DEADLOCK AND SOCIAL ILLS THAT WE FACE TODAY

DEADLOCK AND SOCIAL ILLS THAT WE FACE TODAY

By Zolisa Memani, Western Sun Newspaper of 18 July 2012.

Unemployment is one of the challenges that we face in this country especially black South Africans, as one look at how things unfold in our communities. One cannot look at the global village and wonder how people relate to each without looking at how people relate at local communities. People are losing jobs and the rate of unemployment continues to grow while we have the business sector that has been called by government to establish partnerships with all relevant stakeholders. In this community of the South of Johannesburg, we need to have a partnership of all stakeholders in one roof for a common course for saving those in need. Once all stakeholders are in partnership we can be able to solve the social ills that we face as the country. We need to come up with ways of coming on board with these stakeholders in helping government to implement policies that are aimed at creating a “better life for all”.  Thru de eye of the needle; sleepless nights and the cold winter days we seem to be infested by deadlocks. The road is full of potholes and the future seems to be bleak for our young people. Anyway good day people base Mzantsi, I was asking some friends the other day on what documents seem to be relevant to read these days to keep abreast with the developments and they all referred to print media as a form of a good tool if used correctly.

So then I asked myself some questions as follows; if media tribunal is implemented, who will benefit out of that resolution or legislation? But one must also balance the equation in that, if media has total access to sensitive information and mislead the public will the dented image of those affected be restored by law suits? I am of the opinion that we need to be engage in these discussions in making sure that all opinions are represented from the onset. What happens to those who are not having access of information and are not clued up with the issues? What has happen to the principle of ubuntu? Where are these structures aimed at empowering us? -For example, if Regeneration Forum is created in our communities? How should we assist those who were not fortunate to acquire the education that was at our disposal by platforms created since 1994? What can be done to assist those in power in ensuring that the decisions they make are well acceptable by the majority? Where are the black intellectuals that we urgently need in our societies and what is it that they do these days? What will happen to those in power but are not well capacitated with the mandates needed for the implementation? Why are we not adding value to the society and not think about those poor citizens in need of services? In the spirit of Madiba Magic spirit that is with us during the 94 Birthday of Tata Mandela we are pleased that people are now taking part in activities that affects them. This will also assist in ensuring that the aims of social cohesion are achieved in this Long Road to Freedom of Nelson Mandela, as Moses did in the Bible, by leading his people to the Promised Land as a humble servant to the people. We really need many people of this caliber in shaping the future of uTata wethu sonke singabantu basemzantsi (our Father as people of Mzantsi Afrika). I am because we are, the time has arrived for the people of Mzantsi to unite together for a common cause.

This road is full of potholes that we have created by driving heavy duty vehicles on roads meant for private cars. In our area for example, you will find heavy duty Lorries in streets meant for small private cars taking the whole street with no space for incoming cars using the same road. Are we facing a threat of some kind of revolution that we are not aware of? The future seems to be bleak for those young kids that are currently unemployed but who envisage being our leaders in future as there are people who would not like to see South Africa becoming a better country. It was said that we are the lost generation and what is happening seem to confirm those projections. One would be scary if we have weapons of mass destruction on the loose with things going on like this; one has to be careful where he goes. Should I attend the events where a huge gathering of ordinary people are invited? These will impact negatively on our economy in the next few years to come and one has to prepare himself on this in time. Only through working together for a common cause will assist us in this war that we face as a country, the “chicken has crossed the ocean and caused the war”. We need to be ready.

What documents should one read in improving the knowledge and that he becomes abreast with the developments of what is happening around the globe? One is exposed to print media, television, internet and books that can be accessed any time. But in our beloved country, we need to participate in the transformation of media and in the establishment of media tribunal, is this good or bad for the country? Media has been used as a useful tool in the fight against the apartheid regime as I was involved in distributing pamphlets from an early age while at high school. I was involved in the distribution of books that informed the communities on what the movement was embarking on in those days and it seemed as a useful tool. But one has to ask if media is relevant in addressing bread and butter issues or is it targeting our leaders in creating some confusion in our communities? Do media improve the knowledge of understanding events, activities and what is happening around the globe? One would agree that by reading newspapers, reading news on internet or watching news on television you get informed on the developments of what leaders do in addressing mandates given to them by their constituencies. In Sweden for example, politicians account to their electorate, but this is not the case in South Africa. People account to politicians and this has created some vacuum when it comes to accountability, is there anyone who can assist me on the developments of Monitoring and Evaluation department for example.

In a democratic society one expect to be engaged on issues that affect the living conditions as we all share the geographic space and resources that belong to the state. One then would like to know how the imbalances of the past will be implemented without someone feeling robbed of their rights. One would think that CST (Colonialism of a special Type) has led us to be in this situation as those who have benefited in the past are still protected by legislation to continue exploiting those who have been robbed of their rights in the past. In some farming communities ordinary farm workers are exploited by their employers, and we read about these every year, but nothing drastic is done to curb the situation. Then if media will be bias of cases involving blacks killing whites or vice versa then one would support that media should be transformed. The question is on state indoctrination, if government will censor articles that should be published. Is it not infringing the rights of media groups who would like to express views that will be against the misuse of state resources in settling political agendas?

Who owns the media? Media cannot only look at the challenges that will be created if it has not participated or created platforms that allows transformation and invited Africans to own these companies. One would remember that black journalist met some time ago in addressing matters pertaining to the exploitation by white editors. Has this not created a platform that media should be transformed? What happens to cases on which certain newspapers would write a statement in small one paragraph in apologizing for a misinformed or wrong article and what has done in the previous publications? Everyone should have an interest in these debates and this does not mean that we should create a situation of editors who will act as lap dogs for administrations who are in power. But one can also support the situation that a national debate on this must be created and call all citizens to participate in shaping what media should act like in the future. Media must stop complaining if certain groups decide not include them in their internal discussions as a press release will be issued later informing the public on what was agreed upon. Family matters for example, should be discussed by family members and a spokesperson to come out and inform us on the decisions taken in that meeting. This can be done by media companies on informing the public about the development of the public representatives on the mandates given. So, should we go for a state of isolation and state of emergency in addressing these concerns raised by fellow citizens? What will happen to the economy?

As Africans we have the concept of Ubuntu and should not only apply it if people feel that it is safe to do so. South Africa is part of Africa and anything is possible, so then why can’t we engage on community based organizations in addressing these concerns? It is only when those in power of recourses are supposed to come with strategies of sharing them with the poor would feel intimidated by what is proposed. South Africans are not talking amongst each other on issues that should be addressed, but are good at throwing stones at each other. We need to come with ways that should be aimed at developing each other, why not share the bread you have with those suffering than throwing it away? Through our Mandela Day events coverage on the 18^th of July 2012, we met a Project Manager of one of the sponsors in the event that we attended in Turffontein. She caught our attention in that Black South African Business Communities are not coming on board on campaigns that are aimed at promoting participation of stakeholders for a common cause. When you look at structures that were created in the past aimed at addressing this challenge, are only there in theory, look at Moral Regeneration Forum for example, what reports do they submit to parliament on monthly basis? Social Cohesion debates can be used as the platform in shaping the communities we would like to have in our future generations, where does one start in monitoring this project in these communities? Do all towns or suburbs have street committees, if so, how often do these households sit and discuss challenges they face in those streets? Is there a website in which you can go to that will inform you on the developments and challenges that our government faces? Has the CPF been launched with a constitution that will guide provinces, municipalities and regions in helping the unemployed youth in participating in volunteer programmes? In theory, yes we have these platforms and might be working on pilots in some areas, but are they effective enough for citizens to access them?

We have developed some greed as individuals and need to go for some social counseling as suggested by the Bishop Tutu a few years ago, this will bring back the concept of Ubuntu in our medullar oblongata and practice this in our daily lives. When you take salaries earned by our Ministers, government officials, civil servents, CEOs of companies, leaders in all structures and the working force of this country we should have at least acted patriotic and suggested ways of improving the living conditions of the working class and those in need especially the poor, either by volunteering to cut their month salary to a coffer that will assist in this deadlock. People are angry in that they have voted for some of these leaders who do not have messy for the poor people but are good in spending money on parties and travelling or buying expensive cars or houses. These leaders are voted for but cannot go back to their primary schools or high schools in the communities they grew up in and assist in developing a new crop of coming leaders in those areas. The leadership of this current administration was voted in power with the understanding that the poor will be at the centre, but has this happened? As individuals we’re fallible and always make mistakes, but if we do not address these mistakes we will end up facing the reality. These leaders will have to go back to these constituencies and become part of the society, but if we continue like this, you will have to remember what happened to George Orwell‟s Animal Farm book. Napoleon will end up claiming that “some animals are more equal than others” Are we really going toward this direction as a country? In chapter 5 of this book it reads as follows “Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others. "Comrades," he said, "I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be? Suppose you had decided to follow Snowball, with his moonshine of windmills--Snowball, who, as we now know, was no better than a criminal?" "He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed," said somebody. "Bravery is not enough," said Squealer. "Loyalty and obedience are more important. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated. Discipline, comrades, iron discipline! That is the watchword for today. One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?" Once again this argument was unanswerable. Certainly the animals did not want Jones back; if the holding of debates on Sunday mornings was liable to bring him back, then the debates must stop. Boxer, who had now had time to think things over, voiced the general feeling by saying: "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." And from then on he adopted the maxim, "Napoleon is always right," in addition to his private motto of "I will work harder." By this time the weather had broken and the spring ploughing had begun. The shed where Snowball had drawn his plans of the windmill had been shut up and it was assumed that the plans had been rubbed off the floor. Every Sunday morning at ten o'clock the animals assembled in the big barn to receive their orders for the week. The skull of old Major, now clean of flesh, had been disinterred from the orchard and set up on a stump at the foot of the flagstaff, beside the gun. After the hoisting of the flag, the animals were required to file past the skull in a reverent manner before entering the barn. Nowadays they did not sit all together as they had done in the past. Napoleon, with Squealer and another pig named Minimus, who had a remarkable gift for composing songs and poems, sat on the front of the raised platform, with the nine young dogs forming a semicircle round them, and the other pigs sitting behind. The rest of the animals sat facing them in the main body of the barn. Napoleon read out the orders for the week in a gruff soldierly style, and after a single singing of 'Beasts of England', all the animals dispersed” George Orwell – Animal Farm chapter 5.

Is it true that history (or should I say his story) repeat itself in some case? I did not expect COSATU to be in this struggle after Polokwane as the elected leadership was more lenient and bias to the left. The Tripartite Alliance should have been instrumental in ensuring that we do not have what we are now experiencing as it involves all parties that have ensured that we are in this process. At leadership level everyone should have been abreast with the developments of the mandates at hand and should have proposed ways that should have avoided this situation. As a country we will not recover from the losses we have incurred in the process of this deadlock and leadership should have guided the negotiators in ensuring that there is stability in the public servants. To me as an ordinary citizen a father of school going children, it seems as a power struggle and political scoring game by those who knew that we will be having this deadlock prior and did not come up with solutions in addressing these issues. I am frustrated by what is happening as we are in this season of strikes as we will see others mushrooming from other sectors as well. When are we going to address unemployment? What must I feel as a poor citizen and as an electorate? I would therefore request those in a position to educate me on the above mentioned concerns to do so that I can be at par with everyone who knows the reason of this deadlock. Who is benefitting from this? Leaders emerge; a new crop of leadership has emerged and wants to make a statement to those in charge. Thus I have summed it up to a political scoring battle between those involved meanwhile people are dying at hospitals and children are not getting any education. As about 40 to 60% of our people still go home to sleep without any food at the table while we have those who just through food to the dust bins, time to wake up Mzantsi let work together in partnership for a common cause.