‘SA needs to talk’, says Durban’s political boffin

“THE rainbow nation ideology is one that requires hard work. It didn’t just happen because we all stood in one line in 1994.”

These were the sobering words of 21-year-old Mfundo Radebe, who was crowned the grand champion of the Magna Carta (MC) International Essay Competition in 2015.

The Magna Carta is an 800-year-old charter document signed by King John of England. Over the decades, it has influenced many constitutions, including the United State’s Declaration of Independence as well as the South African democratic system.

In celebration of its anniversary on 15 June, the Northglen News caught up with the former Crawford College La Lucia learner to find out what he thought of South Africa’s current political landscape.

The political enthusiast, who hails from the sprawling township of uMlazi, dove straight into the interview saying, “The Magna Carta, and ultimately the constitution, came into effect to protect people’s rights. However, I feel that currently in South Africa decisions are being made without thinking about people’s best interests. For example, VAT rates are being increased while government spending is not being curbed,” he said.

This, he said tied back to his MC essay in which he argued the government could not live lavishly while the people could not afford bread.

“I believe, as was alluded by minister Pravin Gordhan, state owned enterprises should be privatised so that the state can focus on the people,” said Radebe, who will be tackling his third year at the esteemed Harvard University in the United States in September.

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Sipping on his cup of coffee at a meeting in Starbucks, Gateway, Radebe said while he was thrilled that the ruling party had voted Cyril Ramaphosa as the country’s new president, he was still sitting on the fence with land expropriation with compensation.

“Personally I feel the government should focus on health and education before considering radical redistribution. We must ensure that all people in the country have a basic income before tackling one of the most complex policies that will affect South Africa in the next 100 years. It is like we are looking back while looking forward,” he said.

“I am also a firm believer that people’s civil liberties are important, and I can’t help but wonder if we should be using an economic space to correct past injustices. This is something that needs more public discussion,” argued the bright eyed South African.

In fact, Radebe argued “real” dialogue was something the country was in dire need of.

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“People are all stuck in their own bubbles. We need more discussion to foster diversity, understanding and empathy. If we are going to transform our country we are going to have to accept each other. Allowing people to come as they are enables them to be the best they can be and this bodes well for our economy,” he said.

However, Radebe said the country was currently caught in a dangerous state of “lazy idealism”.

“Diversity is more than simply co-existing, it is about understating and accepting differences and culture. Pieces of paper and legislation can only secure our future for so long, after that it is our responsibility,” he said.

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