Govt, leaders fail to impress… and so does the opposition

There has been a service-level failure not only by the ruling party, but by every party that occupies a seat in parliament.

Residents from the Gomorrah township are seen reacting alongside the Police Nyala where Tshwane Mayor Stevens Mokgalapa is aboard address them, 12 April 2019, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

There really is nothing more demoralising than the ruling party’s tendency to be reactive rather than proactive.

The changes we are promised every elections is nothing more than an slogan – translating to nothing.

Townships burn – and all the ruling government does, and has been doing for the past twenty plus years, is react. From president to president, these are the same leaders who feel no shame in walking around squatter camps, littered with shack dwellings, where an air of poverty permeates the air.

The settlements are named after heroes of the struggle – Winnie Mandela in Tembisa, Steve Biko in Wesselton and even Ramaphosa settlement in Reigerpark – names that were meant to inspire, possibly propel leadership to act in the best interest of the people – only for the people to be left in poverty.

The government and leaders have been put to the test time and time again. And every time they have failed to convince us of their ability and capability to lead.

We are in protest season – but government allowed for unrest to be well-organised, even professionalised. #TheShutdown movements allow for the sprouting of leaders who are born out of the disorganisation of communities.

Could our government not pre-empt this?

Where are the intelligence units, the strategic planning teams? Where are the monitoring tools meant to aid the government in formulating a preventative plan, as opposed to one that seemingly plays catch-up all the time, every time?

As a voter, I have no faith that this government can pre-plan – but they want my vote, leaving the country in their care for five, maybe even 25 years?

I think not.

And the opposition parties? There has been a service-level failure not only by the ruling party, but by every party that occupies a seat in parliament.

The opposition are nothing more than benchwarmers if they cannot compel the government to be preventative, as opposed to this continuous reactionary method that leads us nowhere.