SA’s ability to function as a democracy is increasingly questionable

It is becoming obvious, even to the uninitiated, that South Africa has chosen to walk a perilous path and finds itself teetering on the cusp of collapse and failure. This has been by design, not accident, as every decision has consequences.

With SA’s recent greylisting, a progressively negative economic trajectory, along with a faltering political trajectory and the inability of the government to provide basic or essential services such as electricity and water, the rise in voter anger, disdain, frustration and social unrest is becoming evident.

With crime and corruption out of control, critical infrastructure being sabotaged, militancy on the rise, frequent kidnappings for ransom and political assassinations, an apparent dysfunctional foreign policy, which includes support to dictatorial governments, violent and nonviolent domestic protests and riots and economic marginalisation, along with a perceived weak judiciary, domestic and foreign investors are being scared off.

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So, too, are academics, entrepreneurs, health workers and other skilled people seeking greener pastures.

The international economic and political goodwill SA has enjoyed since becoming democratic is diminishing and will continue to do so.

Those beyond our borders and shores have taken note of the bluff and double-bluff that has no end. These few failures and challenges alone are sufficient to be a great cause for alarm.

The distinction between a fragile and failed state is often blurred – depending on what definition is being used and who uses it, for what purpose – or who stands to gain advantages, political or otherwise, from its failure.

A failed state, or a state teetering on the cusp of fragility and failure, makes itself ripe for domestic or foreign regime change.

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The three fundamental functions of a sovereign nation-state remain relevant; it cannot project authority over its territory, it is unable to provide basic critical or essential services and it cannot protect its national boundaries, nor its people.

Whereas there are many indicators and warning signs of a failing and/or pending failure of state, SA would tick most boxes. This is despite an incredible country, diverse population, wealth of knowledge and talent and abundant resources.

Its once world-renowned state-owned enterprises, funded with taxpayers’ money and staffed by ill-qualified people, have been hollowed out through corruption. This has had a severe impact on the country’s development, growth curve and employment. In turn, this has added to a negative trajectory.

A government that fails to recognise the warning signs and take the appropriate and requisite action is indicative of a failure of government, itself a key to state failure. It is also indicative of a lack of a coherent, realistic and sustainable national strategy.

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Governing for self has never been a solution. It is, furthermore, a truism that one cannot appoint and promote those who created the problem to bring forward – or oversee – the solutions.

Regardless of how we wish to view the state, there are commonalities regarding failed states. These include, inter alia, the lack of merit-based appointments; fragmented, antagonistic political power bases; ethnic and racial marginalisation; weak central government; poor economic policies; a lack of or deficiency in governance and government reach; the growth of ungoverned areas; and an inability to pre-emptively implement sustainable and advantageous policies.

There is a growing disconnect between the government and the people. Similarly, there is a growing distrust by the people towards the government.

To steal from Churchill: “Never in the history of South Africa have so few caused the misery of so many”.

While SA may have all the trappings of a democratic state, its ability to function as such, or to apply responsible governance, is increasingly questionable. Currently, it can at best be described as a failing state.

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Lacking the requisite intervention, this will be followed by the final transition towards a collapsed state, resulting in warlords taking ownership of an erstwhile sovereign state and becoming a power unto themselves.

Unless our leadership or new leadership commits to rooting out corruption at all levels of government and society, is committed to transparency and accountability towards the electorate, supports an independent judiciary unfettered by politically appointed judges, and embraces the metaphor so boldly stated by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, that we are the rainbow nation with a place in the sun for all South Africans, we are doomed to become a failed or even a collapsed state.

We must, with haste, create an economic climate that will be attractive to foreign direct investment and rid ourselves of the political and economic marginalisation.

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Let’s stop paying lip service to addressing state capture and take drastic steps to foster confidence in our economy. Let’s live up to the ideal that we are, indeed, the rainbow nation. Let’s give all South Africans hope for the future of their country and all its peoples.

Time is not on our side and running out rapidly. If not, doom is knocking on our doors.

-Barlow is chair of Executive Outcomes