South Africa

OPEN LETTER

Mr President, this is the moment to rebuild South Africa from the bottom up

Mr President, this is the moment to rebuild South Africa from the bottom up
ANC Secretary General Cyril Ramaphosa and Jay Naidoo during a press conference on July 23, 1992 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Media24 Archive / Denis Farrell)

And now, Mr President, it falls on your shoulders to lead with courage and inspiration. We cannot any longer allow the factionalism of the ANC to take priority over the interests of our country, its citizens and the Constitution.

Mr President,

I write this letter with a heavy heart. Along with the majority of my fellow citizens, I have been shocked and traumatised by the turmoil that rocked our country in the past weeks. What have we missed, I ask myself? Where have we gone wrong? What is to be done? 

The chaos and violence struck at the heart of our democracy in the midst of us celebrating 27 years of freedom and the international celebration of the unifying values of social justice and human dignity that our founding father, Tata Nelson Mandela, sacrificed 27 years of his life for. 

The seeds of this crisis did not come overnight. They have been incubating for decades. And even before the Covid-19 pandemic, our economy was in recession with a frightening rate of joblessness, hunger and poverty. Tragically, it was spawned out of the belly of the once-principled president of the liberation movement that you now lead and that holds the reins of political power. It’s a shocking betrayal of what you, I and millions from successive generations of South Africans fought for and for which many paid the ultimate sacrifice. We cannot any longer gold-coat this reality with money spent on spin doctors. 

The lived experience of the vast majority creates a groundswell of discontent and legitimate grievances which the haters, opportunists and demagogues used to fuel the rise of a spectre of racial and ethnic conflict, toxic nationalism and narrow tribalism. We have the pariah recognition as the most unequal society in the world. Toxic patriarchy wages a war against women and children in all segments of our societal strata. The vast majority of youth are alienated and disillusioned with a governance and leadership that continues to exclude them. They ask, rightly, where is the democratic dividend that we promised our people in 1994? 

And now, Mr President, it falls on your shoulders to lead with courage and inspiration. We cannot any longer allow the factionalism of the African National Congress to take priority over the interests of our country, its citizens and the Constitution. 

There are many questions that I, like many other citizens, have about the events of the past two weeks. Why were we so unprepared for what you describe as an attack on our democracy? Why were our intelligence agencies missing in action? Why were the security forces so overwhelmed and under-resourced? 

It was this vacuum that led to citizens taking the law into their own hands and stoking even greater violence. 

This is not the first time we faced violent threats against our people. We know, from as early as the 1980s, where the flashpoints are and where the orchestration of violence is fomented. Why the delayed reaction in mobilising the SANDF to support the SAPS in the moment of greatest threat our democracy ever faced? 

Even a cursory reading of the signals would have informed us – what the media was reporting, what activists on the ground were saying, or noting the vitriolic hate-driven calls for violence on social media by known actors; even the blatant mobilisation of paramilitary forces to criminally break the law and the lockdown restrictions you announced just days before. We cannot paper over these omissions. They led to massive destruction and its dire consequences for an economic recovery, a damaged investor sentiment and the full obliteration of whatever confidence our people had left for their government. 

South Africa is at a crossroads, Mr President. One path is leading us to a failed state that muddles along the track of self-destruction and warlordism in Congolese style. Another path is towards a reassertion of what it means to be South African and what we need to do to heal the wounds of our past and build a nation of inclusive and shared prosperity. 

Almost everyone, especially you Mr President, wants the latter. The majority of South Africans refuse to be held hostage to demagogic and anti-democratic forces whose continued plundering of public resources necessitates a dysfunctional state. 

The clearest leadership we have seen in the country in the past two weeks has not come from the South African government and its millions of employees we pay to help us, but from the ground and largely outside the purview of the state or even civil society. Millions of citizens mobilised to defend their communities, to stop the haters and looters and prevented this becoming a national conflagration that would have taken us back to the precipice of our burning past. They proclaimed with great courage: NOT IN MY NAME. This is the moment to rebuild our country from the bottom up and support this grassroots activism that defended our democracy better than anyone. 

I know that you face challenges on all sides that are aimed at battering your leadership. But the country calls on inspiring leadership from you, Mr President, and your government. We need decisive action to arrest those hateful instigators, who used the digital media and streets of our brutalised communities, and hold them fully to account, regardless of who they are. No one is above the law, especially those who are in public service. 

There must be zero tolerance. 

More importantly, we need an unambiguous endorsement of the rule of law and unconditional support for the Zondo Commission, followed by full legal action. We need those who have been complicit in looting the astronomical amount of R57-billion, through State Capture that brought our economy to its knees, to be prosecuted and held to account without delay. 

The impunity at the highest levels of state and broader society can no longer be tolerated. Not just the foot soldiers, but also, no, especially those who orchestrated this thuggery. We must also take decisive action against those in the highest positions of the public and private sector who facilitated the looting orgy, even including the CEOs of multinational companies like KPMG, Bain & Company, McKinsey, SAP and all others involved.  

Simultaneously we need a refresh of what binds us as a nation and how do we co-create a vibrant ecological economy that puts our People and Planet at the centre, especially the economically disenfranchised youth. Demands have been growing for a universal basic income grant that prioritises skills training and social entrepreneurship, which I fully support. We need to pierce the glass ceiling that prevents the economic transformation of our country and to combine efforts at land reform that creates opportunities for young people to become successful smallholder farmers, creates livelihoods and addresses hunger and food security at a household level.  

These issues cannot be postponed any longer. We need calm heads and steady hands at the tiller of state and society. We need a unity of purpose not just derived from corporatist deals at the top between government, labour and business, but also an acceptance of grassroots leadership as a co-creator of our way forward. We have in the past convened broad-based efforts to reach a social consensus that represented the will of the people. We need that urgently today. 

And above all, we need a servant leadership and ethical governance. Now. 

Mr President, I have stood alongside you in the past. We never flinched as we stared down the face of the enemy behind the barrel of a gun. Once again, we stand in front of the enemy of South African people – and yet again we cannot afford to flinch. 

We, the overwhelming majority of people, are exhausted by the broken promises and broken leadership we face day to day. There are many outstanding leaders and workers in the civil service, in our security forces and our citizenry who strive to embrace Batho Pele ( Public Service Code of Conduct) and serve the Constitution and country. They also cry out for leadership so that they can do their work with pride, unhampered by the sinister agendas of vested interests above them which demolished the rules of humanity, ethics and good governance. 

Let us reunite around a new chapter in our country. Let us heal our differences by acknowledging our wounded past and reach out to each other with acts of kindness and reparation, so that we may bequeath a legacy of a nation working on its healing in a way that delivers that better life we promised our people in 1994. 

As our founding father, Tata Mandela, once sagely said, “It always seems impossible, until it is done.” 

We cannot fail now.

Yours sincerely,
Jay Naidoo,
Citizen DM

Gallery

Comments - Please in order to comment.

  • Rg Bolleurs says:

    Too true. Totally agree. But to get the economy going the ANC will have to slay every one of its sacred cows

    • Andy Miles says:

      Well said. The ANC has the same power, the same levers to pull to run our beautiful country that it has had at its disposal for 27 years. Yet here we are reading another excellent commentary on the problems. Unless there is political will within the ANC to completely reinvent itself there will simply be more of the same. The one silver lining in the dark cloud hanging over South Africa’s head is that the crisis of rioting and civil unrest revealed the passion of a huge part of the populace. This passion can be directed in positive growth, or negative reactionary defence of where they are forced to act, this far and no further. When the ANC was a liberation movement it had a single goal. Bring down apartheid and form a democratic government for all South Africans. Or was this just spin? Now is the test of the sincerity of the ANC’s intent. Please have the good grace to tell us who the ANC really is. Democracy demands this, but seemingly this basic tenant does not fit whatever the ANC has become.

  • Logan NAIDU says:

    One only hopes Pres Ramaphosa follows the sage advice from his long-time struggle comrade Jay Naidoo, who was in Madiba’s first Cabinet. Even though we achieved political emancipation in 1994, the vast, unsustainable economic disparities between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ have not been addressed to this day. The overwhelming majority of our compatriots will thus support a universal basic income grant.

    The President has publicly admitted the government was caught off guard by last week’s mayhem and destruction that resulted in the loss of over 330 lives. The fact that the police were bystanders to the wanton looting and burning is inexplicable. Police Minister Bheki Cele went AWOL and the Security Cluster was, and still is, in shambles. At the very least, the Ministers of State Security, Police and Defence must resign immediately, or be fired. Their incompetence, or more ominously, their active collusion with the counter-revolutionary forces, must be investigated.

    Considering the incredibly close shave we had to our democratic order being destroyed, I call upon Pres Ramaphosa to immediately set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to thoroughly investigate all aspects of this attempted insurrection, including the probable complicity of ministers and and other senior ANC office bearers in and out of Government and the role played by the former President, his twin children and other sycophants in masterminding the attempted insurrection.

    • T Mac says:

      Yet another Commission that costs a fortune, deliberates for months (or years) without producing any tangible results? No thanks, its just another way of giving public money to connected people. We have a good idea who the perpetrators are. Hand them over to whatever dedicated and professional cops are left to investigate and prosecute.

    • Carsten Rasch says:

      No more inquiries. Just an investigation by a capable investigator. Robert McBride springs to mind, as he’s just been fired by that useless Intelligence Minister.

  • Miles Japhet says:

    Not too late for you and your principled friends to put your hands up to serve Jay.
    As for growing this economy, look no further than international success stories which points to an unleashing of the creative energy and capital including social capital of the private sector. Radical Policy Transformation is what is required – then stand back and be amazed as world class SA business leaders get to work!!

    • Cedric de Beer says:

      Well, Miles, Japan, South Korea, Singapore Viet Nam and of course China most of all grew with massive state intervention in the economies. So while the market is essential, lets not swallow the neo liberal Koolaid of the last thirty years that smaller government is best.

      • Mojalefa Ralekhetho says:

        I raise my hat to you, Cedric. Spot on!

      • Sean de Waal says:

        I’ve lived in South Korea, Vietnam and China and I can attest to massive corruption in all three countries. Vietnam’s police will teach our metro cops a thing or too about bribery and extortion, for one. In South Korea, business is all about ‘relationships’ – very expensive relationships. The point isn’t the size of government, it’s the ethics of those in responsible positions, both in private and public domains.

        We need to establish a culture of social, economic and political morality. And good luck with that.

        • Miles Japhet says:

          On point. A capable state is a prerequisite for state interventionism. In the absence of that, just get out of the way!!

        • Hermann Funk says:

          Well said Sean. I lived and worked in the Far East for six years and can fully attest what you are saying.

        • Fanie Rajesh Ngabiso says:

          100% it’s about quality not quantity.

        • Nick Jacobs says:

          Yeah, I lived in Japan and I can attest to the corruption there, the chummy relationships between government and corporate entities, the winks and nods at outrageous behavior.

          The big difference is that, there were those in Japan’s leadership who made education and an incredibly competent and dedicated civil service the bulwark between corrupt politicians and ordinary citizens. Fascinating decision that has stood them well.

    • Smudger Smiff says:

      Yes, yes! Get Mr Naidoo into the cabinet – he we soon build a state tractor factory near you.
      That and a few more state coal- fired power stations, hundreds of state farms, strengthened BBBEE, a good dollop of EWC and we will be well on the way to recovery.

  • Ediodaat For Today says:

    Jay,
    The problem is not factionalism. Factionalism is the byproduct of corruption in the ANC and South Africa as a whole. You have 2 camps in the ANC. The larger bunch of thieves (include EFF into your fold) and then those who abhor corruption. You are no stranger to controversy yourself.

    Corruption goes on throughout the world and there is no denying that. With the exclusion of Africa, politicians in other countries would steal a few slices of bread and leave the rest of the loaf for the people. In Africa they want the whole loaf and INVITE foreigners to help them steal the lot. – Bain, KPMG, GUPTA…. I am not condoning corruption and merely expressing a view.

    It is time for a cabinet reshuffle. The ANC has to move away from party first – for a seat in the gravy train – outsource it to Transnet. They will stuff it up in their current form. The ANC has to put the country first and the voters will follow. I have never voted ANC – give me a reason else we are all dead. If you fix the top PROPERLY, they will do the rest of the weeding – just like Pravin and Tito.

    • Ken Forrester says:

      Noble thoughts from Mr Naidoo – but sadly delivered to a vacuum of accountability, masked by lies ongoing corruption and comedic spin doctors. Truly this ANC government is an embarrassment and a disappointment to the people it purports to serve as well as the rest of the world. Effectively the conduct of government and its hapless, fatcat cardres deployed as ministers has effectively legitimized looting – imagine if we could come back from the abyss but we can surely have no doubt that we have reached tipping point…..

  • Laurence Erasmus says:

    The social and economic policies of the ANC brought South Africa to the edge of a failed state. BEE has only benefited a small elite minority and its intention to be broad based to benefit the disadvantaged masses will never be realised. This policy has been a significant factor in the broad based looting of state resources. Cadre deployment has failed the state. Just look at the failure of the Security Cluster populated with ANC cadres whose priorities are to influence factions within the ANC to enable control of the levers of state power instead of protecting all citizens from insurgencies and coups. Land redistribution has been abused to enrich a select few and expropriation without compensation will not attract the quality and quantity of new job creating investments our economy so desperately requires. The setting of minorities against the majority by constantly blaming white monopoly capital for the current ills in our society does not provide a basis for building social cohesion. The stripping of municipalities across the country is where citizens come face to face with governance failures. Communities need to regain control of their municipalities and wrench them out of the greasy grip of politicians. Much needs to urgently change but will the ANC lead this change? Doubtful.

    • Sydney Kaye says:

      You may upset the writer if he thinks you are referring to him when you say “BEE only benefited a small elite minority”.

  • Cedric de Beer says:

    The effectiveness of those many people who mobilised to defend their communities has left me thinking it’s time for a bottom up campaign to organise around local issues and rebuild the power that the UDF once had, in every corner of the country – then to oppose the Apartheid storm troopers, now to hold government to account for every failure. Time for a younger generation not still in love with the past and themselves to take over.
    Why has no-one written a decent history of the UDF? Probably because the popular nature of that movement stands in such contract to the top down instincts of those now in power

    • Hermann Funk says:

      Spot on Cedric. Change is a bottom-up movement and can never be dictated from top.

      • Ediodaat For Today says:

        You may do whatever you like at the bottom. As long as Zuma was stealing with the cabinet ministers, why should the municipality staff stay poor. If you cannot lead by example at the top, then nobody will Cert clean. I sadly disagree.

  • Dennis Bailey says:

    Come on, Jay, you expect us to believe CR doesn’t know this? He knows what has to be done but lacks the steel to do it. ANC has failed us, the country and the planet abysmally. It’s not about policy it’s all about the greed and savvy of rank and file politicians.

    • Paddy Ross says:

      CR doesn’t lack the steel. He has demonstrated it throughout his CV. What he lacks is the political support within his own party to bring about the changes that he knows are necessary. He should consider a state of emergency and establish a government of national unity.

  • Ian McGill says:

    Either the ANC uncouples itself from the SACP’s ideology and Stalinist clap-trap or or is doomed to drag the country down with it on the altar of failed policies.

    • Katharine Ambrose says:

      Agreed. It’s not just a nostalgic frill in their vocab. We should take seriously phrases like counter revolution. Cadre comrade, liberation movement. Etc. These are not quaint linguistic throwbacks but have context and significance to those using them. It’s not very promising for peace and stability. Basic is the theme that violence and mayhem after the first revolutionary takeover of the state is a necessary stage to bring in the dawn of the true communist nirvana arising from the ashes.

    • Paul Van Uytrecht says:

      Oh for goodness sake – not the old “rooigevaar” refrain. The country would be in an infinitely worse position without the moral and intellectual input of the SACP. The SACP has consistently spoken out in no uncertain terms against corruption and unchecked monopoly capital.

  • Geoff Krige says:

    Great article, and great challenge thrown out to the ANC leadership. I have just one question. Why has it taken so long? We have known for many years, via the Treatment Action campaign, the Life Esidimeni tragedy, high infant mortality, etc that our health services have been falling short. We have know for many years, via SAA, Denel, Eskom, Transnet, etc that our SOEs together with their financial watchdogs KPMG and others have been falling short and allowing looting. We have known for many years via student protests, growing youth unemployment, etc that we have been failing the hopeful youth of our country. We have known for many years via the careful research of investigative journalists who many of the corrupt and looting cadres are. The explosion of two weeks ago was not unexpected. It was preceded by a long road of ANC factionalism, turning a blind eye to obvious failures, appointing incompetent and corrupt Cabinet Ministers and Senior Bureaucrats, poor policies and even poorer implementation of policies, allowing legal processes to drag on for years, opposition politics that has been opportunistic and self-centred rather than cooperative and nation-centred, and more. Why has it taken so long?

  • Dale Lautenbach says:

    I had been thinking “where’s Jay?” Good to hear your voice.

  • Cathy Grant says:

    Thank you for this. I back this plea totally.

  • Tony Reilly says:

    If he had the courage, he would get rid of 90% of his cabinet, form a government of national unity and appoint a small cabinet of selected superstars from the private sector and the opposition……….…we can only dream I suppose 😒.

  • Gary Shearer says:

    Powerful heartfelt summary of what the majority see and feel Jay. Please keep pushing and lobbying.

    And vitally, may the President find his will to act. And the courage to move strongly in these critical moments. People have lost or are losing faith as he procrastinates- seemingly paralysed, stuck and out of touch while the country burns…..

  • Veritas Scriptum says:

    Agree Jay. Bold action from our President can no longer be delayed through fear of opposing forces and division from within his party and government. Good prevailed over evil in the last couple of weeks encouraging bold decisive action at all levels within government and the economy. The entrepreneurial capacity of the huge informal sector needs to be harnessed and facilitated with less barriers to start small businesses.

  • Michael Stow says:

    No, Mr Naidoo, you know better than most why the ANC cannot change.

    Cosatu, for one thing.

    Structurally, SA’s economy and future are held hostage by a tripartite alliance through un-elected extra parliamentary bodies such as Nedlac, which give Cosatu (1 million members) more bargaining power than 60 million South African citizens and voters.

    Black Empowerment and black apartheid is official policy and law, requiring every single employer gift shares, contracts and jobs to people such as Cyril Ramaphosa (the first BEE Billionaire from the Anglo-Nail deal done 27 years ago). Cadre deployment is ANC official policy, appointing incompetents to hand out tenders and create deals.

    Where do the 40-50% unemployed black south africans go to, the EFF? looting, anarchy?

    The ANC is gambling that it can buy enough time to finish looting the public coffers, by outspendig its moral bankruptcy with a Basic Income Grant, to add another 20 million to the existing 20 million SASSA grant beneficiaries.

    2 million taxpayers who pay most of the taxes, are expected to fund the majority of the e population, keep a million civil servants, their tenders and deals in cash clover. Hundreds of thousands of students are “studying” at university with grants and subsidies costing several million rand per head – yet pass with 33% (and in a Covid year like last year, everyone passes! With or without exams….Hurrah!!)

    Ramaphosa’s cabinet remains full of corrupt and incompetents. Start there.

  • Ritchie Morris says:

    Thank you Mr Naidoo. The most important sentence is: ‘co-create a vibrant ecological economy that puts our People and Planet at the centre, especially the economically disenfranchised youth’. Its all about numbers. South Africa needs a ‘change plan’ based on carrying capacity principles. SA’s carrying capacity has deteriorated over the past 10 to 15 years – economically, socially, physically & most importantly ECOLOGICALLY. The ecological & social go together. Solutions: (1) A ‘Basic Income Grant’ (BIC) is an oxymoron. Income is earned – a grant is a donation, like the child support grant. We rather need a Community Services Grant (CSG) where services to one’s community earn credits or an income. A BIC is not affordable without some societal value being generated. Government should channel seed money to social service organizations to set-up service sectors, viz alien veg control, litter collection, road repair & maintenance. (2) Feed the Nation (FTN) – partnership with organized agriculture to establish urban market gardening. There is much unused land in urban areas for market gardens – no brainer. An empty stomach is fertile ground for despair. (3) incentivize smaller families – a number of methods exist. (a) full child support grant for 1st child, 2/3’rd child support grant for 2nd child, NIL thereafter. (b) improved access to sterilization and contraception, (c) education and moral improvement. (4) Manage the inflow of unskilled foreigners & thus labour competition.

    • Janie Rorke says:

      I like the Community services grant concept. So much more elevating to receive a reward for work as opposed to a gimme. Neighbourhood food gardens. Back to the biblical teach people how to fish.

    • Martin Ernst says:

      The community services grant is such a great idea, not only does it improve the community around, but it also shows the recipients of the grant that they have value to offer, and can lead to developing marketable skills

    • Paul Van Uytrecht says:

      Empirical studies show that Basic Income Grants have the effect of allowing at least a portion of the population to lift themselves out of poverty. I would not be against a period of post school National Community Service, but that’s a separate issue altogether.

  • Dieter Butow says:

    Well stated, Jay.
    We need to stop blaming “White Capital”, rather ask where all the Black Capital, including the R57billion pilfered through state capture and corruption, is today. Capital is sacred – not to be confused with capitalism. Bring back the R57B and start building factories and businesses. Unless taxes increase, the state can do nothing – not even have security forces or hospitals properly equipped, nor afford a basic income grant.
    Spending of Taxes need to be controlled and transparent – join the taxpayersunion to push government in the right direction – it is our money, not the ANC’s.

  • Russ H says:

    Insightful but like the open letter to the president, it expresses what we know already or what we ought to know by now.

    That said , I suspect that the greater electorate cannot bring itself to the point where it can vote for anybody BUT the ANC. This is evidenced by the recent by-elections.

  • Tony Purchase says:

    Good article from someone who knows what he is talking about. But why no mention of the ANC curse on SA, Cadre Deployment?
    Start there and healing will be automatic

  • John Stephens says:

    Hear, hear!!

  • André van Niekerk says:

    Thank you Mr Naidoo. Well said.
    I wish to share some thoughts. You ask “Where have we gone wrong?”. I think “at the start, and in principle”.
    In my mind, Government should be based on principles, and executed via policies, supported by systems. One of this governments principles is/was that of cader deployment. That supposes that one “rewards” comrades for past sacrifices via deployment. It also then assumes/accepts that competency is not a criteria; while also assuming that “good work” is possible by those deployed, despite a lack of competence. Those assumptions were successful for a while, not “because” of the deployment, but “despite” it. Some dedicated, competent lower level officials continued delivering, despite all. But over time (27 years), that benefit is now gone, only the incompetence remain.
    The incompetent includes those with criminal leanings. The rest of the incompetent are unable to catch those who are criminal, by definition. The really big criminals, who are competent as thieves, are left with a free rein (and reign they did!).
    The competent criminal #1, also destroyed the systems. The incompetents (in parliament) allowed this to happen. By destroying the systems, checks and balances were usurped.
    Now, the new, competent leaders, can’t fix the problems because the incompetents (and criminals) are still entrenched in the broken systems.

    So, yes, decisive action is needed. First though, old alliances need to fall.
    Time for a new collective to take over.

  • Michael Settas says:

    A great heartfelt appeal Jay! Unfortunately, CR already knows what he has to do but he either does not have the wherewithal and confidence to tackle those issues head on or he believes that he can, or maybe feels obligated to, transform the ANC from a parallel kleptocratic pseudo-state into a capable and ethical ruling party. Either way, he has now run out of time – an increasingly desperate citizenry have told him unequivocally that they have tired of the ANC’s recalcitrance towards the constitution and the rule of law and the contempt with which citizens are treated. As the ‘frightening rate of joblessness, hunger and poverty’ worsen under the ANC’s disastrous socialist (read ‘kleptocratic’) policies, expect much more in the way of civil insurrection and violent protests against a government wholly out of its depth even in functions that remotely resemble governing a country.

    • Paul Van Uytrecht says:

      How do you equate socialist with ‘kleptocratic’? It is the failure to institute more aggressive social reparative policies post 1994 that has got us to this point.

  • JAJ Stewart says:

    More like “Rebuild SA from the top down”.

  • Sandra Goldberg says:

    Good article, Mr.Naidoo.But will it help?We all know what the problems are, among them the President’s seeming inability to put the country before the ANC , and more especially the main policy of “cadre deployment”.The people are so sick of incompetent, venal arrogant public officials who fill positions from municipal to cabinet level-they (we) are so tired of maladministration and dishonesty!Mr Naidoo, perhaps you have the President’s ear!

  • Dick Binge Binge says:

    Brand ANC must be put to bed and a fresh start needs to be made. No one can carry them that name again. It needs to be remembered for what it was and not for those who have destroyed its moral high ground.

  • Ron Sams says:

    This is not at all easy. I agree fully with Jay’s direction. It is the how though. On foundation would be for the Government to focus on ‘governing’. To focus on the key issues of upliftment of the people through the creation of the right socio-political environment.
    For starters the offloading of the SOE’s. Having private enterprise buy them and develop them.
    Liberalise the thinking about state ownership. Leave the government to FOCUS on those key issues of governance that creates equality.
    The conditions for economic growth- A working Health system to keep our people fit and well- An education and training infrastructure and capability that produces the necessary skills that can fuel the growth and make people feel they are contributing to themselves, their family and the country.
    Mr President, FOCUS on the key issues please. And put in jail the those that have and continue to undermine all that was fought for in this beautiful place South Africa.
    The people voted you to your position. They trust you. Please trust them, not the perpetrators of ill will. FOCUS. Thank you

  • Andrew Blaine says:

    In business and life those who succeed offer little but deliver lots. It is only in politics that the reverse applies.
    The ANC has, since 1911, offered liberation and liberty. But they have delivered, instead, poverty and corruption. The reason they have remained in power results more from an inherent distrust of the voting process and fear of reprisals by the country’s majority.
    Until we citizens fear the alternative more, the current government will persist.
    Maybe the last weeks are indicating that the tipping point for our people has arrived?

  • Rod H MacLeod says:

    Mr Naidoo

    “I have been shocked and traumatised by the turmoil that rocked our country in the past weeks” – really? What were you doing in 1991 as Secretary General of SFAWU?

    “The vast majority of youth are alienated and disillusioned with a governance and leadership that continues to exclude them. They ask, rightly, where is the democratic dividend that we promised our people in 1994? ” – where were you as RDP Minister? What did YOU do and achieve during your tenure?

    And you joined the eponymous Jaiyendra Naidoo as co-founder of J&J Group, within months of the closure of the Big Arms Fraud deals. You mouthed your opposition to the deal at the time, but when the voting came down to it, both you and Trevor Manuel both said yes. And then you joined the government’s chief negotiator in the arms “procurement” as part of J&J Group.

    So now we’re supposed to be amazed by your outrage at last week’s events, when you yourself were so complicit in the building of the foundations that led to this? Please, pull the other one man.

  • Andrew McWalter says:

    But does he have the self-belief that the nation will back him in the surgical excision of criminal ANC parliamentarians? If not now Mr President, when, exactly?

  • Paula Savva says:

    Bravo 👏🏻

  • John Storey says:

    I always feel inspired by your vision Jay but I think some brutal honesty may be more useful. Your ANC ran a surplus, built millions of homes and saw still more of our people lifted from poverty. The current version can’t generate electricity or buy trains that can run on our tracks, let alone run a country.

    Between the new ANC’s, incompetence, patronage, deployment and schizophrenia SA is left to fend for itself with whatever its cadres leave behind.

    Our President, while a decent man, tolerates a police force run by criminals, a security cluster that knows and cares less about our nations issues than teenagers on Twitter and rank incompetence from most of his ministers.

    Poor economic choices have trapped us structurally in low growth, shed millions of jobs, lost real GDP of anything up to R3tn over the last 10-15 years and seen our per capital GDP go backwards. Every year our people get poorer. Yes we need a BIG, but only because our leaders have beggared our nation.

    Half of KZN has gone up in flames, it’s logistics destroyed quicker than in war.

    No response. Our President is invisible. Business as usual. More of the same.

    The best thing our current politicians is acknowledged Mr Msimang’s apology, resign en masse and get out the way.

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