Sphelele Khumalo - Vuka emaqandeni muntu omnyama!

The fall of the South African country in the hands and thoughts of its own: The land is the solution

The South African country has fought a clear and real enemy during the Apartheid Era. Those who owned resources in South African before that Era were killed, brutalized, tortured and despaired in the hands of the colonial personnel. Today, South African citizens are suffering but now not in the hands of the enemy but in the hands of its own, African people.

People died fighting during the liberation struggle and indeed, they were able to attain political freedom, which has not been used to upgrade or improve the lives of the South African citizens and attain economic freedom but only used to oppress, suppress and manipulate those with less political power. As the late greatest economist, political theorist, sociologist, journalist, and revolutionary socialist of all times Karl Marx would say “Political power, properly so called, is merely the organised power of one class for oppressing another”.

Today, the whole African Continent is seen on its knees always appealing for the Western aid e.g. in Defense, Innovation, Educational and Health services. It is not because of what the colonial era left behind or its legacy but because Africa lacks of Leaders whom will strive and advocate for a move from reconciliation to justice, radical economic transformation, educational empowerment, social justice and development, secured food security systems and the creation of a massive protected industrial development to create sustainable millions of jobs.

In South Africa, the economic status has recently been subjected to junk status due to the mere fact that the government lacks the ability and courage to implement all the potential economic growth plans or policies designed on the governmental non-ending policy conferences e.g. 14-point action plan to revive economy unveiled by the current state Minister of Finance Melusi Gigaba. It remains a critical argument or question if whether economic freedom will get to see the sun in South Africa and by extension, the African continent.

Those who owned the factors of production by forcibly occupying them from the rightful owners, still owns them even today although we claim the country has now been declared a democratic state. Africans are still landless, which simply means they can’t equip themselves, they can’t emancipate themselves, they can’t be independent on their own. Therefore, they remain exploited, traumatized and enslaved now only legalized under the unforgiving ruthless capital market system.

The South African Constitution under section 25 gives no provision for the masses of South Africa who remains landless as it stipulates that the land cannot be expropriated without compensation, that’s section itself, is in contradiction with the South African Criminal law. Law Makers fails to interpret that constitutional law to the simple fact that by buying back the land from the White settlers, that would be the purchasing of stolen property of which is a serious and chargeable crime by the power vested to the justice system from the law makers, in particularly, Criminal law makers.

To solve the economic crisis which is rapidly growing in South Africa, the Government and law makers should only consist of people with enough abilities to improve and upgrade the lives of the South African citizens. In simple terms, they should have the interest of the South African masses in their hearts. All those who will be holding power enough to transform the lives of the people should be driven by the following values: Accountability, Transparency, Honesty and Integrity.
These are the kinds of leaders that Africa needs so that we can victorious move out of the unforgiving poverty, political instability, wars and other economic issues.

Africa is labelled as the poorest continent in the world although Africa is not poor but it is being looted for the sustainability and development of the Western Countries e.g. if South Africa was colonized by England, even now England will remain the owner of factors of production in the country, directly or indirectly. South Africa has become a hotspot for top-level corruption, money laundering, state capturing and everyday escalating level of crime because the State’s top offices are in the hands of those who lack integrity, accountability, transparency and self-control. The state should now put into implementation all its legislation and policies which will only seeks to improve the lives of most particularly, people from previously disadvantaged groups.

To ensure the resurrection of the South African economy and the African continent as a whole, the land should be part of the central points which will and can only possible ensure the revival of the economy. Without the land, Africans will remain poor, hopeless and empty handed, for you cannot speak about beauty of Africa without mentioning our productive but not in our ownership land. The land is the answer, the returning of the land to rightful owners who were despaired during the Apartheid Era, can lead to a possible move from reconciliation to justice because there can be no justice without equality. The land can break the chains of enslavement within the working class, so that there will be no masters or any class exploiting another.

For South Africa to be removed out of this crisis it is in deeply. Firstly, they need leaders who are willing to allow themselves to be led by the suffering masses and whatever legislation is voted into law should be a legislation advocating for nothing less but economic emancipation. Political power without economic emancipation is meaningless.

All country stakeholders should participate in a clarion call about the empowerment of our people through education, economic emancipation and free quality decolonized education. People should be educated about ways to manage the land and empower themselves so that they will know exactly what to do with land. South African citizens should not solely depend on the government because it is clear that the government is failing them.

Law makers should now push for a strategic move which will give them strength and power to amend Section 25 of The South African Constitution so that the state can start expropriating land without compensation. Failing to provide aid and address such issues will not assist South African citizens but it will grow the rapidly already growing events of land occupation without compensation.

Africa should give power, political power to those with abilities and capabilities to lead and deliver to the people. The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of all 55 countries on the African continent has failed Africa for so long and it is continuously doing so. Africa does not need such organisations anymore but needs fearless, militant and radical leaders who will ensure the triumph of socialist over capitalism in Africa.

Bibliography

Odendaal, A. (2004). The Liberation Struggle in South Africa. Pretoria: Ministry of Education.

Smith, J. (2014). The Coming Revolution: Julius Malema and the Fight for Economic Freedom. South Africa: Jacana Media.

By Sphelele Khumalo