A Country Not At Ease
Over the past couple of years, certainly within the last two months, I have asked myself what does it mean to use your vote to bring about change?
What does true leadership look like? Who will we vote for? It is a question many of us have asked ourselves as the general elections rapidly approach.
The youth of South Africa find themselves at a crossroad.
A country fragmented with internal problems of its past – whilst simultaneously in eruption of excitement of the possibilities of what a united country it could become. It is a tragedy. A country truly not at ease.
The high unemployment rate among the youth is a genuine threat to the stability of South Africa as an ever-evolving democracy. This ought to be unacceptable to the new government leadership which we shall elect come April.
On that note, one of life’s biggest legal ‘thrills’ is to start fighting for something; whether marriage, a family, a company or a country. As a citizen of South Africa, education opened my eyes – hence fighting for something in a legal context has now become a thrill to me. Changes in my environment challenged me; whilst spiritual guidance made me realize nothing makes sense if we do not know God.
So, as I pen down my thoughts regarding a country not at ease, in my attempt in doing so, I think of every leader who has steered our country through turbulent times. Whoever we vote for, their job as a leader is to transcend beyond politics and far more beyond being a minister, a preacher, a capitalistic businessman or even a writer.
Whoever the people vote for must confront the storm before us. That is, in honesty, the very fundamental survival of our nation. Manipulation. Deception. Corruption… are arguably as dangerous as many of the hurricane which have crippled several families in the United States of America.
Forth-carrying the mentioned simile, the State Capture Inquiry has served to prove how much accountability the new leadership will have to endure post-elections. We need more credible people to go on record. Accountability is what we as the youth seek in the leaders who are worthy of our vote – this is definitely not up for debate!
Never be naïve.
Constantly ask yourself whether the purpose of our education system is essentially to groom us – as the black youth – for entry into the professional and elite strata of our society?
Constantly ask yourself whether the creation of a bloated civil service is truly the answer to our socio-economic problems as the youth? And whether a basic income grant truly satisfy the ambitions and aspirations of our South Africa youth?
Ironically, we have more graduates than the respective state professions can accommodate – a bloated civil service, as I mentioned above has proved to be highly inefficient – not to mention the constant daunting sub-conscious thought of “paying black tax” once graduation is achieved.
Overall, a bondage created by our past but perpetuated by our culture. We simply want a way out! And in the act of this exodus, radicalism which, when it finds expression, usually sets about destruction instead of production or construction.
In essence this creates more problems than solutions. It is perplexing to say the least. Nonetheless, in a couple of months from now we will have to decide what kind of country we want to live in. What kind of leaders should lead us and what type of leaders do we aspire to emerge as from these corridors of institutional learning.
It is a profound choice.
But no matter who wins these election – we are going to work together. We don’t have a choice, really.
So, in conclusion, as we begin the academic year, let us not forget the importance of reconstructing our thought patterns. The mind constantly remains a battle ground. Allow yourself to constantly configure your mind towards positive thoughts and ambitions irrespective of the hurdles you shall constantly encounter.
- Luthando Lucas (Author, Public Speaker and Spiritual Leader)