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“More imbalanced right now”
“I am worried about what is happening now in our country. The decisions we will make in the next three to four years will be crucial for the future of our country,” Haffajee said. “Things are more imbalanced right now. We are a nation in balance and I am asking myself if sometimes we are going to travel the Zimbabwe route.”
Haffajee added, “More and more of our people are powerless and desperate, and taking to the streets to protest, yet the Malemas of this country are enjoying themselves. Politicians are now dictating the terms of tenders and business, and multinational companies are playing the games. The minister of justice is seeking judges' positions for civil servants.
“Look at the SABC, the state of our roads with all their potholes, the encroachment in media and judiciary and the Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act and the proposed introduction of media licensing and tribunal - these are the signs that tell you the country is the state of imbalance.
“It is also a worrying trend when business is being done in the Latin American and Angolan style. South Africa now lives in the shadow of Nelson Mandela's dream nation.
“We are now more a nation-focused than a continent-focused nation that is on the verge of losing its standing as one of the giants of the developing world if we don't keep up with countries such as China and India and Brazil.”
Haffajee said that former president Thabo Mbeki kept SA in the global sphere but President Jacob Zuma continues to attract unnecessary headlines such as having his 20th child with the woman who is not his wife. Haffajee, who constantly took a swipe at ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema and Zuma's conservative behaviour, also said that she is worried about the ANC tripartite alliance's troubles.
The ANC tripartite alliance is wearing thin and its troubles over control policy and government tenders are creating factional divisions, and we should all be worried, she said, adding that SA's income equality continues to skew things up.
She urged all citizens to add their voice in community and business forums to protest and complain against these bullies and these forums of abuse in the view of shaping SA's imagination and keeping the country's democratic and founding dream alive.
For more, go to www.fluxtrends.co.za. Bizcommunity.com is a media partner.
In February 2010, Bishop Geoff Davies, Dianne Bayley, Dr Craig Nossel, Ferial Haffajee, Menzi Mthethwa, Mokena Makeka, Randall Abrahams, Sylvester Chauke and Toby Shapshak –10 of the country’s leading thinkers in a broad array of disciplines – will gather to present their insights into trends beyond the economic meltdown at a one-day conference in takes place in Johannesburg: the 2010 Flux Trend Review powered by BlackBerry.
Hosted by trends analyst Dion Chang and building upon the recently published Flux Trend Review The State We’re In (published by Pan Macmillan and available at bookstores now), the conference will give a unique South African perspective to social, business, technology, political and marketing trends. For more trends and information about the conference taking place at the University of Johannesburg Theatre (Kingsway campus) on Thursday, 25 February 2010, go to www.fluxtrends.co.za. Cost is R2280 per delegate. Bizcommunity.com is a media partner.
