TION’S FINAL LIBERATION FROM APARTHEID?
By brother-thomas:carlsson-rudman
South Africa’s young people today are known as
the Born Free generation. They enjoy the dignity
of being born into a democratic society with the
right to vote and choose who will govern. But
modern South Africa is not a perfect society. Full
equality — social and economic — does not exist,
and control of the country’s wealth remains in the
hands of a few, so new challenges and frustrations
arise. Veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle, like
me, are frequently asked whether, in light of such
disappointment, the sacrifice was worth it. While
my answer is yes, I must confess to grave misgivings. I believe we should be doing far better.
There have been impressive achievements since the
attainment of freedom in 1994: in building houses,
crèches, schools, roads, and infrastructure; the
provision of water and electricity to millions; free
education and healthcare; increases in pensions and
social grants; financial and banking stability; and
slow but steady economic growth (until the 2008
crisis at any rate). These gains, however, have
been offset by a breakdown in service delivery,
resulting in violent protests by poor and marginalised communities; gross inadequacies and
inequities in the education and health sectors; a
ferocious rise in unemployment; endemic police
brutality and torture; unseemly power struggles
within the ruling party that have grown far worse
since the ousting of Mbeki in 2008; an alarming
tendency to secrecy and authoritarianism in
government; the meddling with the judiciary;
and threats to the media and freedom of expression. Even Nelson Mandela’s privacy and dignity
are violated for the sake of a cheap photo opportunity by the ANC’s top echelon.
South Africa’s liberation struggle reached a high
point but not its zenith when we overcame apartheid rule. Back then, our hopes were high for our
country, given its modern industrial economy,
strategic mineral resources (not only gold and
diamonds), and a working class and organised
trade union movement with a rich tradition
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