Train of frustration holds no promise of gravy
Those who fought for freedom 21 years ago have since realised there is a difference between being free from oppression and getting everything for free.
After all, the perception that was created in 1994 was that suddenly everyone would immediately live in the lap of luxury and quality services would be available to all.
Fast forward 21 years and disillusionment has settled into the hearts of many citizens, especially the youth, who face the daunting obstacles of not only receiving a worthwhile education, but also finding work.
Sure, we all want things for free, but the reality is that it is not always so easy to provide such freedoms.
Fighting for democratic freedom, it seems, was easier than obtaining affordable housing, running water, health care and education.
So, it understandable why thousands of students protested against university fees and why so many supporters of the EFF donned their red berets in a march to demand economic reform.
Frustration had to eventually boil over. After all, it is two decades since democracy and, during this time, the unemployment rate has increased to 25.5 per cent.
The government has also not addressed the pressing issue of affordable higher learning. Now, all of a sudden, it is scrambling to appease the masses.
President Jacob Zuma recently said free university education is possible, a mere four days after he acceded to the demands of students to freeze fee levels for next year, following nationwide protests.
Government’s pledge to impose no hike in fees means that the state and universities must now find an additional R2.6-b at a time when the economy is close to a recession and at risk of a credit-rating downgrade.
It’s simple. Education equals skills development, therefore, creating a skilled labour force that can boost the economy.
An economy that is growing can then be utilised effectively to take care of the demands of the citizens.
The government should, a long time ago, have realised that the key to its economic dilemma is education, and there are options available for it to address this burning issue, besides hiking taxes.
This includes reducing the state’s wage bill, cutting down on military spending and eliminating subsidies to parastatals (yes, we all shudder at what that could mean for Eskom).
Julius Malema has certainly realised that many citizens are riding on a train of frustration, instead of enjoying a ride on the proverbial gravy train.
During the EFF’s march for “economic freedom”, Malema demanded, for example, that all companies on the JSE should move towards socialisation of their ownership, meaning that they should give real and meaningful shares to their employees who will, in turn, receive dividends at the end of each financial year.
Thus, a minimum of 51 per cent of all JSE companies should be owned and controlled by workers.
And, oh yes, Malema also marched to the Reserve Bank, demanding greater state intervention‚ ownership and control of this institution, given its strategic role in our economy.
Malema made some valid points, such as calling on companies listed on the JSE to adopt 100 students and assist with their higher education.
The march was a reflection of the growing frustration out on the streets, but we know this frustration does not pertain only to the black population.
The majority of white youths are also facing a very uncertain future in terms of unemployment, while Malema is making a mistake if he thinks the JSE is only white-driven.
We can sympathise with the frustrations of the masses, but we don’t live in some sort of fantasy Utopia. This is not la-la land.
We all sit in a leaky boat on a stormy sea, because the government has failed all its people by failing to grow the economy and to meet its promises of 1994.
Malema will also do well to remember the weighty contribution of the JSE companies to the economy of SA; the question is: how have those contributions been utilised and spent?
There is the old story that says if you give someone fish they eat for the day, but if you teach them to fish they will feed themselves for the rest of the days.
Many of Malema’s suggestions are about feeding people fish, instead of teaching them to fish. And this is where quality education, which will empower the youth to pave a future for themselves, comes in.
Sure, we all love to live a dream world, but the reality is that we still live in a democratic country, with capitalistic ideals that have managed to feed the government’s coffers to help out the disadvantaged.
Heck, I wouldn’t mind a free house, a free car and free groceries, but, just as I think this reality will materialise my bedside alarm shatters my dream.
Yes, South Africa, the alarm bell is ringing, and it’s ringing for those on the gravy train who have neglected the needs of those travelling on the train of frustration.
The answer to our woes is not economic freedom with a la-la land constitution, but hard work and everyone pulling in the same direction to help the country grow, instead of destroying its credibility and sanity.
