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Nation Building Blog
Nov 04, 2011
Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman Empire in 325BC. Although this was a superficial victory, as the kingdom of God cannot be indoctrinated from without, the church's influence on society at the time was notable.
By Balisa Finca It has been said, ‘if you can’t beat 'em join 'em’. In 325BC, under the rule of Constantine the Great, this maxim proved more than just a catchy phrase. A hollow victory was accomplished whereupon Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman Empire. It was hollow because it was followed by a misguided attempt to enforce a kingdom that can only emanate from “within”, flouting clear biblical delineation - “the kingdom of God is within”. With greater state involvement in church affairs, the church grew increasingly syncretic, tainted by practices of pagan religions of the prevailing culture. The subsequent descent into heresy and apostasy, from which it would emerge only centuries later during the Reformation, was the inevitable result. Nevertheless, it is telling that even with its subsequent apostasy, as the steward of God’s truth, the beneficial outcomes of the church’s influence on society are undeniable. Its teachings created a value system that underpinned internal stability and growing European prosperity. Not unlike yeast, the message of the kingdom of God leavened the entire Roman Empire. Historian Woodruff notes: “Christianity’s spiritual dynamism invaded the temporary sphere and helped to provide the foundation for the rise of the West”. The collapse of the Roman Empire in 476AD gave rise to a vacuum that was duly occupied by Christianity, which became a dominant feature in European socio-political affairs for a period of well over a millennium, infiltrating every area of society. By simultaneously teaching submission to governing authorities from the subjects and just governance from kings, the Christian message promoted a social contract between the governors and the governed, which was conducive to social stability under which trade could gainfully thrive. This was underpinned by an emphasis on personal accountability to Divine authority for nobility and commoner alike. This reinforced self-governance along with a universally acceptable moral code, which, by and large, is still the standard. The associated elevation of the family and women also fostered strong communities, the inter-generational transfer of skills and character along with a general social cohesion. All of ths reinforced a virtuous cycle of ever-increasing societal beneficence. The impact of the church on other spheres of society was equally far-reaching. A desire for deeper study of the scriptures spawned an environment of learning in which the modern university was birthed. And so arose some of the great learning institutions of the world, a number of which have endured to this day. The rise of modern science occurred in this environment, premised on an orderly and predictable universe, which had a design and was underpinned by laws that can be discovered. All of which were possible under a worldview that presupposed the existence of a transcendent Creator of the natural order. It is worth highlighting that the unceremonious closure of this era of the church’s influence on society was largely of its own making. Increasingly encumbered by internal corruption and error, which resulted in growing apoplexy, it gradually relinquished its moral authority until it became a shadow of its former glory. The consequent societal vacuum coincided with a growing desire for reinvention and a longing for the romantic Greek and Roman eras, giving rise to an era that is appropriately known as “The Renaissance”, translated as “rebirth”. * The views of this article are the author's own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of His People Church.
Oct 16, 2011
Christ’s victory over Satan at the cross was devastatingly conclusive. In light of this historic event, the Lord Jesus reclaimed authority over the earth and commissioned us, His disciples, to enforce this victory and to take it to the nations.
By Balisa Finca Christ’s victory over Satan and his cohorts at Calvary was devastatingly conclusive. The kingdom of darkness was not merely overcome, it was decimated. Having been annihilated, it was “disarmed” and displayed as a “spectacle”. In light of this historically defining event, the Lord Jesus, having reclaimed functional authority over the earth, commissioned His disciples to enforce this victory. They were to “make disciples of all nations”. This mission was to begin in Jerusalem. It was to move on to Judea and Samaria, and “to ends of the earth”.
Hitherto, with perhaps the exception of Israel, the nations lay under the unremitting “sway of the wicked one”. Their values, customs, laws and culture accordingly, reflected that of the incumbent spiritual authority, for which the end could only be ineluctable destruction, because the enemy comes not, but to “steal, kill and destroy”.
The task before the disciples therefore was no meagre one. They were to unravel systematically entrenched patterns of thought and doing, established over millennia of diabolical rule, perforce, to liberate the nations. Hence, the unequivocal nature of the Divine instruction to them, “tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high”. It was the only hope that an untrained group of fishermen had in reshaping the nations according to the newly accessible heavenly mould.
The commission was embraced with some hesitation; the comforts of familiar Jerusalem initially proving difficult to resist. It was, however, too important a mission to be left to their whims. The nations had to be liberated, even if with some discomfort. The flourishing and comfortable church was therefore subjected to a fierce counter-attack from the recently deposed kingdom, scattering it to all corners of the hegemonic Roman Empire, and with this, the reach of its message.
With God as its originator and sustainer, the accomplishment of the mission could only be a foregone conclusion. Nevertheless, the adversary remained defiant. He was going down and he knew it, but he was not doing so without a fight!
And so began a campaign of ruthless persecution against the fledgling church. The established political power of the day, Rome, perceived this new “sect” of Judaism, a threat to political and social stability. So much so that it saw itself as having little option but to embark on a brutal campaign of quenching this nascent flame before it wrought irreparable damage. Far from accomplishing this ill-fated mission, the persecution only served to invigorate the church, causing it to grow, until it could be resisted no more...
Oct 15, 2011
So often we're surprised by events that could have been avoided, averted or minimised, if we took responsibility for the small, seemingly insignificant decisions we make on a daily basis.
By Rumbi Chisenga I’ve been pondering how we as humans are so often surprised by the future. Despite the availability of information and the ability to forecast and simulate scenarios, the future still arrives suddenly for us. As individuals, families, communities, nations and the human race, the future somehow still manages to give us rude awakenings, whether it’s an earthquake or tsunami, or realising that we’re up to our eyeballs in debt, or that Eskom doesn’t have enough capacity to generate electricity for all our needs.
What is it that sometimes makes us incapable of making the choices that result in the futures we desire? Maybe it’s because we are not aware of the consequences of our choices. Maybe we are aware, but we don’t care because we’ll only need to deal with the consequences of our choices ‘in the future’ or we won’t be around to face them. Maybe we think it’s not our responsibility -“It’s government’s job”. Maybe we feel helpless – “What can the small efforts of one person do to rescue us from inevitable situations?” Maybe we are paralysed by the knowledge that we cannot fix the world. Maybe we don’t have resounding support from our spouses, peers or communities. Maybe we don’t have enough money to make things happen. Maybe it’s easier to maintain the status quo.
So, we carry on doing the same things but hoping against hope for different results. But, what if the Alpha and Omega has given us a paintbrush in the form our choices? What if we could paint some of our own futures? What if our every day, mundane choices were strokes on that canvas of human history? What if we believed that those faint strokes were as powerful as being able to determine what the picture looks like? What if we thought of it as a joy to labour daily towards a future we desire for the generations to come? What if money wasn’t the currency by which we purchased the futures we desire? What if the exchange for a future we long for, was generous hearts that dream of the hope for those that are yet to come?
What if the future looked different because I chose to use a mosquito net instead of the convenient spray that is harmful to the ozone layer? What if I separated my rubbish into different recycling bins rather than throwing everything away together? What if I plant a tree every three years, switch off my geyser during the day and stop to close a dripping tap whenever I see one? What if I email the Broadcasting Commission when a TV program is in contradiction with their service charter, or cast my vote according to my values? What if I put away R10 savings every week, walk to the shops every day instead of driving, and eat an apple a day? What if I read my Bible for 15 minutes every day and pray for 15 minutes every day? Yes, each one of these may just be a drop in the ocean today, but all these actions taken together over a lifetime have great potential to change the course of the future.
It’s the small, consistent choices that we make every day that have a compounding effect in the future. Giving up smoking today won’t make me healthier today, but in 5 years time, it will have prolonged my life significantly. Let’s be faithful with the small, seemingly insignificant decisions we make today, remembering that their power to influence the future is great.
Dec 09, 2010
There were several good news stories that made 2010 a year for all South Africans to remember. Here they are:
By Julie Cunningham*
1) The 2010 World Cup
For many South Africans 2010 symbolised a year of renewal and a new kind of patriotism. Even tourists were bowled over by the ubuntu and friendliness: http://goo.gl/2bciD.
And although Bafana Bafana didn't make it through to the Final 16, South Africans still remained committed to their performance as hosts (http://goo.gl/twvn1).
We've hosted over 147 international sporting events since 1994 with no major incidents and the World Cup was the creme de la creme of them all. Fifa agreed when they gave SA top marks: http://goo.gl/0Zs7N.
Despite the onslaught from international media during 2010, especially before the World Cup, South Africa is still one of the best place to live on earth. Thousands of expatriates living in 25 countries across the world agreed - ranking South Africa third for 'overall quality of life': http://goo.gl/evtb4.
Brand South Africa benefited from the World Cup as South Africa experienced an image makeover, but South Africans quickly learned that national pride should run deeper than events: http://goo.gl/iZsmD.
2) Launch of the Gautrain & other infrastructure developments
The launch of Africa's first high speed rail link has jetted South Africa into the First World in a way that little else has. The impetus created by the World Cup ensured that this major infrastructure investment was completed on time. And it's been a resounding success with over a million people already having ridden it: http://goo.gl/JTowV.
For those of you who haven't made the trip; it promises to be a tear-jerker for even the most cynical South African. The significance of this infrastructure development by the Gauteng Province will only be seen in the years to come.
Despite critics saying that the World Cup stadiums would not be ready on time, they have become African monuments and Soccer City has received international acclaim: http://goo.gl/KG29C.
One of the spinoffs of the infrastructure developments of 2010 is that it's been easier for South Africans to get around: http://goo.gl/4eDvy. 3) Tourism
Tourism in South Africa has grown in 2010 despite the global recession. Not many countries can boast the same:http://goo.gl/nwU6Z.
Not only that, but foreigners injected a whopping R3.1billion into our economy in 2010: http://goo.gl/see1w.
The trend is set to continue, as 92% of World Cup visitors said they would recommend South Africa to friends and family: http://goo.gl/AEDFI. 4) We are winning the war on crime
Nothing did more for the fight against crime in 2010 than the pressure of the international media. Government responded by taking a new hardline approach to crime. The murder rate has declined by 8.6%:http://goo.gl/t0K5Z ; forensic processing has sped up: http://goo.gl/1xtJN and no tourists were killed during the World Cup despite bets that it would turn into a blood bath.
We also saw the benefits of public-private partnerships on this front: http://goo.gl/MvGuT.
An important victory in the fight against crime was the conviction of former top cop Jackie Selebi:http://goo.gl/v6AWg. Efforts need to continue in 2011 to ensure that prostitution is not legalised, children are protected from abuse and that South Africa does not become a gateway for drug and human trafficking. 5) The rise of the responsible citizen
2010 was also the year where it became fashionable to do good: http://goo.gl/a4C4b . Over 52 000 South Africans applied to volunteer during the World Cup, hundreds volunteered during the public sector strikes:http://goo.gl/FVG4e and despite what Cosatu might think, our rich are the second most generous group in the world: http://goo.gl/JTEvx . LeadSA launched in August and has been a new voice of morality in our nation ever since: http://goo.gl/MqEaS. 6) Our cultural legacy is changing
This year, we heard much more about the necessity for economic transformation than in previous years. Policy is shifting towards making South Africa an inclusive nation: http://goo.gl/rFxMi. Also, black South Africans increased their ownership on the JSE: http://goo.gl/wu2JI. 7) SA continues to innovate
US Ambassador to SA, Donald Gips this year named South Africa a potential "global innovation hub for the 21st Century": http://bit.ly/aVxKDV.
SA's fastest growing companies revealed a dynamic entrepreneurial economy: http://goo.gl/0DwZf.
There were many innovations that set South Africa apart in the field of innovation, which included our own electric Joule: http://goo.gl/u7ZlR.
For more innovative people and achievements that made South Africa famous in 2010, click here:http://goo.gl/aqOOS. 8) The last investment frontier
As the West and global superpowers continued to battle the recession and negotiate bail-outs, Africa was singled out as the "last investment frontier". Consumer giants like Wal-Mart took an interest in South African firms:http://goo.gl/oH6so and South Africa was labelled the "launchpad to a billion consumers": http://goo.gl/OZ2pVand named a Top 20 global investment destination: http://goo.gl/t7oOI . Here are some other notable headlines: •SA best for regulation of exchanges http://goo.gl/gAZG0
•SA competitiveness improves again http://goo.gl/L0gRW
•SA best housing market over the long-term http://goo.gl/ZKWUV
9) The call for a responsible media
As talks of economic transformation gained momentum, so did the realisation that South Africa needs a more responsible and accountable media. The launch of The New Age this week and the launch of the Sunday Times' Zulu edition: http://goo.gl/13gpl have added more diversity to South Africa's pie that has not been there in the past. We work well with our investigative press and recognize the absolute necessity for their existence. We also encourage the diversification of the media and strive to be a leading voice of the other side of our real story, which is so often missed by a largely crime-focused, blood-chasing South African media: http://goo.gl/K4v9H 10) South Africa made its mark as a global contender
For all the negative stories that have done the rounds this year, there are so many more stories about Africans and South Africans who have staked their place in the world. Seven Africans made it onto the Time 100 List this year: http://goo.gl/gv4aL.
Lewis Pugh made history for climate change: http://goo.gl/4JVfv.
District 9 was nominated for 7 Baftas http://bit.ly/dJz54O and there were dozens of sports heroes who inspired the next generation of South Africans: http://goo.gl/m5ODf. It was a landmark year for South Africa; the labour fruits of thousands of citizens who love this country and see a great future for the Rainbow Nation. * This article first appeared on www.sagoodnews.co.za
Sep 14, 2010
As we welcomed 2010, the year of Africa's first ever Soccer World Cup tournament, all eyes turned to the countdown of what is the world's most watched event. But something else happened; something which wasn't predicted or prophesied. The World Cup created a tipping point that mobilised South African citizens in the movement for good.
By Julie Cunningham*
As we welcomed 2010, the year of Africa's first ever Soccer World Cup tournament, all eyes turned to the countdown of what is the world's most watched event. As a nation, our focus and energy turned to nation-branding and nation-building.
But the months leading up to June 2010 were uncertain as we battled our own doubts and European tabloid newspaper reports of "machete-wielding gangs". We battled predictions that crime would make it the most dangerous World Cup yet. We battled reports of low foreign ticket sales and empty stadiums. But as you well know, we surprised the world and ourselves, and FIFA President, Sepp Blatter gave us a 9/10 rating for our hosting success. But something else happened; something which wasn't predicted or prophesied. The World Cup created a tipping point for many in our country. But it's not a tipping point that political analysts or economists are able to quantify, or will even talk about. It's the tipping point that has mobilised the real South African citizen in the movement for good (I say "real" because there are many who claim to own South Africa but don't know a thing about being citizens). It wasn't only government who made the World Cup a success. It was the 15 000 citizens who volunteered. It was the construction workers who built the stadiums, the men who built the Gautrain, the hospitality industry staff who made tourists feel welcome, the everyday South Africans who were friendly and accommodating wherever they encountered foreigners, and the taxpayers who paid the billions to host the Cup. South Africans experienced patriotism like they hadn't felt in years, or maybe ever. The camaraderie and shared experiences of ordinary citizens gave strangers a sense of belonging and left us with the realisation that we are able to achieve what we set our minds to. The world gushed about 'ubuntu' ("I am what I am because of who we all are") as we marvelled that not all is 'doom and gloom' in South Africa. Our new self-image and the positive media reports boosted our confidence. The South Africa citizen could say, "I can make a difference". Following on from there, we have seen a movement for good spreading throughout the country, so much so that it has become fashionable to do good. The launch of LeadSA on August 4th has seen some 20 000 South Africans signing up to the Facebook page within the first two weeks. During August's three week public sector strike action that brought hospitals and schools to their knees, South Africans came out in numbers to assist. I loved that for the first time ever, I had a compelling sense of urgency, rather than a nagging sense of obligation, that I was needed by my country and I was able to volunteer after mobilising some non-medical friends like myself, via Facebook. And there's more coming: Heartlines' much-anticipated Forgood platform that aims to mobilise citizens through a "Facebook with a purpose" is being launched before the end of September. A "Bless the City" initiative, organised by Christians in Johannesburg for the weekend of 12-14th November, is an opportunity for citizens to initiate or join projects and activities that will impact the city for good. A personal example I have, also speaks of this "for good" wave: I am being featured in the November 2010 edition of Oprah magazine where I have the opportunity to share on "How I LeadSA" - sharing how I, an everyday South African, do my bit for my country, not how I keep fit or how I build my success! Never would I have imagined that doing good would become quite so fashionable. Studies have shown that the people who suffer the least depression and hopelessness in life are those who give of their time to help others. Personally, getting swept up in the movement for good has given me a new passion in life. I'm a multi-tasker and have always wanted to connect my work with exercising my faith at a grassroots level and the movement for good has finally made this sense of duty a reality. My journalism career is now feeding into nation-building activities and I am able to give around one day per week to serve my city. I am stronger, more focused, more diligent than before and I have a new sense of calm in my career as I've discovered what motivational speakers call the "sweet spot". A country where it's "each man for himself" leaves each of us powerless to overcome our challenges. But who knows what good is to come of all we're investing - if we can ride this wave long enough, "for good" may very well become more than just a fashion trend.
*This article first appeared on www.sagoodnews.co.za
Jun 23, 2010
For the last two weeks I've enjoyed seeing my fellow South Africans more relaxed and cheerful than I have ever seen them before. And it hasn't been racially exclusive – much like it was during the Cricket and Rugby World Cups - this time it's been everyone.
By Julie Cunningham
For the last two weeks I've enjoyed seeing my fellow South Africans more relaxed and cheerful than I have ever seen them before. And it hasn't been racially exclusive – much like it was during the Cricket and Rugby World Cups - this time it's been everyone. Last night, my favourite Bafana player and star of Everton Football Club, Steven Pienaar summed it up when he said, "With football we brought our nation together and showed that we are one country...we have to be proud of our team." Despite a temporary wobble that saw thousands of fans leaving Loftus Stadium early when Bafana Bafana was 2-0 down against Uruguay, national pride once again reached peak levels yesterday during Football Tuesday. As I watched the France game at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg yesterday afternoon I held my breath. Were we to restore our pride or would there be early departures? I was intrigued to see, amongst the excited supporters, about 30 people, young and old, black and white, wearing their Bafana attire whilst enjoying a meal during the match! They weren't scrambling like the other supporters to watch the TV, but they were there, kitted out, supporting the nation! For me the 2010 Fifa World Cup has gone far beyond the soccer. The football has merely been the vehicle, and what a vehicle it has been! But the real clincher has been what we as a nation are becoming during this time., So, despite the fact that Bafana Bafana is out of the World Cup, we as South Africans are all still in this World Cup! In the months leading up to the World Cup we were subjected to factionalism and division at the behest of a few cynical motor mouths. But during this World Cup these issues have been put aside as support for our country, not just football, has been uppermost in everyone’s mind. This is an important sign that our rainbow nation is maturing. Clearly, everyone is disappointed that our boys didn't make it through, but we're acutely aware of our wider responsibility as the the hosts, and we will rise to that – I hope! We will show that despite our history, our inherited inequities, our different opportunities, our differing talents and our differentiable economic circumstances, we can all agree to work and unite as a nation in our diversity and take our rightful place in the globe. In my view we have made this a World Cup of Conscience. We are developing a bridge between the developed and the developing world. We have put the plight of the poor on the map. Many of the World Cup legacy projects are focusing on disadvantaged communities using "the beautiful game" as a catalyst for skills development and community upliftment. For example, some American friends of mine, arriving here with the developed world approach to competition, independence and high levels of service and a first world concept of giving and doing good, (but largely out of touch with people with real needs), are returning to America different people – Americans with South African consciences. As Shari Cohen, an American NGO worker who admits to "going on a rant the other day regarding the cost of the 2010 World Cup versus all the critical needs South Africa is facing and whether or not the most vulnerable of this country would gain anything from having the World Cup hosted in their country" said in the Huffington Post "South Africans are drinking deeply from the cup of humanity that has been brought to their doorstep. I would never imagine that an American World Cup or Olympics would ever be this welcoming to the rest of the world. And that saddens me for the state of my home country, but it also makes me feel the pride of the South African people. I have been truly humbled on this trip. And while I have my gripes regarding development here, I cannot say one negative thing about how South Africa has handled its duties as host and hostess to the world. If I could say one thing to sum up being here during this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it would be that I've learned the value of Ubuntu, and that when found and offered in abundance, the world is indeed a better place to live in. So, if South Africa accomplishes nothing more on the playing field, it will still have won as a host country. I am a cynic, no doubt about that. And yet I have to admit, I'm a little teary just writing this because I leave for home next weekend and I will be leaving a little piece of myself here in South Africa. I just hope I have learned enough to bring back a little piece of Ubuntu to my homeland, where perhaps with a little caring and a little water, it will take root as naturally as it does here, in the cradle of civilization. When I think of Ubuntu and my recent experiences here, I think America has much to learn from Africa in general, in terms of living as a larger village; and as human beings who are all interconnected with each other, each of us having an affect on our brothers and sisters. As the 2010 Cup slogan goes, "Feel it. It is here." Well, I have felt it, because I am here. Thank you South Africa, for giving me this unexpected gift. I am humbled." But, there are still two weeks left, and despite the sense of celebration I am still holding my breath. Holding my breath because the pressure to perform as hosts is still there, the pressure to ensure that our visitors are safe is still there, the pressure to deliver efficient services is still there, and the pressure to deliver "The Best World Cup Ever" is still there! But most of all I am holding my breath to experience the wonderful ways in which this World Cup is changing us, way beyond what "the beautiful game" can do
Jun 11, 2010
It was six years ago, on May 15th 2004, that FIFA President Sepp Blatter opened the envelope in Zürich that revealed that South Africa would be first African country to host the soccer World Cup. And today, 11th June 2010, that day has finally arrived.
By Julie Cunningham
It was six years ago, on May 15th 2004, that FIFA President Sepp Blatter opened the envelope in Zürich that revealed that South Africa would be first African country to host the soccer World Cup. And today, 11th June 2010, that day has finally arrived.
Excitement and jubilation are gripping the nation as this Football Friday culminates in the arrival of the end of a long road of intense and extensive preparation. From last night, at the World Cup Kick Off concert when millions of viewers from around tuned into South Africa, the eyes of the world will be on the nation. The pressure to live up to the promises is enormous.
All of the 32 participating national football teams have arrived, barring Spain, and have settled into their base camps. Some teams have chosen to stay in the world's most luxurious hotels whilst others have settled for the simplicity of campus accomodation. For the next month, the world will anticipate every move of these sporting legends, eager to find out who is to become the world's greatest football team. Visitors have been flocking into the country's upgraded airports; fully decked out with the latest airport security systems and Interpol, SAPS and foreign police members scouring the country's entry points. The stadiums, which have blown critics away, stand as worldclass African monuments ready to hold the world in their hands.
Government is waiting with baited breath to see whether the upgraded roads and infrastructure will transport the thousands of fans travelling countrywide. Will government live up to their commitment that the transport would be on track?
Police, health facilities, transporters, stadium officials and shopping malls are on high alert as the tournament kicks off today.
Bafana Bafana, South Africa's national squad have declared “it's war” against Mexico in their opening game this afternoon at Soccer City, Johannesburg. Let's hope that the battles South Africa is facing, will be won both on and off the field at this important junction in our nation's history.
In true African style, opening ceremonies across the country are set to show the world how to dance. Fans will descend upon the iconic Soccer City stadium at 2pm local time whilst millions of viewers will tune in from around the world. The City of Cape Town will erupt in celebration when Capetonians flock to the city centre and around Greenpoint Stadium for the Mother City Fan Fest. The theme of the opening ceremony is "Welcoming the World Home". A surprise has been planned for this afternoon – will it be an SAA flyover as happened during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, or the appearance of Nelson Mandela or Barack Obama?
The 30-minute opening ceremony will showcase a cast of 1 581 world-class artists, dancers, musicians and performers. Grammy-award winner R Kelly, will sing the ceremony's showpiece song, 'Sign of a Victory' with South Africa's Soweto Spiritual Singers.
The rest of the world-class line-up for the ceremony features celebrated South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and Nigerian star Femi Kuti, who will perform the famous 'Bang, Bang, Bang' track, Algerian Afro-pop artist Khaled, Ghanaian band Osibisa, as well as top-class South African artists Thandiswa Mazwai, Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP), TKZee and vocalist Timothy Moloi.
This is our moment, this is our chance,
Will we prove the critics wrong?
Will we remember this as a time to dance,
Or a time rather gone by?
The world is watching,
The world is here,
Let us live up to our calling,
As reconcilers, bridges between rich and poor, far & near,
Where hope still lives and miracles still appear
God bless South Africa!
*This article first appeared on www.sagoodnews.co.za
May 03, 2010
Gold is tearing through the roof and the Rand is one of the top performing emerging market currencies for 2009. CPI is returning to the target range of between 3% to 6%. This good news however, should be used as an opportunity to tackle one of the four giants that plague our land - unemployment.
By Sam Mokorosi ‘Tis indeed the season to be jolly! Stats SA has announced an early Christmas with the end of South Africa's recession and CPI returning to its target range of between 3% to 6%. Gold is tearing through the roof and the Rand is one of the top performing emerging market currencies in 2009. This flurry of good news however, should not be reason to rest on our laurels. It should, in fact, be used as an opportunity to tackle one of the four giants that plague our land - unemployment, (the other three are of course: poverty, HIV/Aids and crime.) The fragility of the employment gains in the last economic boom have been shown by the loss of a million jobs in this relatively short recession. As I look back at 2009, it feels like the end of a tumultuous economic season, and one of much political change too. From the sub-prime crisis, to the recession, from xenophobia to an election that entrenched South Africa's democracy, we have certainly received the Chinese blessing (or curse if you want), of living in interesting times. The change in the political landscape has brought up old debates on economic policy, including the challenge of job creation. 2014 has been set by the ruling party as the year in which unemployment will be halved.
The push to cut unemployment comes with the promise to create not only more work, but “decent work”. The debate is of course, can we create more decent jobs, or is the concept self-contradictory – at least in the short term? In the long term, we all agree that an improvement in labour efficiency is the solution to the problem of unemployment, but the legacy of a prejudicial and defunct education system means that we’re possibly decades away from a sufficiently educated and productive work-force. Until then, how do we avoid the temptation to walk down the road of some emerging markets, which have filled their landscapes with sweat shops, and rather walk the high road of creating more decent jobs? According to Statistics South Africa, the country’s official jobless rate increased to 24.5 percent of the labour force in the third quarter of 2009, up from 23.6 percent in the second quarter, while the labour force fell sharply. The latest quarterly Labour Force Survey reports the total number of unemployed people at 4.192 million in the three months to September while the number of employed people fell by 484,000 to 12.885 million. From a government perspective, the Finance Minister’s MTEF (Medium Term Expenditure Framework) for 2009 indicated that the focus for now is to soften the blow to private sector job creation via R2.4 billion that has been set aside by the National Skills Fund and the Unemployment Insurance Fund for the training layoff scheme. In the longer term, the Extended Public Works Programme is looking to create 4.5 million job opportunities over the next 5 years. In terms of industrial policy, the Minister has promised further reforms to reduce the cost of doing business and the more efficient use of “existing spending programmes, small business support agencies and tax incentives; where that is appropriate”. One thing the recession has shown is how quickly the government income statement can go from black to red, how Mr. Manual’s surplus can turn into Mr Gordhan’s deficit as corporate and individual tax receipts reel under the pressure of balance sheets that entered the recession with very little equity.
It is for this reason I support the Minister’s focus on both the private and public sectors as centers of job creation. Government should not make itself out to be a knight in shining amour, ready to hire the millions of unemployed. That will just be painting itself into a corner that will manifest during the next downturn when there is no revenue to pay a bloated workforce. Government must focus on creating the right environment for the private sector to fulfil its part of the job creation mandate. The tension here is giving the private sector enough freedom for creativity, innovation and growth, whilst simultaneously protecting weaker economic participants from possible abuses by their stronger counterparts.
Improving on this regulatory balance to promote growth and employment must be this new administration’s focus. While the promotion of growth has been fairly successful, it is the conversion of this growth into rapid creation of employment that has eluded country. A key 2010 legislative goal for government includes reforms of the labour environment, principally the contentious labour broking industry. Admirably, the aim of these reforms is to reduce workplace abuses centered primarily on casual employment. The reform agenda includes closing loopholes in the current Labour Relations Act; particularly improved protection against unfair dismissal as well as reduced pay and benefits for casual workers. There are of course, two sides to every story and the labour broking industry brings some twists to the story that cannot be ignored. In fighting against the banning of the industry, leaders in the sector highlight the turnover of R26 billion per annum, almost 90% of which comes from temporary, flexible and seasonal work. More than 300,000 of their part-time employees are said to turn permanent every year, and over half a million people are introduced to formal employment through the labour broking industry. What is missing for me in the current labour policy agenda, is concrete plans to improve the economy’s ability to generate private sector employment. Industrial policy must continue to remove the red tape faced by business, especially small to medium enterprises. Asgisa-type thinking will hopefully start to emerge as we head into a new decade. Two aspects of the Asgisa framework that struck me were the focus on infrastructure, and the creation of sector-specific strategies targeting industries that are labour-intensive and have strong global growth projections.
The impact of the infrastructure focus is not only felt in the increased traffic on our roads, but in the end of the recession, of which government services and construction were strong contributors. In terms of industry focus, Asgisa started off targeting coordinated interventions in the tourism and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO – the growing practice of “locating back-office activities such as accounts or claims processing or front office activities like call centres in cheaper centres”) industries. The 2008 Asgisa report shows some job-creation progress in these sectors.
Tourism growth has been slowed by the global economic downturn, but is expected to cash in on the 2010 World Cup. BPO has shown annual growth of about 30 per cent since 2003, with the economic downturn expected to reduce this to 10% to 15%. The Government Support and Assistance Programme for BPO has reportedly attracted inward investment of R900 million from nine international investors, creating at least 9,000 jobs. The 2008 report also points out progress in the other target sectors of agriculture, agro-processing, metals fabrication etc. These sector-focused interventions are in my mind an effective tool to unleash the job-creating power of specific industries by looking to address the specific and unique challenges faced by organisations in that sector.
Often the issue is practice and not policy. SARS offers a good example of government becoming more internally efficient and passing on those efficiencies to its clients and freeing the economy of red tape. Surely similar models should be explored in ministries such as Home Affairs, Minerals and Energy, Health and Education. These ministries need to focus on creating internal efficiencies and then exporting such efficiencies into the broader economy. The move cannot just be a horizontal one though. Vertically, the local and provincial spheres of government also have a role to play in plotting a clear path for both growth and job creation. Anecdotally, the traffic department’s move to introduce vehicle license renewals at the post office are the kind of positive efficiencies and externalities that the state should be releasing into the economy. Improvements in business registration turnarounds, mineral rights awards, work permit applications are just a few examples of how improvements in government processes can free business to grow the economy and hopefully create jobs. As the South African economy heads out of the dark tunnel of the recent past, we cannot let go of this opportunity to reflect on the vulnerabilities of economy, especially in the area of unemployment. The current push for increased workers rights must go hand in hand with job creation – specifically job creation in the private sector which would avoid the state being either over-burdened with the task of creating jobs, or facing the increased burden of a wider and more unaffordable social net.
The strategy of paying attention to and supporting labour-intensive industries seems to be bearing fruit, although the economic downturn has put a lid on progress. The challenge of unemployment demands a focused and coordinated response. Policy must focus equally on decent work and more work if the nation’s development goals are to be met.
Mar 26, 2010
These past few weeks seem to have taken a nasty turn in politics and
several usually-positive South Africans have expressed their doubts and anxieties about the future. People want to know, 'Are things going to be OK in the future?'
By Julie Cunningham*
These past few weeks seem to have taken a nasty turn in politics and
several usually-positive South Africans have expressed their doubts and anxieties about the future. People want to know, 'Are we going to be OK?'
Listening to a radio interview with Cosatu President, Zwelinzima Vavi this week, I was reminded how foolish it is to expect everything to go plain-sailing now that we are past 1994. “No victory is a permanent victory,” said Vavi. There is no arrival at freedom, where we can park off and gloat at our achievements. It was Nelson Mandela who learned this lesson too: “I have discovered the secret that, after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more”. We should be careful if we think we stand, or think we've arrived, lest we fall. We should be careful to think there should not be any challenges ahead because when they come and we're caught unawares, it will inevitably result in emotional hysteria, not unlike we've seen in the last few weeks. Am I saying we should expect the worst? Not at all, but living on an emotional rollercoaster makes life really unpleasant. You have little control or say over your moods when you're relying on Julius Malema's every whim to determine whether you're going to be staying in South Africa or looking for 'greener pastures'. We are in our teens years as a country and these are known for their uncertainty, discomfort and awkwardness. How many times did you experiment and fail as a teenager? How often did your immaturity lead to embarrassment? The teenage years are a struggle for identity, which is all part of growing up.
One of 702's radio presenters, Redi Direko, put it aptly when she asked listeners if they were going to let the comments of one man change the course of their destiny? She said her hopes and ties to the country run much deeper than that. Who will we allow to shape us at this time? Our commitment to our country needs to run deeper than the superficial comments of the politically immature. Our commitment needs to run deeper than the warm, fuzzie feelings Nelson Mandela gave us when he wore his Springbok jersey, or spoke Afrikaans. We cannot hang onto Mandela's leadership as the answer for today. New leaders need to rise up and take their place. We all want safe, decent homes for our children and peaceful, clean parks and beaches for them to play on. We all want the dream life. But part of maturing into adulthood is learning that there is no such thing as the fairytale life, and that we'll only have freedom and truth to the extent that we're prepared to fight for it – not yesterday, but today and every day. We learn in maturity that life is not about the perfect circumstances, but about the people we choose to journey with. In this nation of ours, we have the privilege of working for unity in the face of incredible diversity. In doing so our souls are transformed from self-centred teenagers to mature adults who know how to care. I'll never forget the words of the inspirational Director of GIBS (Gordon Institute of Business Science), Prof. Nick Binedell one night outside eNews' Hyde Park studios, when, in a moment of crisis, I was searching for hope for South Africa's future. He said, “It matters not what lies ahead, because none of us can accurately tell. But what matters is what we do with today.” So make your today count! *This article first appeared on www.sagoodnews.co.za
Jan 11, 2010
According to a recent Mail & Guardian survey, most South Africans are against polygamy. Surely our political leaders should be taking note of the nation's feelings on moral issues like this?
By Sam Mokorosi
Here's an interesting article, obviously sparked by President Zuma's latest marriage.
The point that struck a cord with me is the attempt to understand what South Africans expected of their leaders regarding morality and their private lives.
In our nascent democracy, it does seem like the answer to that is that the majority of South Africans actually don't care about our leaders' private lives.
It's always interesting to see how private scandals in the UK and US for example can derail a politician's career prospects. But not so in SA. Remember the scandal around Kgalema Motlanthe about a year ago when he was president? I'm not supporting the media circus around the event, but it seemed the scandal did absolutely nothing to his career.
My point here is simple, if we are hoping for a moral regeneration in this nation, then surely then our leaders need to be examples in this regard. Whether polygamy is constitutional or not, the article (link below) shows that the majority of South African's do not support it from a moral perspective, which diminishes our leaders' ability to provide leadership in the area of morality. I look forward to a day when they can.
Most South Africans against polygamy, survey shows - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source
Jun 21, 2008
Today I want to sound the trumpet call - a call to the citizenry of this nation. The time has come to stop shirking our responsibility and take back authority. The solutions to this nation's issues are in our hands, if we can rise from our comfortable positions and become nation-builders... an army of ordinary folk who chose to make a difference for good where they are.
By Sam Mokorosi
South Africa is again at a tipping point. President Mbeki was correct, 2008 is certainly not "business as usual". But despite the doom and gloom, let me remind you that we've been here before. Think of the political violence of the early 90s, the mixture uncertainty and hope of 1994, the financial up-heaval of 1996, 1998, 2001/2002 etc. After each bout of national trouble, we seem to rise out of the ashes stronger and better. I trust this time will be no different... well sort of.
This time I am eager to see the rise of the South African Citizen. For too long we have pinned our hopes on government, as if they are the answer to all our problems. I submit that government cannot, and should not be seen as holders of a magic wand. Sure they have responsibilities, and must be called to account. But the more responsibility we give to the government, the more power we inadvertently give away. There can be no responsibility without authority! The recent anti-foreigner violence is a case in point. We screamed for government to do something, then when they set up "refugee camps" we complain that they're too close to our leafy suburbs... but that's another story.
Today I want to sound the trumpet call - a call to the citizenry of this nation. The time has come to stop shirking our responsibility and take back authority. The solutions to this nation's issues are in our hands, if we can rise from our comfortable positions and become nation-builders... an army of ordinary folk who chose to make a difference for good where they are. To make it easy for us, some citizens have already made a trail for the rest of us to walk in. Here are some initiatives that I have come across – some are things u can get involved with, others are just good sources of information: 1. http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/ - publishes only good news about South Africa 2. http://www.itstartswithyou.co.za/ - you may have heard the adverts, on this web site you can speak about your vision for South Africa 3. http://www.forgood.co.za/Pages/Register.aspx - mobilises people via SMS notification of constructive nation-building activities they can get involved with in their own community 4. http://www.heartlines.co.za/ - promotes values-based living on TV, radio, etc. 5. http://www.homecomingrevolution.co.za/hcrblog/?p=457 – read this article about a book called “Don’t Panic” by Alan Knott-Craig, MD of iBurst, son of Vodacom CEO Make a difference where you are
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