibilities - our democracy will remain "captured".
