expressed regret over the lack of cooperation
Yet the socio-economic problems of the country inherited from apartheid persisted during his tenure. Mbeki expressed concern about ANC politicians who did not serve the people of South Africa, but focused more on self-promotion. He also lamented the lack of cooperation between government, civil society organisations, communities, business and labour. And he pointed to the dire pressure of local governments, especially the governments led by the ANC.
Tunisia-like rebellion warned
Mbeki lamented the high crime rate. He said that the ANC is not ruling well in South Africa, which has been in power since 1994. He warned that there could be uprisings like the one that took place to topple the Tunisian government in 2011 and that followed. spread to the Arab world. South Africa is really threatened by all of these issues – particularly unemployment, inequality, poverty and lack of solidarity. The Tunisian Revolution was characterized by high unemployment, inequality, food inflation, corruption, lack of political freedom and poor living conditions.
Only transformational leadership can help
Experts agree that the country needs transformational leaders – those who can inspire positive change in individuals and social systems to fix their problems. Such leaders should be concerned about the problems of the country and get involved in helping to fix them. They should help every member of the society to be successful. Only transformational leadership can help South Africa renew itself.
Economy should be free from state control
Every South African who cares about the future of the country and its people would agree with Mbeki that to avert disaster, something must be done immediately about the socio-economic problems he mentioned. However, people – including economists, political commentators, politicians, business people and policy makers – have differing opinions on the objectives and methods of such a renewal effort. For example, some believe that a country’s wealth is based on natural resources, capital, coveted jobs and job creation. For them, redistribution of wealth, affirmative action, job creation and higher wages are the answer to the country’s problems.
Others argue that South Africa is a poor country. So, redistribution of wealth will make everyone poorer. Therefore, economic development is necessary to create an environment of redistribution. For this, the economy should be freed from state control so that entrepreneurs and businesses can be motivated to make good money, invest more and create jobs to make the country prosperous. Of course, both of these ideas have merit, but there are also drawbacks that can seriously harm development.
Nelson Mandela was the best transformative
Although there is still a battle between capital and labor, in today’s economy, knowledge, skill development and pioneering innovation are the primary drivers of a country’s prosperity.
This requires that all South Africans join hands and participate in the process. And this construction work should be done with great patience, adaptability, respect, humility and a lot of hope and courage. For this the country needs transformational leadership.
Transformational leadership is a process in which leaders and followers help each other to continually lead to higher levels of morale and motivation. Transformational leadership was best demonstrated by Nelson Mandela, the first president of a democratic South Africa. Were. He saw the country as a “rainbow nation” and mobilized almost the entire country – white and black – to achieve his vision. But it faded over the years.
Poor understand democracy as betrayal
Futurist Philippe Spice, however, describes the new South Africa as a ship that began sailing in 1994 with great hope and direction, but froze in a pack of ice 28 years later, leaving the country Development stopped. It is the result of, among other things, class, race and ethnic polarization and segregation and greed of communities, elitist rule and the corruption of privileged and favored public servants and politicians.
Sadly, current political leaders – and this applies to most political parties – are not very good reformers. Many politicians are busy doing their own good and they literally and figuratively stay away from the public. A large group of poor people in the country feel betrayed by democracy. Political emancipation did not lead to economic emancipation. While politicians defend their positions and privileges, the poor want to survive. These are two opposite motives by people experiencing reality in completely different ways.
Troubled by corruption, rebellion
The incompetence and corruption of so many officials and politicians compel people to rebel. This in turn creates opportunities for criminal elements. This kind of leadership takes away humanity from the people. It provokes feelings and hatred that lead to turmoil with no respect for anything and anyone, as seen in July 2021 in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. But transformational, ethical leadership is future-oriented. It changes people’s perspective and inspires them to do extraordinary things.
(Chris Jones, Chief Researcher, Department of Systematic Theology and Ecclesiology, Head of the Ethical Leadership Unit, Stellenbosch University)