Mcebisi Jonas launches After Dawn in Hyde Park, Johannesburg

Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas shared some of his solutions to improve South Africa during his recent book launch in Hyde Park, Sandton Chronicle reports.

Jonas captured the country’s attention in 2016 when he claimed that he had been offered the position of finance minister by the Gupta brothers in exchange for R600 million. Now in his new book, After Dawn: Hope after state capture, he analyses the current challenges faced in South Africa’s political environment and a list of solutions that he believes will help transform the country.

Jonas said that he believes the nature of the country’s political system is flawed as those who are in power and have access to money and resources, use those resources to ensure they stay in power.

“The way forward for South Africa is that we need to look for a new model for a social agency where citizens and civil society and organisations are mobilised to continue the fight of holding government accountable.”

He said that for real change to be seen, decisive punishment needs to be taken against those who are found to be corrupt. “You have to prosecute a minister or a former minister or whoever if you want to see real change and I don’t think that is inconceivable but we need to mobilise and continue to clamour for what we feel is right for the country.”

He concluded that the essence of the book focuses on whether the needs of the country will be put above the needs of a political party.

“The major dilemma that faces the president today is whether he continues striving for the unity of the ANC or must he strive for building a better country and strengthening our democracy and growing our economy. That’s the choice that he has to make.”

Redi Tlhabi, the moderator at the book launch said that the book is not for those who want rumours and gossip about what has taken place but rather for those who want to imagine a better future for the country.