EC communities need to stand together to fight growing moral decay

The breakdown of social cohesion, moral decay and a waste of human capital are all interconnected. The Eastern Cape is predominantly rural, with most of its population living in non-urban areas. Rural life is often characterised by close-knit relationships, shared traditions and a strong sense of community, which distinguishes it from urban environment.

It is, therefore, difficult to understand why a province that was once grounded in the community andubuntuis facing a crisis of moral decay. There has always been a deep understanding in African communities that one not only belonged to the immediate family but to their community at large. As a community we were connected by shared characteristics, interests and location, which fostered mutual support and often shared norms, values and activities.

There was a belief that an individual’s identity and dignity were rooted in their relationships with the broader communities. Our communities were not just about familial ties but also the power of friendship and collective identity, fostering social cohesion and harmony. There have always been traditions and rituals that brought the community together.

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One of these was when a young woman came of age and got married, a group of elderly women would gather to advise her on how to carry herself in her matrimonial home. They would often repeat the words“uncede ungasihlazi”which means “please, do not embarrass us”. The elders understood that we were interconnected as a whole and a single individual’s actions reflected not only their immediate family but the village that raised them.

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