The jumbled mind-set of a Born-Free.

January 17th, roughly a few months before SA national elections take place, the majority of voters are still occupied with thoughts of uncertainty, antagonism and discontent with the current state of our country and by large, the administration of governance. As a 25-year old civilian and liberal I couldn’t care less about the infinite opinions towards our government and how ruthless the politics play ground has become. What petrifies me the most is what is viewed as the cynical and naïve mind-set of my peers that has oddly transformed them into critics of note towards the current government fiascos. Their qualified opinions are believed to have strangely alienated them from becoming active in socio-economic transformation and  blinded them from the much upfront reality of upcoming elections. Suprisingly though, none of the inventors of this notion have attempted to live for a moment in the exclusive world of born-frees.

Voluntarily, I took it upon me to engage with a couple of these youths who have effortlessly given up on the South African dream.  During some of the dialogues I hosted with natives from different walks of life, I was confronted with a loud alarming knockdown of how disinterested and disappointed the youth of this country is in our government. To them an answer to the ‘What Is going to Change?’ question remains concealed within some of many answers  our government has failed to provide.  The core of their reasoning is how they have been practically excluded by government which then according to them justifies their offhand attitude towards a leadership that neglects their views and voices. Having said all, what unplugged me now and again from the heat of these dialogues was how prepared they were not to cast their vote at all. Bluntly, they couldn’t careless who wins and who doesn’t- to them it’s another event in a new year and nothing beyond that. How the result of these elections is going to affect them is none of their concerns.

 This led me to a fetter of endless questions about government in conjunction with the views of these capable future leaders. Somehow I zoned into memory lane and thought of the youths of generations before me who in their collective sacrificed the very essence of their being towards a struggle that aimed at liberating the youth of my time.  The cries of Steve Biko and how if alive, would stiffen in disbelief of how soon we have forgotten and seem to have thrown the towel in silence echoed in my mind. I questioned myself and in my imaginative wondered if the future will really be a better place than today. I couldn’t hold together the groan in my voice and the puzzle in my mind- to me being in my youth today is far more than a privilege, it is a blessing, it is a dream come true to the one freedom of a black child seemed like a dreamlike possibility, and it is an achievement to the one whose goal was to seek equality and freedom for a black child of my time. To think that TV Soaps, fashion trends and gossip columns make better sense to born frees than the current and future state of our country, let alone the details but the framework itself, numbs me. There seems to be no motivation at all for political activity.

 After my surreal moment with reality, I had to sober up and look at possibilities that could be contributing towards this sheer ignorance. It is no doubt that our government has done a remarkable work over the years in plastering transformation and clearing the wide footprints that were left by the ruthless monster that fed from bloodshed and oppression of anti-whites for centuries. We ought to first acknowledge and appreciate that before anything. However, it is also a saddening reality that in years closer to the 20-year celebration of our democracy, corruption has thriven and ignorance of many cries of our nation has prevailed.

Inkandla Fund is one of many scandals that have injected venom to our spanking new born baby- Democracy and untidily left a devastating after effect to many citizens. Amongst many of these scandalous episodes was the staggering delivery of textbooks where civilian’s enquiries were silenced with a dark tape of ‘no account’. Following that, the NYDA also took a share of publicity with an ordeal  that surrounded mismanagement of funds whereas prior to that our space was unexpectedly invaded by visitors, the Guptas and even then, nobody bothered to account- it was all  his and hers till silence.

 Eventhough these episodes might have been a result of poor leadership by a few individuals, to ordinary citizens who by the way  voted in this government, it seemed like a deliberate chain of negligence by the ANC.  In as much some might argue and say the ANC is an organisation not an individual, the reality is those individuals are decision makers and hold directive of where this nation is heading. The ignorance and insult of our intelligence by the government whilst attempting to give account for these happenings left many thoughtful of the idea of voting-in an alternative government. It all seems like we are told what is assumed by whoever plays the guitar to be proper information for the public and not the truth. One would swear that our government lives by the ‘Feed Them Lies Till They Drop’ policy. This whole catastrophe, defiled the initial purpose of our; ‘The People Shall Govern’ constitutionally driven democracy. It shouldn’t have come to this, we shouldn’t be talking like this at all, not now, our darling Democracy is far too young for all this but sadly we have arrived.

Frankly, the born frees have been exposed to the dirty laundry of their fathers, who themselves couldn’t care any less. Yes, this Nkandla and Gupta series seemed quite hilarious at some point and we all vented our frustrations on social platforms and communities of engagement but at the end of it all, each one would go back to their individual nest and be consumed by the perturbing thoughts of what tomorrow has in store. Could be it blacks have lost confidence in their own government, the very government they cheered with praises in 1994? Could it be that the beloved ANC our fore-fathers dearly lived and died for has turned against us? What is to make of this?

 The past year was not only flared by scandalous episodes, the nation also saw a couple of political surprises. First, it was the formation of AGANG as led by former activist and academic Mamphele Ramphele who put almost everything at halt with her ‘gangnam style’ announcement of forming a new party  , following that was the controversial birth of EFF by former ANCYL President  who had since been dismissed from the orgisation, Julius Malema. The reaction of the majority of South Africans left much to be desired though. The reception that these parties were given by citizens was a clear indication that the notion of considering an alternative government was sinking in faster than we assumed. Aside from these formations were usual oppositions to the ANC;  COPE and DA who also in their unique way were making their presence sensed. The  possibility that the ANC could be losing supporters is just indigestible.

 Ironically, none of these parties truly considered the stance of born frees in this country. It seems like politicians are ignorant to the fact that a large number of our youngsters will be voting for the very first time this year (in a case where they choose to vote), but somehow that doesn’t seem to tip priority to neither of these parties.

 Although some might disapprove, I too consider myself a bor- free. I started schooling in the new dispensation of  democracy and was never in any direct way subjected to racial laws. The prophesy of doom by those in power today about the reckless and irresponsible leaders  we are going to be in our time can be sequenced with the shaky current state of our leadership. It might or might not come to pass but the unforgettable break outs of the present will indeed affect the future. These Nkandla and Gupta gates will be sins these born frees will have to account for. This daily suffering rand that seems not to bother anyone will be upon the shoulders of the future leadership. Yes, born frees do not seem interested, because corruption and lies do not spell interest at all.

 South Africa is currently tackling endless socio-economic challenges due to decisions that were made centuries and decades ago. The ignorance then by those in power today on the long lasting effects of decisions they make today worries the bottom off these born frees. The questions that quarrel their mind space are; who is going to take over and do what? What will be my role in the then government and what is being done presently to motivate my non-existent political participation?

 The damning  reality though is, if these born frees, who by great opportunity would be casting their votes for the very first time this year decide not to vote, the badge of few political leaders or none whatsoever for the so near  future will be more visible than yesterday. Government needs to consider a more active and relevant training ground that will inspire these youths to spiral political transformation in this country, but again, how is that even possible in a government with youth leagues that hardly interact nor strike relevance to the BBM youth of today? How will then these two powers reach synergy if they come from such extreme schools of thought? Who will teach who and how? The little interaction that seems to take place in June 16 only is not enough to inspire new thought in one’s mind. What will our children’s children live to tell? The story of a hard achieved democracy that landed in the hands of self-absorbed leaders or will they pride themselves of a nation that passed a baton of good governance and exemplary leadership to generations after them? What will be told?

 With the little of time that is left, I do hope that the popular saying that the future of this generation is in its own hands can really hit surface and challenge new thought to our leaders. Lest the prophecy of doom manifests itself.