Not since the height of the dark days of the State of Emergency have we had the pervasive violence that we have had in the last two weeks. I never dreamt that we would revert back to those dark days. However, all this is completely understandable and logical thanks to the Zuma administration.
The truth is that when other countries, such as Mozambique, Mauritius and Angola are showing good economic growth, South Africa continues on a downward trajectory. This is thanks to the Zuma government and its policies, which ensures that corruption goes up while unemployment goes down.
So the ordinary unemployed South African “on the ground”, sees minimal opportunities and prospects for employment and becomes increasingly frustrated. At the same time, the ordinary South African citizen sees those in the ANC and those connected to it getting richer and richer through questionable means. Nkandla immediately comes to mind!
Foreigners come into our country and appear to thrive economically, and the poor unemployed South African sees this and cannot understand how this is possible, when he or she cannot develop in his or her own country.
Add the violence, encouraged and sponsored by the ANC government against Members of Parliament and unaccountable comments from royalty and members of the Zuma clan, and we have the scene set for violence against innocent people.
The President mentioned nothing about statements made by the King in Kwazulu-Natal, and even closer to home, xenophobic comments made by Edward Zuma, son of the President.
The Zuma government is doing little to deal with our growing unemployment rate, and our suffocating labour laws contribute to the retardation of our economic growth, as Cosatu dictates government’s policy.
Government needs to start dealing with this core issues, stop looking at introducing apparent “quick-fix” solutions, which will have little impact, and malfunctioning systems in Home Affairs first needs to be fixed!
Government needs to prioritise the growth of our economy and job creation, actually do this and communicate this with South Africa.
South Africa can be a country of open opportunity for all. (Letter shortened – Editor.)
Manny de Freitas: DA member of parliament, Shadow Minister of Transport
