what do i say?

thanks to rachelle potgieter for the pictures

Imraan Saloojee 10 November at 17:38
Hi Rouhana. I love you FB updates. sometimes funny, sometimes angry but always good.
On another matter, I am trying to get views from a few people whose opinion I trust. Being out of the country for some time, my constant news source for home has been the Internet. Reading the news bulletins for South Africa is really depressing! We seem to be lurching from one crisis to another. The rhetoric on all sides is becoming sharper and there is a real lack of respect. It seems that collectively we are as polarised as the bad apartheid days. What is going on?

i read this message sent to my inbox, by a school mate, and i can claim a good friend, and in that moment my mind hit a blank. what would i say in response.
i love this country of ours warts and all, but what do i say, our political and social landscape is just that depressing. i have blogged ad nausea, about corruption, general lack of accountability, lack of respect etc.

Imraan the sad truth is, i believe we have a people that have no understanding or comprehension of what democracy can mean to us as a nation.
sadly the liberation movement that brought us great joy, in breaking the shackles of apartheid, have failed to translate this into good governance.
our fear of falling into the racially divisive trap has meant that every failure, in terms of service delivery, infrastructures,etc. is never adequately dealt with, because it deteriorates into "you are saying this because we are black" litany.

spear headed by the likes of julius malema and others of the same ilk. when one cannot take responsibility for ones failures it is easier to blame race.
what we need is to believe in ourselves,the idea of entitlement has resulted in gross mismanagement, racial incitement, and a loss of patriotic fervour.

the struggle for equality was to give every South African a chance under our African sun, it did not discriminate when it came to race, since we have addressed these indiscretions it hasn't resulted in those in positions of power whether in government or within business putting the country and its people first, it has resulted in a demand for more material wealth and possessions, and once again a small majority have risen to financial highs while ordinary South Africans pay the bills. and watch the noose tighten around our necks.

what we need to get beyond is the issue of colour, to call a spade a spade, so if you are not performing, you should be fired, not kept in employment, ad infinitum.
the result is a general feeling of discontentment amongst South Africans who see their efforts being squandered, when this discontent is voiced, then you are automatically accused of racism.

the way i see it, it is about taking ownership of our mistakes as well as our failures, and until employment is not seen as an endless cash cow, but rather a privilege, that allows us to be a productive, developing nation, proud of our history and our achievements. we will remain a nation of whiners who's demands out way our pride and our morality.

what it is, is plain selfishness, an inability to love and put our country first on the part of government, big business corporations.
and when Joe public absorbs this, he to becomes selfish and abusive of his surroundings, his country, his people. why should we say no to crime, if government is crime riddled, and so the issues continue unabated an unresolved.

there seems an inability on any ones part to be honest and up front about these shortcomings. alas i have rambled on imraan, but i know without a doubt that this the land of my birth, is not doomed to failure. i believe there are more South Africans out there with a vision, to be a non racist,non sexist,united people. and until we get over our embarrassment regarding the race question, until we can say hey, you have failed to do what you have been mandated to, and we are going to utilise someone more competent, without playing the race card, it will be a long hard journey, but i believe we can get there.

lets just hope julius malema does not become a South African president, for then i know not what the future will hold. there is a lot of dead wood out there, the favours for comrades, friends, have all been attended to, now i think is the time to be accountable. i believe that people like you and i could make a difference, and the future lies in the hands of children, who are brought up with the right degree of respect, morality and pride in there nationality. what we need is to put the greater good ahead of the good for myself.

i attended the remembrance day parade on Sunday, and watched the young and old men and women of the SANDF, proudly march past city hall, i felt a sense of pride and belonging, this army was used to suppress , now it holds its head high in defense of all South Africans, these men and women, had pride and a loyalty to this country, a remembrance of our failings, and an acceptance of the best we can be, united and strong. i believe this is the South Africa we should be building. and i do believe given the right governance it can be achieved.