SA must work to grow economy, but don’t rely on political elites

While the government’s efforts to support economic recovery are gaining momentum, we must all do more to reduce unemployment, poverty and inequality significantly. We must moderate our reliance on political party elites that no longer prioritise the people. In recent weeks, a handful of events happened that, taken together, send a clear signal to citizens.

That the persistent infighting in the ANC, DA, NFP, MKP and elsewhere is landing well-aimed punches on the already bruised relationships between the citizens and different factions in political parties in the legislative bodies as well as in the national and provincial unity governments. This infighting threatens to bring blunt instruments of coalition politics down on delicate national feelings. Though the co-operation of key political parties at national, provincial and local government is not at the midst of a rupture, many political parties that promised to infuse better ways of governance in unity governments have broken faith with the electorate.

And citizens are choosing resistance and informality over submission to politicians’ shortcomings and neglect. Some political parties talk about good governance and putting the country first on the days they are talking a good game. On other days, they are entertaining factional fights and protecting power turf.

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You may have read about the January 23 update on the government’s performance against the Medium Term Development Plan before. But please read it again. It will remain a prominent yardstick to measure government progress this year. “SA is making progress,” minister in the presidency for planning, monitoring and evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa claimed.

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