The heartbeat of a lost nation!

The first time I visited freedom park in 2009, I had mixed emotions about the past, the present and the future. The selfless sacrifices of the fallen heroes left me speechless. At that point I knew that I owe it to myself to ensure that I contribute towards making our nation a better place for the next generation. I am aware that countless South Africans, organizations, political parties and fellow Africans fought for our freedom. However I was very proud of the the ANC, and as a black child I felt that "I am the ANC". That's how rich and deep the history and the heritage of the ANC was. Their role to our freedom is glorious and touching.

This year marks 27 years of freedom to the nation. However it's very depressing and dissapointing to witness how lost we are as a nation. I don't see any progress, we are backsliding from success to failure, and I mainly blame our leadership. Once leaders lose direction, the whole nation gets lost. Most of our leaders don't even remember their job description, satisfying their personal agenda is the order of the day. I strongly believe that; Leadership is not a career, but it's a calling that comes with great responsibilities.

I quote Chris Hani: "What I fear is that the liberators emerge as elitists who drive around in Mercedes Benzes and use the resources of this country to live in palaces and to gather riches."

Let me mention some of our country's problems, because the list is endless. Our women and children they are abused, raped and murdered like chickens daily, our government and our justice system is failing to protect their lives and dignity. Unemployment rate is sky rocketing, and covid-19 pandemic will be blamed for decades. And we all know we had this problem as a nation long before the pandemic.

Unemployment gives birth to many other problems. Our government failed to create job opportunities and empowerment, they have now opted to a disgracefull R350 grant, the money that most politicians give to their children to buy sweets. And they expect the poor to survive with this grand. We gave them 27 years to create jobs, and they came back with a R350 relief grant, and they expect us to applaud.

Crime is now out of hands, we are not safe at all. Anything can happen anytime to anyone, except to the leaders and their loved ones. They have heavy security protection. So why will they care?. Our children are abducted daylight, human trafficking, and our children are drug addicts.

During the lockdown I witnessed military presence ensuring that we stay in our homes to be safe against a sickness. Imagine if the same military and law enforcement agencies can go to the human traffickers and drug lords dens, to enforce the law and to save our people from this thugs. Imagine the possibilities of a safe and drug free nation. But why will our leaders do that?, since they don't really care.

Let me not forget to mention how most foreign nationals has turned our country into a play ground of crime and illigal activities. Most foreigners shops are selling expired and "fake" food, that are not safe to consume. What kind of government is this, who doesn't care about the health of his people. I don't even want to mention how they crumpled our townships economy by taking away the source of income from South Africa's who use to run successfully spaza shops. That's how low we have gone as a nation, failing to prioritize South Africans over foreigners. We have become a weak and a lawless country.

Our education system is poor, because it doesn't contribute in enhancing the intelligence of our children. What kind of leaders will they become?, if 30% is the pass rate. They won't even be everage citizens, they will be dumb enough not to even realize their countries problems and struggles, never mind solving them. I guess our leaders like that, because they don't want even to handover the baton to the youth. "If we fail to greatly empower our youth, we are failing our future as a nation. We won't witness intelligent innovations."

I quote Kofi Annan; "I have always believed that on important issues, the leaders must lead. Where the leaders fail to lead, and people are really concerned about it, the people will take the lead and make the leaders follow."

The worse part of everything is not even having a strong and capable opposition party. I personally not happy with this coalition arrangements, it works for the political parties not for voters, in my view it will further delay service delivery, but time will tell. Why don't we have an opposition that wins a majority with absolute accuracy?

Some have prematurely predicted that ANC will lose power in the next national elections, and I ask to who?. It might not lose power now, but if it continues leading our country the way it does, soon or later it will definitely lose power. However that's not even their problem, their problem will be worse than that. They will have to face the spirits of our forefathers who payed with their lives for their country's freedom, they can't die for nothing. Their blood will seek justice, I doubt they are happy with the ANC. This is not what they stood and died for. I hope our leaders have a moment of introspection and reflection.

Last month I had a privilege of visiting Dedan Kimathi's family in Kenya, a freedom fighter who payed with his life for the liberation of Kenya. I was warmly welcome by his old and fragile wife Mokami Kimathi, the mother of the nation. And her words and love for Africa inspired my spirit to travel back to the first day I visited freedom park. "Cry not my mother land our heartbeat will guide us to victory. We can't be lost forever, the real new dawn will come one day. We shall heal, restore and prosper."

I quote Archbishop Tutu; "We learn from history that we don't learn from history."