Tears for My Country: We must make South Africa great again

By Dr Vusi Shongwe

AT this despairing juncture in South Africa’s history, there is no evident technocratic quick fix to our profound challenges. South Africa is at a crossroads, adrift on a storm-tossed sea of political and economic uncertainty.

Adding to our woes, illegal immigrants have exacerbated the country’s instability, reducing it to a virtual banana republic, as exemplified by the outrageous demands of the Stilfontein illegal miners. Their requests for items such as tobacco and mayonnaise have turned us into a global laughingstock.

The depth of our crisis is evident in the myriad political and economic uncertainties that plague us. A poem by Winona Montgomery Gilliland, Tears for My Country, captures the essence of this moment:

This is the twilight hour, the moment before

We are swallowed by the dark.

Our vision is dimmed; we are tired

And long for ease.

We neglect our vital spark—

That burning love for freedom which once lit

Our blackest nights—and now we fumble,

Confused and fearful, hearing our foundations crumble.

Craven, we seek a leader, who will raise

A torch and make our pathway smooth again;

Forgetting that within us sleeps a fire

Sufficient, in itself, to make us free.

Though written about America, Gilliland’s words resonate profoundly with South Africa’s current predicament. Once a nation envied for its resilience and leadership in Africa, South Africa now displays a glaring deterioration in its political and economic stature.

In What Matters Now, Gary Hamel explores how the erosion of values can lead to systemic collapse: “Standards seldom tumble all at once. Instead, they ratchet down gradually through a series of small, nearly innocuous compromises... As with a slowly rusting bridge, no alarms sound until after the structure has collapsed. Faced with the carnage, people scratch their heads and wonder, ‘How did this happen?’ The answer: bit by bit.”

This gradual erosion perfectly describes South Africa’s descent into its current state.

Thomas Paine, reflecting on America’s fight for freedom, once wrote: “These are times that try men’s souls.” His words aptly capture the trials many South Africans endure today. Ironically, unlike Americans who faced such trials while fighting for their freedom, South Africans now face them during their hard-won liberty.

Similarly, Russian writer Alexander Radishchev observed: “Man’s troubles come from man himself.” This sentiment rings true for us today. Where are the individuals who feel deeply for the plight of our nation? Economist Joseph Stiglitz offers a grim observation: “We have been shaping our society to create people who are more selfish.”

The American naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry succinctly put it: “We have met the enemy, and they are us.”

We are in an era of uncertainty, but this is no excuse for inaction. Times like these demand we revisit the fundamental principles that once guided our nation. As philosopher Richard Rorty suggested, we must work to “achieve our country”. Or, in the spirit of G Packer, we must strive to “make South Africa great again”.

Positive change requires action from all of us. It is not solely President Cyril Ramaphosa’s responsibility to lead the way; it is a collective task. The African proverb reminds us: “A single hand cannot cover the sky.”

Consider the story of a small bird fighting a forest fire. When mocked by the lion for its futile efforts, the bird replied: “I am doing my bit.” Like that bird, we must each play our part.

Vaclav Havel captured the essence of resilience when he wrote: “Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.”

This is not the time to surrender to despair. As Mother Teresa said: “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” It is our duty to roll up our sleeves and rebuild, despite the challenges.

Harry Chapin wisely noted: “To know is to care; to care is to act; and to act is to have a chance to make a difference.” Benjamin Franklin echoed this sentiment: “It is not enough to do well; one must also strive to do good.”

We are a resilient nation, capable of finding, as Andrew Young described, “a way out of no way”. Now is the time to set our sights on South Africa’s future. Let us stretch our wings towards new horizons and act with urgency, for the next generation is counting on us.

Let us all, together, raise the torch and make South Africa great again.

* Dr Vusi Shongwe works for the KZN Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture. This article is written in his personal capacity.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of IOL or Independent Media.