(Please note that racist, party political,
and religious comments will be deleted)
This is the only country most of
us have. If we don’t work at making it a success, we are digging our own
premature grave.
Given what appears to be the
increasingly fragile political trajectory we have now embarked on, it is
increasingly difficult to remain optimistic and positive about this great
country’s future. Government plans and policies aimed at promoting progress are
countered, stifled, and denigrated by ruling and opposition party members
alike. Calls for anarchy are becoming the order of the day as lesser political
parties are given major media play. The silent majority in our country are
muzzled as their words carry no weight. The voiceless remain without a voice. Yet
the silent majority and voiceless are the prime victims of the unfolding chaos.
I have always maintained that I
would rather be part of an imperfect solution than a forced participant in a
civil war. Yet, it seems that many across the political, racial, and religious
divide are calling for exactly that—armed conflict within our own borders.
Their calls are increasingly and disturbingly gaining traction, not only from
the uneducated, impoverished, those who have lost hope, and those that were
misled with false promises, but also from senior political figures and
perception creators who are intimating ‘blood must flow’.
To prepare for the bloodletting,
some political parties and minority groups have already established so-called
‘military wings’. Others have already begun stockpiling weapons and ammunition…
The reality is that the political
clock cannot be turned backwards. Nor can it be fast-forwarded without
considering the chaos and uncertainty it can create.
What is cause for some concern is
that those who seem to be calling for an immediate fast-forward to encourage
conflict and war in our country, have very little to no idea what they are
truly calling for. I doubt they have walked through the figurative rivers of
blood, or seen and smelled the bloated bodies of the dead.
Perhaps they should be sent to
DRC, Libya, Nigeria, Niger, South Sudan, or Somalia to get some sense….
When one reads, hears, or sees
the daily news, regardless which medium is used, it is obvious the calls for an
armed uprising are steadily increasing. The snowball effect an armed uprising
brings to South Africa is a lack of domestic and foreign investment,
destruction of the country and its infrastructure along with property, the killing
of fellow-citizens—and ultimately, national bankruptcy and abject failure. The
rhetoric that is currently being spouted by the conflict callers and false
prophets of doom, complete with ‘false facts’, is adding to the looming chaos.
The path from ‘reasonable
economic and political stability’ to state fragility is gathering momentum, and
is being fuelled on a daily basis. The lessons of history have conveniently
been ignored by those who should know better—but don’t.
In my book ‘Composite Warfare’, I
listed what I believe to be the most common drivers and elements that
constitute a fragile state, and I believe we are either very close, or have
already arrived there. Not only that, our fragility is gathering momentum and
leading us headlong towards a failed state. Indeed, several elements of a
failed state have already manifested themselves.
State departments,
municipalities, state-owned enterprises, and large critical service providers
are collapsing and, in some instances, have already collapsed. Coupled to this
sorry state of affairs, corruption, blatant theft, financial mismanagement
(another term for theft), industrial action and sabotage, a shrinking economy,
rising unemployment, organised crime, incompetence, protests, strikes and
violent marches, hate speech, and more, have simply added to the steady
degradation of the Pillars of State. Our falling currency does not help
matters.
Paid-for services can no longer
be expected—instead, one is deemed fortunate if they are indeed even delivered.
Taxpayers are being slowly choked to death or forced to leave the country.
Others are driven away by an increasing crime wave. The homes of those that can
afford it are now secured by walls, gates, electric fencing, cameras, dogs, and
private security guards.
Every traffic light hides a
potential ambush, carjacking, or robbery. Political rhetoric has successfully
divided the country along economic, racial, and tribal lines. The sense of
entitlement that has permeated our society is now considered the new norm. In
fact, ‘entitlement’ has become institutionalised.
Our Constitution has become a
document that holds no value to some. All constitutions are occasionally
subjected to debates, reviews, and changes, but to rewrite elements thereof to
suit a specific political narrative is a folly that will result in massive
political and economic aftershocks, and upheaval.
Attempts by the Presidency to
halt this mess and restore order are being met with fierce resistance by those
whose who appointed themselves the sole beneficiaries of the country’s wealth.
The very emotive issue of land has become a major political stage that is being
exploited by all sides.
Over the past weeks I have
watched us slide deeper towards chaos. It has also made me realise that
attempts at finding a solution are rapidly becoming wishful thinking.
Whereas governments may come and
go, the State remains. We seem to be heading towards a failed state that will
need to cope with generational and institutionalised damage. I have no desire
to be living in a failed state. And unless drastic government intervention is
exercised, it seems it is no longer a matter of ‘if’ but of ‘when’.
It is no wonder that so many
beyond our borders and our shores view us as an overripe banana republic, where
some are even trying to steal its bruised skin.