A bid to recover democracy in South Africa

A former prisoner on Robben Island, Suttner was speaking at the launch of his new book, Recovering Democracy in South Africa, which was launched with the help of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

Suttner said democracy in the country had suffered a number of severe blows over the years during the Zuma era, and continued to be undermined as evidenced recently in the saga of the National Prosecuting Authority, rising corruption in the civil service, increasing levels of violence and xenophobia, and gender intolerance.

He said Zuma had entrenched traditionalism and patriarchy, and had encouraged violence in South African society through the singing of struggle songs such as Umschini wam, or Bring me my machine gun.

“Part of these problems are caused by the fact that we have a leader who has no vision for the country and has failed to lead and champion the moral regeneration project he launched a few years ago, which in my view could be a major catalyst in transforming the violent nature of our society,” said Suttner.

“People continue to suffer at the hands of criminals in their homes, driveways, streets and malls. We walk to our cars and we’re afraid something nasty might happen to us. Our husbands, if we’re women, will beat us up, if not kill us. It’s a war out there, and it’s masculine in nature by men against other men and women.”

Suttner said legality and Constitutionalism must be defended, and citizens must play a role to chart their future and claim their rights which have been severely eroded by the Zuma era with its politics of patronage, factionalism, corruption, illegality and violence.

He called for the formation of a civil movement whose aim would be to unify the nation and its various sectors while focusing on recovering the lost democracy. “We should all have the courage to rethink our positions and frameworks, and have the strength to discard those things that don’t work for us.”

For many years, Suttner said the ANC preached non-violence in its opposition to apartheid, but later adopted the armed struggle.

“People were then armed and taught to kill, but we have never gone back to them to teach them not to kill as we have achieved our democracy, hence the cycle of violence that is embedded in society. We need to heal this nation and the moral regeneration could be such a project to do that,” he said.

Do you believe there is less democracy and more violence and corruption in the Zuma era? Comment below, and let us know.