Every year since Jacob Zuma became President in 2009, it seems as though current affairs in South Africa has become worse. And this decline didn’t stop with his removal in 2018, when Cyril Ramaphosa succeeded him.
Today South Africa still faces bad policies, such as expropriation without compensation (EWC), race-based policies (including BEE) and high levels of government corruption. Even though our country is on a concerning trajectory, South Africans should not lose hope for the future. In these trying times, it can become easy to lose sight of the important ideals that are worth fighting for, such as freedom. In this article, we look at seven valuable insights on politics by prominent South Africans.
- “I stand for simple justice, equal opportunity and human rights. The indispensable elements in a democratic society – and well worth fighting for.” - Helen Suzman
- “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” - Nelson Mandela
- “To give up the task of reforming society is to give up one’s responsibility as a free man.” - Alan Paton
- “The role of those of us in the judiciary is clear; the same goes for politicians and those in government. One cannot impose their own preferences on the judiciary – the Constitution constrains our agency for the greater good of the people.” - Dikgang Moseneke
- “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” - Desmond Tutu
- “South Africa does not have a poverty problem. Poverty is a result of denialism of the way corruption taxes poor people, the inefficiencies that undermine poor people’s opportunities and our refusal to admit that we are part of the problem." - Mamphele Ramphele
- “Democracy is about the freedom to choose, the freedom to change your mind. All of them also recognise that out of all the rights that come with a democracy, none is more important than the right to vote and, more importantly, the right to change one’s mind and vote a political party out of power if it is failing to deliver.” - Helen Zille
For decades, brave South Africans have stood up for freedom in our country. They made this sacrifice and it should inspire you to do the same. Although South Africa is not perfect, if millions of people got together and decide to vote, this would have a positive impact on uplifting our country. This is but one of the many actions that you could undertake to uplift our country at the moment. South Africa needs every concerned citizen to step up and take action.
Image source available here.
