Signs of success at national government level saluted

There is a national coalition government that is beginning to gel, to cohere into one entity pulling in one direction, and which is beginning to give hope and confidence — through deeds and not just words — to many citizens, commentators and analysts. It is by no means perfect, but it provides us with a picture of what is possible with collaboration, mutual respect and clearly identified goals. Then there is the provincial and local government sphere, a place where chaos, greed, incompetence and corruption is now flourishing and entrenching itself.

In our local governments, naked theft of state resources is the norm and lack of accountability for civil servants and their criminal and political handlers is entrenched. These two spheres of government, what our national politicians tell us is where citizens come face to face with governance, is a horror story. The arrogance and ignorance of provincial politicians is laid bare, incompetence is rewarded and chaos is celebrated.

This is the sphere of government that will break us. I travelled down to Cape Town for finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech last week and I — and many of those who listened — saw a piece of that first South Africa that is beginning to give citizens a bit of hope. The budget presented to the nation was a product of intense collaboration over the past 12 months.

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It was a product of a team — the minister, his deputies, political parties and civil servants — who had to acknowledge that the ANC was no longer solely in charge. The fruit of their collaboration was there for all to see.

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