Sakhile's empty victory - Thought Leader

Retired former liberation heroes (like Nelson Mandela) and struggle stalwarts now turned into government ministers (like Trevor Manuel) cannot enjoy the sight of upheavals like those in Sakhile township near Standerton, Mpumalanga or Khutsong in Carltonville.

Can you believe the number of disgruntled people who want the world to believe that our democratic government is a failure? Ironically, the people who lead and are out to protest against alleged poor service delivery are from the ruling party, some highly politicised NGOs and, of course, some jobless and poor guys from the local communities.

They really are very good at creating a ruckus.

As we speak, there are deep rumbles of discontent in communities like KwaThema and Riverlea in Gauteng (and perhaps in other provinces) who are getting ready to explode into self-destructive violence because of alleged poor service delivery or rampant corruption in the indifferent municipal councils.

Well, no one has exactly presented a comprehensive report of rampant corruption with specifics but there is this widespread view that councillors, senior management and officials in the municipal office are helping themselves to money that should go to service delivery. This has resulted in the political leadership, mostly from the ANC, being accused of mismanagement, nepotism, embezzlement of funds and betraying the expectations of the people.

In places like Sakhile, for instance, many of the councillors were forced to abandon their homes and are now regarded as the enemies of the people.

To make matters worse, at least seven councillors — including the mayor, speaker and chief whip — have been forced to join the ranks of the unemployed following increasing pressure from the protesters who staged a march to council offices and demanded action from Luthuli House.

The whole world watched scenes of some of the protesters pulling down telephone kiosks, signage and chanting what were supposed to be new freedom songs.

In Sakhile, there was a bespectacled young man who was screaming into a news mike and demanding that all the councillors must resign or be killed. Of course, the councillors and other government officials were nowhere to be seen as they had scuttled away in fear of being murdered in broad day light by the marauding crowds.

Despite the fact that this is a democratic country with structures to address grievances, the grassroots are not interested in constructive engagement.

I would assume that former political prisoners like Nelson Mandela and former exiles like former president Thabo Mbeki, who have used negotiations to solve problems, find their gyrations before television cameras quite a disappointing sight.

It is not amusing to watch people burn down libraries and destroy state property simply because they are impatient and angry. These protesters have a violent streak that threatens the lives of legitimately elected leaders and their families.

In fact, they are not willing to listen to anyone … except President Jacob Zuma. It would seem that he is the only credible leader who can calm them down and make them see reason.

Undoubtedly, the high point of these alleged service-delivery protests is that they are a symptom of a breakdown in communication. What is disappointing is that the people are not willing to inform and educate themselves about the requirements of the new times in democracy. For God’s sake, there are structures and processes in place.

But they don’t want to listen or try new ways to get their concerns addressed. The new times of freedom and democracy demand that dissatisfied people must engage in discussion instead of resorting to self-destructive violence.

There is no point to service-delivery protests that leave community institutions and structures burnt down to the ground. It is not radicalism to seek out councillors, drag them out of homes and offices only to stone them to death.

If people are not happy with leadership, they must vote them out and elect people that they believe will give them what they want.

Otherwise, township protests have become a boring, monotonous and predictable cycle of self-destruction and wanton violence. Perhaps no one can dismiss the genuine concerns and grievances of the grassroots people. But where is the self-respect and dignity in the new forms of “struggle”, if we can call it that?

Why must people burn down libraries and destroy property and other amenities that are part of the reconstruction and development programme?

Where is this hate and self-destruction taking the sought-after service delivery, progress and development? Today, the “struggle”, if one can call it that has lost direction and meaning.

In fact, the poor have no leaders except people who want to replace those they charge to be corrupt. But in saying this, I am not taking away the right of the people to protest or express their grievances.

However, we ALL — rich or poor — need to understand that freedom entails responsibility. The so-called service delivery protests need leaders who will make grassroots people understand that their struggle will be meaningless and discredited unless they exercise their right to protest with self-restraint and dignity.

People who have no respect for human life or state and private property are criminals.

This democracy works.

As has been shown by the example of the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki, the citizens can remove a leadership that does not fulfil their expectations.

But, for God’s sake, spare us the violence and wanton destruction of lives and property.

People who are prone to unnecessary violence and murder are not free, but irresponsible criminals.

The poor must stop this self-destructive war against themselves.