SA on a national trajectory leading deeper into despair, failure, poverty and disaster

It has become increasingly clear that South Africa has embarked on a national trajectory that is leading us deeper into national despair, failure, poverty and disaster.

Whereas it is said one should learn from mistakes – especially with regard to strategy and its implementation – our government believes it ought to simply compound a strategic mistake with a bigger one, hence our rapid descent into political and socio-economic chaos, misery, and failure.

Only the political leaders have parachutes – a by-product of their self-serving patronage.

A realistic and sustainable national strategy should envision and guide a state towards a better and more prosperous country for all its citizens, regardless of colour or creed.

With an unemployment rate of almost 50% the highest in the world it is obvious something is very wrong. Clearly, the concept of a national strategy is misunderstood by our government unless they don’t have one.

Instead of practising strategy, they practise strategic misdirection. A great problem arises when a government believes its own strategic misdirection and formulates policies based on increasing failure.

This is currently our country’s strategic status and following in its wake is an ever downward spiralling national trajectory, driven by a bankrupt economy, unaccountable political leaders, and increasingly desperate and impoverished citizens. South Africans know it.

Africa knows it. The international community knows it. Our government doesn’t.

It is a known fact that a strategy not implemented holds no value. Our government and its parliament claim they implement “plans” and they continually develop new plans that have no strategic substance or value and then often forget to implement them while the budgets mysteriously go missing.

Amazingly, they believe they can fool us with this deception and we’ll all live happily ever after.

Our government is disconnected with reality and unaware of what is truly unfolding on the ground. People are becoming increasingly angry, despondent and frustrated and have lost all faith and trust in the government. In fact, civil society views our political leaders with utter disdain.

Failed ministers are simply reshuffled as the government plays musical chairs under the title of “Cabinet reshuffle”. Other failed ministers are promoted to higher salaries. The only vision they have is keeping an eye on their wealth as it steadily grows – some of it in possibly in foreign banks.

The domestic and geopolitical stage on which our state acts is shrinking at an alarming rate. Perhaps those in parliament purposely wish to ignore it, or believe that if ousted, they will be wealthy enough to settle somewhere else and live the life of luxury.

The current instability that is festering across South Africa is resultant from a lack of a well developed and sustainable national strategy. We are leaderless.

We are on a road to nowhere, paved with the misery and poverty of our people. No wonder South Africa is viewed as one of the unhappiest countries in the world.

The self-imposed importance with which political leaders view themselves is indicative of their constant failures; failures they are quick to blame on someone else, our unpleasant past, or Covid.

That is termed “strategic stupidity”. Our greatest asset – our people – do not feature in the government’s policiess except when they need to create division between races to hide their ineptness, or when it is time to vote.

– Mashaba holds an honorary doctorate in Philosophies and Humanities, is the author of Practical Politics, Power and Governance in Africa, and is a political advisor.