Can we reach the high road?

This is part two of his scenarios column, for part one, Dark days ahead, click here.

The high road towards the fringes of a New Millennium Utopia is one of two extreme scenarios in store for SA.

SA may not be destined to become a modern-day Eden or Shangri-la. However, 45 million South Africans must have enough potential to create a leading nation founded on common purposes, productivity, peace and prosperity. Psychologists suggest we use about 10% of our minds. If that's the case, what greatness will unfurl if we start to plumb another 10% of our minds? With recent scientific breakthroughs, such as the Human Biome Project, we could soon learn more about the potential of our genes and the purpose of "junk DNA". Forget the 18th-century movement led by European intellectuals, because the 21st-century might become the 'age of enlightenment', if we so choose.

In 1994, we glimpsed a sanguine high-road scenario. We revered Nelson Mandela as Madiba, the nation's father, while Desmond Tutu eulogised our Rainbow Nation. For a few years, South Africans glowed with hope and euphoria. After the gloomy 80s, characterised by sanctions, detention without trial, bombings and industrial unrest, SA again felt like one of the best countries to call "home".

Like falling in love, however, it was inevitable the post-1994 ecstasy would wane. As a "new" nation, we first agreed to establish a political democracy and expunge apartheid from our statutes. During Thabo Mbeki's presidency, we prepared the groundwork for promoting a comprehensive democracy that would extend freedom, rights and opportunities to all South Africans in all spheres. Perhaps some vital initiatives moved too fast for many people's readiness and abilities, while other crucial issues were downplayed or waylaid by procrastination and politicking.

Today, SA's at the utopia/dystopia crossroads and we shouldn't leave crucial "crossroads" decisions solely to the minds of the ruling elite. If we are to extend and enhance democracy, we should channel our knowledge and skills more generously into every available avenue. If South Africans, rightly, want to target the high road, we'll need to be more pragmatic and enterprising in how we think, say and do things collectively. We'll need to liberate ourselves from narrow self-interest and petty politics.

We should appreciate the power of one can become the power of a million. As in the quantum realms, we'll create the desired critical mass when 51% of us start aiming for similar macro political, economic, social and personal objectives. One hopes our aims will be sufficiently enlightened and creative to form the perfect antithesis to what most post-independence African states have "achieved".

One great collective challenge is the need to exorcise hatred, intolerance, mistrust and self-interest. Let's acknowledge SA is a beautiful, high-potential country with a diverse wealth of human talent, unexploited soils and minerals, wonderful ideas and eager hearts yearning to construct a leading nation (however tacit these desires may be). By focusing on our common humanity and interests (rather than our differences and divisions), we might better understand and exploit the possibility of achieving "freedom and prosperity for all".

Embracing populism

As we journey towards the high road, the ruling elite will become more stringent about eradicating graft and greed. We'll work concertedly to eliminate corruption and ineptitude. We'll be more willing to embrace populism. Our archaic Westminster system requires a comparatively easy two-thirds majority to pass a new statute. Why can't we learn from the European Parliament and strive for consensus. On the high road, we may even agree to a nine-tenths majority, thereby signalling our political will to accommodate the greater needs of all South Africans without one party hogging the political ground.

As our political systems become more enlightened and emancipated, so will our social, economic and other systems. We'll transcend black economic empowerment and employment equity, and provide education, training and employment opportunities for all South Africans. We'll invest more money, skills and innovation in education, perhaps going as far as "streaming" students according to their talents and passions. We could create high-school syllabi to enable children to follow an academic-professional, technical-practical, creative, entrepreneurial or public service stream.

Some of our leading businesses and universities have built centres of excellence (COEs) to promote innovation and excellence in certain disciplines. We have an opportunity to develop national COEs for public service and leadership, innovation, education, healthcare, sport, the arts and community development. When people work diligently and creatively according to their innate talents and passions, with fair and decent values, one wonders how far they can go on their chosen paths.

On the economic front, government and business will show greater commitment to lowering unemployment. With a few proposed engineering projects on the horizon, including new Eskom power stations and Sasol's Mafutha coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant in Limpopo, one foresees thousands of jobs being created. Government and business need to continue pursuing minerals beneficiation and similar value-adding initiatives within a sound framework of sustainable development and good governance.

Subject to state approval and economic criteria, Mafutha would increase domestic fuel production by 10%, reduce our dependence on imported fuels and conserve foreign-currency reserves. While such benefits help to pivot SA towards Utopia, Mafutha has dystopian facets, the most prominent of which would be Sasol's substantially enlarged emissions footprint. Sasol, however, is prepared to implement a carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution should it find viable CCS technology for Mafutha.

Potentially, both government and business, along with universities and envisaged national COEs, will commit to greater innovation with emphasis on creating jobs, building wealth and protecting our balance of payments. When one considers the humungous amounts of poorly designed and made products we import from China, this should be the sole wakeup call we need to elevate our commitment to greater innovation and greater self-reliance. Given China's appalling human rights and environmental records, we should be far more eager to elevate our own status in these fields.

Greater political representation, creativity and integrity, complemented by increasing economic wealth and innovation, will unlock the enabling funds, energy and guidelines to promote arts and culture. In recent years, several promising (though flawed) SA films suggest we have the potential to become the next Hollywood or Bollywood. Our few world-acclaimed artists, writers and musicians will provide the inspiration and impetus needed to create new generations of far more successful artists.

In 1965, Queen Elizabeth didn't honour the Beatles with MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) because she adored mop-topped rockers, but because the group generated millions of pounds in export revenue. Along with scores of other popular musicians, the Beatles spawned a multibillion-pound British record industry, which continues to flourish. We could emulate such international feats not only in music, film and literature, but also in science and technology.

Better education, political representation and economic growth will deter crime and make SA one of the world's favourite tourist destinations, thereby increasing our financial and reputational wealth. On the dreaded c-topic, we'll realise our prison system has largely failed us and we'll reform our judicial and penal system for the betterment of all South Africans. Instead of stimulating crime and corruption, our prisons and alternative forms of community service will promote intrinsic rehabilitation and the productive reintegration of criminals into society.

Other cheerful possibilities spring to mind ... flat taxes, affordable healthcare, housing and education for all, crime-free streets, clean fuels, excellent sporting prowess, a thriving small-business sector, reduced emigration and greater environmental and spiritual custodianship. While it's tempting to be eloquent about SA's high-road scenario, we're probably destined to travel a "middle road".

The elevation and stability of our middle road, however, would depend largely on the quality and the quantity of our positive choices and productive actions focused on the greater good of our compatriots and ourselves. Let's hope we'll lean towards utopia.

If this scenario's too sweet, try savouring last week's column, Dark days ahead.

* Michael Waddacor is a writer and music critic

This article first appeared on Moneyweb and can be viewed at:
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page308844?oid=333234&sn=2009 Detail&pid=287226

Headline

Comment

Name

Email

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Please enter the CAPTCHA characters below