South Africans are the worst kind of bipolar sufferers: put some bleeding guy with an oblong-shaped ball on a patch of grass and the entire country clings to one another like chewing gum to an economy-class table. But raise the topics of crime or politics and we’re ready to go to war with one another within the first few phrases of the debate.
Here are three things I think we could all do that would immediately take us forward as a country. They are personal things rather than grandiose political undertakings. We don’t need Helen Zille to make them happen for us. We simply need to make different personal choices.
1. Forgive Jacob Zuma
Everyone is wasting their time lambasting Zuma for his alleged misdeeds. It’s time to face the reality that regardless of what he’s done or presumed to have done he is going to be our president in the next six weeks. Nobody is served by South Africans expending their energy mocking and slating him or by calling for his prosecution.
Yes, he probably did some bad stuff. I don’t think there can be any real doubt about that now, despite the faltering legal process and flurry of media speculation. In fact, I believe the whole of the ANC leadership was duped by sophisticated international arms dealers and that they ALL — Mbeki, Manuel, Mandela included — bungled the arms deal and wasted billions. And were probably enriched in the process. Or, at the very least, allowed their friends to become enriched.
That said, Zuma is no millionaire playboy. Whatever money he allegedly gained from this transaction he’s either hiding in Switzerland for a rainy day, squandered or — as I suspect — amounted to very little.
It’s time to forgive his perceived mistakes and look to the future. He’s already effectively been running the country for the past 6 months and we have been spared fire & brimstone.
2. Stop bad-mouthing the country
Saying negative, depressing, pessimistic stuff about South Africa is of absolutely no help to anyone. It’s a cynical form of entertainment that lubricates the otherwise dull days of middle-class life. It’s so obscenely ingrained in our culture that it’s become a social disease.
No-one is saying there aren’t negatives about South Africa. That tedious straw-man argument must also stop. Take a good look around at the crumbling economies of the First World and tell me where there aren’t bad things happening. Arguably exchange control and the national credit act — so lambasted and whinged about — look like acts of genius in the midst of the credit crunch. South Africans are coming back to SA having lost their jobs in the supposed paradises of Australia and the UK.
Even if you have deep pessimism in your heart — to which you are fully entitled — how about making the choice to shut up about it? Just not spreading that around actually does a lot of good. Stop phoning 702, stop raising the topic at dinner parties, stop relying on how terrible South Africa is as a substitute for meaningful relationships with your friends and family. Just give it a rest and see how much good that actually does yourself and the people in your world.
3. Invest in South Africa
Now is a great time to plough your money into this country. Start a business, build a house and invest locally. The world’s economic institutions are in a state of disrepair. The world’s major capitalist nations are a step away from nationalising their financial service industries. God knows when that will end or get better.
But locally we have a lot to be positive about. We are in a growing economy (yes, more slowly than before, but growing). We have 2010 on the way. We have an internet economy that is still to explode. Kids in townships are surfing the web on mobile phones and Africa is the next big growth point on the planet with emerging demand for services we can provide.
We need not share the pessimism the rest of the world has toward a new government and developing economies in general. Everything points to the fact that economic strength continues to be a key priority for the ANC. Of course we should give more to the poor and of course we should try to eliminate poverty. What kind of sick, twisted policy would try to prevent that. And if a future administration can improve things for the people who need it the most then I’m all in favour of that. And so should we all be.
So spend your money here and contribute to the future that you so desperately want. All the hero-worshipping of other countries needs to be severely checked given the mess they’ve allowed themselves to fall into.
Basically I’m saying this: Get over your crap, South Africa. I’m excited and happy to be here. Come join me in the light.
God I love this man’s brain.
Jared – when I grow up I want to think like you.
You sacrifice the future for the present.
Fix SA in one easy step: Vote DA
I agree with you on points 2 and 3 – but definitely not on point one, for the simple reason that letting the missteps of politicians pass is a sure way to encouraging further mismanagement and corruption.
And by the way, criticizing the government or individual politicians is not tantamount to bad-mouthing the country.
How encouraging, I’m joining right away.
First off let me say that I think you are on the right track with your ideas. Yes we should be moving on together as a country instead of bad mouthing it. Times are tough as far as the credit crunch and all that is concerned, but investing in this country will prove benefitial to the country in the long run.
The part that I disagree with is the forgiving of Zuma part. If he stands accused of a crime, he should go to court and clear his name (if he is innocent). Don’t try and dodge the system with every legal loop hole in the book. If it were you or I, we would be in court as quick as we can say the word subpoena. He should go to court, clear his name, and at least regain some of his dignity. If he is found guilty by court of law, then he should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Nobody should be above the law. If you do crime, you have to do the time.
This is really clever! Become an ostrich by putting your head in the sand and all the problems (uhh, challenges) disappear. Very clever Jarred Cinman, why didn’t we think of that?
I may not agree with all the content but effing-A for the approach.
In the end a country / economy is only as good as the willingness and motivation of people to work and do things right.
P.S. In the spirit of forgiveness will you concede that not all expats are traitor scum – even if they can now vote?
Bad mouthing the country? This is the preserve of a small minority, mostly living abroad. The bigger problem is from those who EXPLOIT the country for personal gain (eg jobs for cronies and the corrupt)!
Invest in the country? I think the majority of us do that anyway, not out of a sense of patriotism, but plain practicality.
Nice thoughts anyway! 2/10
I also meant to refer to Khaya Dlanga’s blog “We do nothing at our peril” 8/10 (forgiving politicians, stop whinging and putting our money in the bank does not count for much!)
@Peter Vlietstra – don’t you start perpetuating expat-hate as well please.
I’m also so desperately sick and tired of hearing the constant whining and whingeing from my fellow white compatriots about how terrible it is to live in the country of their birth. I for one don’t care about them anymore and wish they would hurry up and leave for Oz or Vancouver or whatever bung-hole they think they’ll be happy in.
Typical quick fix mentality. C’mon be realistic. SA crime problem has been allowed to fester for years! Now it requires drastic action to resolve. The leadership in SA doesn’t get it. Its obvious that you don’t get it either.
Similarly, if our democracy is allowed to slide into a one party state with the ANC holding two-thirds majority, that will firmly entrench the ANC – “ANC rules till Jesus comes”. Unfortunately this will require a REVOLUTION to get to a vibrant multi-party democracy. How long do you think it will take for South Africans to revolt against the government- if ever? Many generations will pass and it will fall on your great grandchildren to correct this mess!
If you think that if everyone stops bad-mouthing the country that investments will flow again. Well think again. Investors are not idiots – they are really the canaries in the coal mine.
Jared
WHY does everyone conveniently forget that only about 1/4 of the charges against Zuma have anything to do with the Arms Deal?
And why can no-one explain what logical or rational reason there is for the ANC not simply choosing another presidential candidate?
Why is the ANC making this about Zuma and not about the welfare of the country?
When African Liberation movements have developed personality cults, instead of developing policies, all of them have slid into dictatorships.
Expat hate? Bring it on. In fact, in my experience, very few expats talk about SA except to other expats. When Australians ask me about South Africa, the first thing they mention is the crime – that annoying little perception thingie again – and I tell them that yes, it’s a problem for the people who live there, but that SA is still well worth visiting.
I like your positive thinking. The Zuma forgiveness attitude goes a little too far for me.
The man (or his legal team) has managed to blow his case out of proportion by using every little trick in the book to stay out of court. I am now so intrigued by this case that I would be very disappointed not to see these legal minds squaring off. If other political masterminds will be exposed in the process, so be it.
Imagine, top ANC and top COPE all in jail for a while. SA could finally come to rest and start building the country we all want it to be.
Our problem as a country is that we are saddled with a government that condones and practices corruption. Forgiving or turning a blind eye to corruption does not cause it to go away it rather increases its prevalence. Government corruption ultimately destroys a country. We have a classical example of the truth of that just across our border in Zimbabwe.
Jared – I agree, but I don’t agree. Yes, we should stop bloody moaning and do something about it, but…
1 – We HAVE to see the JZ thing through – if we let it go and “forgive and forget” we are sending out a message that it’s okay to do crime. This in a country with some of the world’s highest crime figures – is this really the message we want to bring through? Rather let him have his day in court and give the message “take responsibility for your own lives”. (no problem with the principle of forgivness though)
2 – I am a businessman – an entrepreneur. And I’m also white. Do you have ANY idea how difficult it is as a white ouk to get a legitimate business running in SA? The last 4 years I’ve lost over R20M in failed businesses, businesses that failed because of that one thing: “sorry sir, you are white”. I’m TRYING to invest in SA. But certain policies won’t allow me to. I have no qualms about redressing the past, but blatant racist policies that would have seen me employ 400 people and generate substantial tax revenue has brought that to a halt. Now I’m a one-man show. Rather open up SA as a a free market economy – THAT should see us right.
And while you are dreaming about internet-economy, please add some decent bandwidth – this is one of the biggest problems curtailing real growth in SA.
Agreed. They are tough steps to take – might cause a few people to have to change their mindset completely, but good ideas, nonetheless.
Sadly, the ones who don’t take on these challenges will still be the most vocal in a few years time. Negativity always shouts so much louder.
Great article
Positivity is what we do need 
If those three easy steps were promoted back in Apartheid SA days would we have thrown off the Apartheid yoke, the answer is probably no?
Why must politicians and no one else get off their mis-deeds, answer this and we could be on our way to solving the countries problems?
Brent