I’m not going to go into the merits of the candidates or who’s supporting whom. Rather I want to look at what makes a powerful leader in context to South Africa today.
We have a number of leaders in our country, some better than others, but all have an effect on the people they lead. I have looked at them and wondered why they garner the attention they do.
My assessment is connection, the way they are able to connect with the people around them.
Take Julius Malema as an example. He has been able to connect to the disenfranchised youth and poorest of the poor. His message speaks to their understanding and values. How he uses this support leaves much to be desired, but that’s not up for debate here.
President Jacob Zuma has used personal connections within his own party and influential business people like the Guptas to ensure his success.
Helen Zille used her connection to the idealism of a truly democratic society, free from corruption, to build a strong opposition party.
Each of these examples has proven to be powerful in their own right, but have they used their ability to connect? Have they helped us or hurt us? That’s the question we all need to ask when we listen to the leaders.
Then we need to ask ourselves: is this about bringing us together or pushing us further apart? Will this person deliver what they say?
The one lesson we can take from this is that, as communities, we need to start building our own connections. Connecting to each other on a much deeper level; not just tolerating each other, but becoming more accepting of each other, especially our differences.
South Africa is a vastly different place to 20 years ago and I fear that, as people, we may be lacking an understanding of the new landscape.
The xenophobic attacks are a prime example of our lack of connection.
My feeling is that, until we learn to let go of old concepts over roles and structures in society, we will not truly move forward.
We cannot rely purely on the government or its leaders to take us forward. We need to take the reins ourselves and start opening our lives, start a dialogue, get to know each other, and we may just find that our similarities outweigh our differences.
