EDITOR – Many people in South Africa, who see the levels of corruption and state capture, get despondent that we, the people, are not winning the war.
Sun Tzu in the Art of War says, “Sometimes we need to lose the small battles, in order to win the war.” A good example of this is the legal battle around the atrocious development at 317 Currie Road. The first battle in the high court was won, while the second battle in the appeal court was lost. Now the matter goes to the Constitutional Court and we are confident that the people will win.
You may well ask what this matter has to do with the events happening throughout our country and in the corridors of power. In order for certain of our politicians and their friends to achieve their goal of state capture, they have had to trash our constitution and act in a manner of total arrogance that ignores the will of the people and keeps information out of our hands. Even though it is our right to have such information.
Regardless of the legal arguments, we have time and time again, asked a simple question of our local government? It remains unanswered. Why was a rezoning at 317 Currie Road approved, when it overnight enriched one developer over all the other residents in the area, who have seen their values negatively affected by the decision? It does not make sense. If there is a valid reason, then why not tell the people?
So when we get despondent we must reflect on the battles already won.
Yolisa Pikie writing on the Facebook page, Support for Pravin Gordhan and a better South Africa, gave us some examples.
“Some people think nothing has come of the outrage against the Zuptas. For that reason I hereby publish a list of your accomplishments, South Africa:
1. Brian Molefe and Ben Ngubane are no longer at the helm of Eskom.
2. KPMG, McKinsey and Bell Pottinger – Gupta’s professional enablers are in deep trouble.
3. Our sleepy Parliament has been forced to hold inquiries into state capture.
4. PRASA saved billions from a corrupt contract.
5. Ntlemeza, Jiba and Mrwebi are gone.
6. Even politicians can no longer dispute the evidence of the capture of our state.
7. You’ve made the removal of Zuma the central discussion in the ANC.
8. You’ve stopped the nuclear deal.
9. You’ve ensured South Africa remains part of the International Criminal Court.
10. You’ve stopped the capture of SABC.
11. You’ve built consensus on social grants.
12. You’ve improved the independence of the Hawks and IPID. (We still have to ensure that the right person is appointed to head the Hawks but that’s a battle for another day).
13. You’ve exposed the SARS rogue unit narrative as a scam.
14. You’ve inspired Makhosi Khosa.
I could go on…”
Well said Yolisa, Save Our Berea could not have said it better.
Kevin Dunkley
Cheryl Johnson
SAVE OUR BEREA
