South Africans should stop being victims to the idea that there is no alternative to the ANC or alternatively an ANC leader like Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC under various leaders, starting with Nelson Mandela himself, failed to anticipate and deal with problems in energy supply, problems that the experts at Eskom at the time were informing the government about. On the other hand, you had liberals calling for reform of the energy market because a government-run monopoly provider was always going to lead to problems.

Energy is just one example, South Africa is not short of crises that one can point to, the ANC has truly and completely failed. We cannot expect this party to have solutions, if they had any we would have seen them by now. We also cannot let ourselves off the hook as voters by claiming that there are no alternatives, when an opposition-run province like the Western Cape has the lowest unemployment in the country, among other virtues.

The adults of South Africa have to take responsibility for the multiple crises that we face, we have the responsibility of creating an environment that is conducive to raising healthy, prosperous, and happy children. Our actions today cannot be self-indulgent, based on the flawed reasoning that just because a politician has white skin or alternatively has the support of white voters then this person cannot be trusted, we need stronger justifications for our actions than that.

Not perfect

The opposition parties are not perfect, they have serious flaws that should be discussed but whatever issues exist in the opposition, these pale in comparison to the vehicle of incompetence and corruption called the ANC. We just need to take one step forward, often in a crisis one positive step is required so that everyone can start getting a hold of more complex problems. If we could just see potholes getting fixed for instance, perhaps we can start dealing with the more complex issues, but right now everything is getting worse.

That is why the response to Phala Phala should include a resignation by Cyril Ramaphosa. But it must go beyond this and also include an early election. Parliament has it within its power to pass a motion dissolving itself after which the President (hopefully a new President) would then have to set a date for a new election. Give the decision to the adults of South Africa. Let’s see if they’re finally willing to solve our problems as reasonable adults and abandon infantile thinking such as race and class mobilisation. Everyone is feeling the pain.

If we are to develop a culture of accountability in politics, we as voters must be accountable. First of all, with the terrible economy, collapsing infrastructure, rampant corruption, there’s no excuse for any adult not to vote. Secondly, voting is not the only place where voters can make a difference, if your children attend a public school, it’s your responsibility to be involved in school governance too. It’s your responsibility to get involved in public participation in your municipality first, your province, and finally at the national government level.

Responsibility

It is also your responsibility not to pay a bribe or hide criminals. It is your responsibility not to report your neighbour for violating municipal bylaws if the violation does not harm anyone and instead to support changing irrational laws at all levels. South Africa does not have uniquely evil politicians, we have people who are unwilling to take responsibility for their actions and the political culture is just an inevitable consequence of that.

So, it should no longer be socially acceptable to vote, donate to or otherwise support the ANC regardless of your ideological leaning. Too much harm has been done to this country, just as supporting the National Party became immoral at some point, so too with the ANC and this is based on nothing but the outcomes of ANC governance. The party cannot do the simplest thing, the most basic thing any government should be able to do, that’s why mafias are running rampant in KwaZulu-Natal extorting businesses. Take responsibility for yourself and take responsibility for your role in changing the country for the better.

When will enough be enough? – Daily Friend