MY CONTRIBUTION TO
SOUTH AFRICANS ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM DAYS
By ZolisaMemani
This extract was motivated
by the release of the Auditor General report released on the 12 March 2013 and
that as we move towards the commemoration of Human Rights Day on the 21 March
2013. The question is what does this mean to me as an ordinary South African
citizen, an electorate, a father who has not managed to get an opportunity of any
formal employment while most South Africans are looting the resources aimed at
the development of our democratic values? Since I have been practically
participating in the recruitment of people to vote for ANC since 1994 and have
voted for the party I thought it will bring a difference to the ordinary people
who are living in poverty while we should be celebrating the benefits of our
democracy. After 20 years since the independence, I am asking as to why I must vote
for the ANC as I cannot be able to justify why I am living the life I am living
while there are those who are busy gallivanting, partying and celebrating the
fruits of our democracy and doing nothing to change the ordinary lives of poor
people like us.
We have Ministers and some
of those who still continue to serve as our officials and are not seen
practically to be doing something but would be the one who would keep
complaining that we are losing moral values and are in charge of improving the
social ills that we face as a nation. I have visited some young people (in the
areas I have conducted this research) who smoke drugs, ganja and nyaope and
asked why they are doing what they do, the common answer to most of them was
that there are no programmes aimed at developing their skills and have not been
offered any opportunity by those programmes created. As someone who is
passionate about youth development I have also asked as to why we have no
programmes such as your Multipurpose Community Centres in our communities where
we can sharpen the skills of these young people. I remember when I was tasked
to run an NPO, called Project Findafinda, it had a ten year programme that we
drafted as agreed upon, in brief we had to capacitate young people that we
identified on Computer Literacy Skills, Housing Skills, Human Rights Awareness
programmes, and Sports, Arts and Culture Participation. When we started I
managed to recruit 150 interested participants from women, young people, and
some unemployed people whom I managed to establish a relation with an
institution called Cida City Campus and they went for Computer Literacy Skills
and achieved certificates for that. It was after that I realized that there were
shark companies who then recruited those people to their own programmes and
offered them two days training for call centre and paid them for attending the
course with the option of employing them after this training. We had to release
these young people to these working opportunities, though this was a setback
for our programmes, and we had to go back and recruit again and again until the
shoes were finished on the sides. We then became a laughing stalk in the
community. As an NPO we had no money, we recruited these people to be trained
for those skills and then go for some second training phase as we agreed, the
challenge was that, only two out of the 150 that we sent only managed to go to
Black Sash Paralegal Course and were also offered employment opportunities
after they managed to get their certificates. We had to close shop as I was
also unemployed but only wanted to change other people’s lives which we did in
most of those that we recruited. It was some of the way things used to happen
while growing up as we were used to see “Onontlalontle” meaning people who
would take care of the vulnerable people in societies that are now referred to
as Social workers. These Onontlalontle would visit households in communities and would identify challenges
that families would encounter and come up with practical solutions in solving
the challenges that these families faced. It was with this spirit that a child
would become a child of every parent in that community, you would not smoke in front
of anyone older than you and get away with it. When the ANC government come to
power it took some of the powers or authority that parents had, like you cannot
beat or discipline a child even if it has done something wrong, thus now you
see communities face the challenges that they face. The constitutional powers
have made parents to lose their powers as it would refer that the child is
abused if it is discipline by its parent or anyone older when a child has committed
a crime. These are some of the concerns that I have raised “On the topic of
Ideologies” as we have lost how as Africans must live our lives without being prejudiced
by some of those who have been promoting a Nuclear family life instead of an
Extended family life style. If the intention of establishing the Street
Committees would be of reviving these values and not be seen as some form of
bringing back the Kangaroo court system, then we will somehow learn some of the
values that have worked for us in the past. As we move towards the commemoration
of Freedom Day, we need to understand as to what has this freedom brought to
ordinary South Africans, should we apprehend those young kids smoking Nyaope at
the corner and referred to them as criminals or should we find ways of coming
with strategies that would build these young people to be better citizens. We
can only achieve these goals if we create platforms or an environment that is
conducive for them that would expose them to (hobbies like internet networking,
blogging, writing their own stories in a Multipurpose Community Centre that is
within their walking distance) things that they will end up enjoy doing and
replace the bad habit of smoking pipe and standing in street corners managing
the Lokshin gospel.
If we as Findafinda, could
have managed to get some financial support from those institutions that we
approached including government, we could have been able to achieve all what we
were aiming to achieve, changing people’s lives. I would therefore call all
those who are working and are stable to come back and volunteer their services
to local community based organisations and provide some pro-bono services and
help in the establishment of Community Multipurpose Centres so as some of the
social ills that we face as a nation can be addressed. If as South Africans we
can revive the spirit of volunteerism as Gwala, Mandela, Hani, Sisulu, Barayi, Tambo,
Nokwe, and those who were able to sacrifice their lives for this democracy we
now enjoy, we can be able to address some of the social ills that we experience
daily in our communities. We have moved from the culture of Ubuntu that was
practiced by Africans in the past to a culture that promotes individual way of
life, if you look at the serries of articles I will be releasing called “On the topic of Ideologies” you will
note that we need to engage each other on how we can revive the spirit of
Ubuntu for those who continue to be victims of an unjust society we are
becoming. If all of us can just ask a question as to what are we doing in
helping others, not to benefit but to ensure that the communities that were
envisaged by our predecessor who have drafted documents such as the Freedom Charter.
As a Minister, CEO of a company, engineer, social worker, employee or
government official for example, you can assist a school on any project that
you can volunteer your skills and assist those who need them, you can also
volunteer in a local soccer team, NGO, any community structure that aims to
improve ordinary lives of others, but what is happening? People would rather
spend their leisure time on things that fulfil their own personal wellbeing or
sleep well with no stress while the majority is under stress and not
participate in a school project in which his/her child is getting an education
from. While I served as the Chairperson for one particular school, we would
call people to involve themselves on school projects but support was minimal
and mostly it would be the same people who are not working in these sectors as
it would be domestic workers, ordinary people who were willing to come on
board, but as for those managers participation was minimal.
I was also inspired to
write this article by the words of former struggle icon, Mr Nelson Mandela when
he said, “if the ANC does to you what the apartheid…..to the apartheid
government” as shown in the picture below. It seems that the current
administration is also doing what the apartheid government did if I would be
unemployed for so long and still have the guts to vote for the party I believe
it will bring change to my life. Enough is enough, is it time for me to change
my decision and my vote for 2014 NPE? Will my decision be based on the basic
fundamental principles of Human Rights that we need as a nation, or will it be
based on the Ubuntu principle and values? When you read the article on “IVILI
ELINOMKHONTO”, I am asking individuals (from Ginsburg, King Williams Town,
during my vitis on the lauch of Steve Biko Foundation last year in November) as
to what is their opinion on the current developments that we face as a nation,
does the leadership that we have elected really consider our concerns or are
they just enjoying the benefits that they are getting and forgetting that
things could change and that the very same people could change their votes. If
you look at the unedited book of Falco Mazwelane’s “History of South Africa and
ANC 20 years later”, you will realize that the concerns rose on the
leadership’s accountability on issues that affect communities they do not comply
with the mandates that were given to them by those who have voted them to
power. Where did we go wrong as a nation? Some of the expressions are only
based on looking at ways that would assist all of us in forging ways of working
together for the betterment of our nation. It has come to my attention that
most of my articles are based on criticizing the current leadership, but these
are my arrears of concerns, where must I address them? One of the platforms
created by this democratic country is media and bogs such as this, I am raising
these concerns with the understanding that someone out there reading this will
educate me and make me understand as to why has the ANC that has shifted on its
principles, values and missions. While growing up we believed in ‘each one
teaches all’ principle but where did this go? But when you look at my
contributions on the Lenasia saga in November 27, 2012 and December 05 2012
from IOL and News 24 newsletters, you will note that something is wrong out
there, why ordinary people are still victims of the current system that has promised
to look at their needs?
After reading the Auditor
General’s report, I have felt that I need to write about challenges that we
face as a nation and who do we think we should listen to. We have given the ANC
enough time to prove itself on governing us despite the dismal failure it has
shown since they came to power, should we still repeat the same mistake even if
we can see that the party is busy having a party and a joyful gravy Shilowa
express train ride in looting the country’s resources. With the skills I have
acquired in the past, I think I can run a department much better than those who
have shown lack of leadership qualities. But then who am I? As most of us know
our Ministers, you will still continue see them on TV doing damage control
while there are spokespersons to address the media, I would recommend that
Ministers should just refrain from discussing departmental issues on TV and
refer these matters to their appointed Spokespersons, this will save them the
embarrassment that they potray everytime they appear on the box. As elected by
the electorate, they should only respond to legislative matters that affect the
Constitution and focus on looking at how they can improve ways of implementing
the legislation they are appointed to do, just stick to what they are employed
to do. As grant recipients, they should be thankful of what they get and try to
share it with those in need and have elected them to these positions. It has
come to my knowledge that some of these leaders when they are no longer needed
in their portfolios, they want to take their seats as well, “please leave the
seat as you have failed so that those who come after you can be able to have a
seat that they can use” It is not only public servants officials who should
take the blame on this failure reported by the AG, but those legislatures
tasked to lead us to “a better life for all” who are also failing us as a
nation but only looking at serving their own interests. The misuse of public
funds by those in charge shows that some of these political leaders do not understand
the basic principles of PMFA (Public Finance Management Act No.1 of 1999) and
that there is no clear visible Programme of Action tabled before budgets can be
approved. My comments on NDP earlier on, were that it has already failed even
before it has started since it is based on the current rules of promoting
self-enrichment by (the elite group) those in power. If a Minister for example,
would want a plan to be implemented in his /her Department, strategic companies
would be recruited and those connected to the ANC will get the government deals
despite the fact of their lack of skills and capacity. They will then employ a third
or fourth company that will be tasked to deliver the job and that company will
employ a second company that will recruit companies with skills to do the job.
The Department can only then get consultants who will then come on board and
make recommendations that are only based on ensuring that they also benefit
from that deal as it is clearly stated on the current Auditor’s report. It is a
shame that people would portray themselves as people who are fighting for
better living conditions for poor people while they themselves become
recipients of the grants aimed to benefit the poor. The current leadership is committing
political suicide and have no one to blame should the ANC fail to achieve the
two thirds majority in next year’s elections as it has been seventeen years
since it came to power, “if you milk the cow and not feed it or/and give it
water, where do you expect to get milk the next time you want milk?” These are
experiences that we see on a daily basis and those with no programmes such as
land, work opportunities, housing, educational opportunities, security, abuse
by those in power, will not accept the plans such as NDP (as a political
campaign next year) as there are no practical implementation strategies that
are visible for everyone to see. We cannot be still planning in 2013 without
any satisfaction guaranteed to the majority, if those within ANC are not happy
themselves, how do you expect people who were part of the patriotic front
movement be happy with the current developments? How will you expect ordinary
South Africans who are clueless on what these AG reports, Budget by the Finance
Minister mean to them? People want to see things happening, not theories that
will us to a better life for all, they want to see better life happening to
everyone in their communities. Has ANC looked at what made RDP, GEAR, ASGISA or
the current policy programmes failed and expect that a cut and paste will
succeed in the 2014 NPE? What Ministers or Politicians should not forget is
that, they are elected by people to serve people and if they do not do what
they are mandated to do, the people will use their vote again to remove them
from those positions. For those who are in Politics for positions should not
forget what Oom Harry Gwala used to say, ‘if people are in the ANC for
positions, they are in the wrong place, they must grow their beards and call a
group of people and establish some church group of followers who must listen to
them’, in the ANC there are robust debates in which cases people will accept or
not accept, the organisation believes in democratic centralism it is clear that
some of our leaders have opted not to listen people, and this will be tested in
the coming elections.
If government departments
can only start recruiting people with capacity and skills to do the job instead
of outsourcing everything, because the government has to increase the number of
black millionaires. In my research on some offices, I have noticed that the ANC
government has created some “cheque collectors syndrome”, where officials are
only going to work for the sake of going to work, there is no staff motivation,
no responsibilities allocated to those in charge to do tasks that are aimed at
the development of the African soul. We also have responsibilities that are
outsourced even though they are not supposed to have been outsourced, take
security, cleaning for a municipal office, these are supposed to be permanent
jobs created for ordinary South Africans who are unemployed but most of these
end up being taken by Zimbabwean companies and later when things get stolen in
these offices, we start blaming each other. It is clear that there is a budget
for this, the accounting officer can motivate as to why we need to shift from
the current system and move towards a people driven economic system aimed at
the development of the African soul. If we really need clean administration, it
would be advisable if we share these resources and allow ordinary people to
take charge and clean their municipal offices, employ South Africans to be
securities in these offices, then we can achieve clean audit reports. The
Auditor General recommends that we need “commitments by both the executive and
the legislative arms of government to intensify their efforts to bring about
positive change within administration” and this can save
all of us in ensuring that we achieve clean audits as we progress next year. If
there are institutions that can improve something within one year of something
that will take years to improve like the SAPS department, why do we get those
skills and implement them?
If the City of Joburg for
example, would want to be regarded as a Smart City come 2040, it should start
by ensuring that Sports facilities that we have in the South of Joburg are
utilised effectively and that there are programmes aimed at ensuring that young
people are kept away from mischief and are given an opportunity to utilize
these facilities for the betterment of themselves and their communities. In
some cases it does not take a rocket scientist to see where mistakes are made
and people who are dealing with policy implementation plans should only be
given 6 months performance appraisal contracts so as they can deliver programmes
aimed at their development, we should stop “copy and paste” system on matters
related to implementation of policies. If this work can be given to individuals
that are willing to come on board and assist in the implementation of some of
these policies instead of outsourcing this work and give it to consultants who
have contributed negatively in most department as recommended by the Auditor General
in his last report. If legislatures can see and understand as to why some of
these concerns that we raised can be used positively in ensuring that policies
are implemented and that people tasked to do the work will focus in what their
mandates are, then they can be able to report directly on the developments of
these programmes instead of shifting the blame to consultants who have employed
a third party at the mandate at hand. These will as well assist in the
implementing the ethos of Ubuntu as those task upon to deal with these
initiatives will be dealing with ordinary people at the ground, why should we
employ consultants who have to deal with the management of issues that have
been mandated by the electorate, my advise is that a department for example,
must employ people instead of delegating their responsibilities to the third
party, who if it fails nothing can be done to that third party. If someone is
tasked and employed to implement policies and fails, his /her credibility will
be at stake, but if it’s a company, then managers can move from one company to
the other and repeat the same mistake at another institution without any damage
done to their credentials or credibility.
Though we have Human
Rights Day, Freedom Day, Africa Day, Youth Day, Woman Day and Heritage Day,
these days will mean nothing to those who are not benefiting the fruits of our
freedom. If the attitude of those tasked to lead would change from not caring to
the one of caring maybe people will gain back the confidence that this nation
had during the early 1990 when most political parties were unbanned. For
government officials that cannot stop complaining that (government) it has been
getting negative reports will not help until people start taking
responsibilities of their actions. If in 1913 on this day, my land was taken by
some old plas jappie called Jan Koos Gert with some paper (Title Deed)
indicating that he was now the owner of my land, and 100 years later my land
still belongs to Jan, how do you make me feel? A policy even though it may sound very nice and
convincing, it does not change the status, I am still a slave in my own land
and I will not stop complaining to those
I have mandated to restore the situation, I will still look at things in a
negative way as I have been voting for the past elections and will still feel
that my dole is not used effectively but to feed the gastrointestinal of those scrupulous
few elites who continue to claim to be serving my interest, but are not giving
me back my land from Jan Koos Gert. I would at least want to be given a
positive (that I must go to office so and so and claim back my land) report as
it has been 100 years today and that I will be dying living my clan to suffer
as slave with no land, give me the good news and I will not hesitate to thank
you for the wonderful work that you are doing. In Johannesburg South for
example, we have a situation that has gone from bad to worse, some South
African colluding with foreign nationals like Nigerians hijacking properties
and renting them to poor South Africans and expecting high rental fees from
them. Kanti who is the Boss here? Ganti Bosso ke mang? If government was to be
called a shop and that the electorate were called customers, should customers
keep quiet to sour milk sold in the pretence of fresh milk? I normally take it
back to the shop keeper and either expect a refund or fresh milk, this is what
people would expect from those Ministers elected to serve them, they should
become servants of the people and not be dictators of terms of reference. I
would then expect to have my land or will have to think again on where my allegiance
would lie in the next elections.
