What is your answer?

I have been thinking a lot about how, if ever,  we will prevent  the collision course our Prez is steering our South Africa on. He does not give a damn. He does not care about you and me, and he does not care about the young dancer at the Drop In Centre who has no parents and who as no future if we do not do our bit.

How, how, how will we change this mess? How are we, ordinary South Africans, going to change what is happening?

Last week Raymond Suttner wrote of qualities we need in leadership, and currently nowhere to be seen:

“Integrity and trust. One of the key requirements of a leadership is to be trusted and that means people recognise that what you say you will do is what you will in fact do, or try to bring into effect. 

Service.  Leaders ought to be imbued with a service ethic.  

Vision. Leaders need a vision.  By vision I do not understand being a “visionary” or someone whose thinking is “ahead of his or her time”.  It is precisely in being in tune with one’s time that one develops a vision that resonates with people whom one represents.  A vision does not derive from being very clever or brilliant but for those who believe that “the people shall govern”, as the Freedom Charter says, the vision needs to derive from the people whom one is supposed to serve.

Connection and concern. To develop a leadership that is focused in this people-centred way will take time. It will require developing a new cadre of leadership who have the necessary humility, passion and compassion in order to address the multiple problems that need to be remedied in order to recover and extend our freedom.”

Read more at :http://www.polity.org.za/article/leadership-in-question-2017-10-18

I truly believe that these qualities are not only required of leaders in our beloved country – it is required of each and every citizen. We all need to stop corruption, we all need to have integrity, be trustworthy. We all need to be of service to our country, not just for our own personal interest. We all should share a collective vision that South Africa is our home and deserves every effort to stop the pillaging by the Zuptas and their cronies.

We should not wait for leaders to lead, we ought to lead by example.

This morning Mark Heywood asked the question running through my mind:

“Are you working for South Africa?

“Working for South Africa means working for its people. It means ongoing continuous small actions that grow good government, social justice and equality.

Working for South Africa doesn’t mean 67 token minutes of sacrifice once a year. It means that on a daily basis you ask yourself whether your efforts are contributing to the well-being of all the people in this country … or under-mining it?

Working for South Africa means avoiding corrupt activity.

Working for South Africa means reporting corrupt activity.

Working for South Africa means doing your job diligently as a public servant.

Working for South Africa means tempering your own greed as a business leader.

Working for South Africa means being ready to stand up for other people’s rights.

Working for South Africa means making personal sacrifices for a greater good.

Working for South Africa is an attitude and an ethic that carries into action and doesn’t get stuck at the dinner table.

Working for South Africa is mostly a silent commitment. It doesn’t boast. It’s not decoration or tinsel or window dressing.

If we are going to win the battle against the thieves in high office, be it government or business, we are going to have to do more to recognise and support the good.

So, let me ask you one question: Do you work for South Africa or do you work for number one? – MARK HEYWOOD