Abstract
Various role players in amongst others the political environment (political parties and role players within the state and regime), the corporate sector, and civilian community, as well as academics and journalists, emphasise the nature and scope of the political, economic and social crisis currently facing South Africa. Some writers even refer to the possibility of a “South African Spring” (in accordance with the Arabian Spring), holding far-reaching implications for political stability within the political environment. There is no doubt that South Africa finds itself in a crisis, in the run-up to probably the most difficult election for the ANC government since 1994. The question is rather how serious the crisis is: Can the situation still be resolved constitutionally in an evolutionary way and be rehabilitated, or is some form of a South African Spring our destiny? From the perspective that South Africa is experiencing a crisis and that this crisis is deepening, the belief nevertheless exists that the rehabilitation of the state, society, political system and social order is indeed possible; that it may develop over a prolonged period; but that the first steps in this regard should be taken with urgency. Touchpoints exist with the political, economic and social crises South Africa had experienced in the later 1980s and early 1990s, which were redressed by means of a strategy of fundamental reform and democratisation. Although dissimilar demands exist nowadays, the necessity for fundamental reform exists once again, with even bigger challenges than was the instance in the 1980s and 1990s.
This article focuses on the following aspects:
- What does the crisis in South Africa entail (politically, economically, and socially)?
- What forms the basis of this crisis?
- Why is fundamental reform imperative and what will be achieved herewith?
- What will political reform entail from a strategic perspective?
The research method is qualitative and recent literature has been used. Core concepts and conceptualisations are applied in an integrated manner to the South African context (as indicated above). Data, numbers and statistics are utilised extensively to indicate the crisis of the current time. The outcomes of structural reform are normatively guided by democratic and functioning state practices. With regard to strategic aspects concerning political reform, examples and case studies are referred to.
Keywords: political leadership; political reform; political Rubicon; political transformation; social and political engineering; South African state
- This article’s featured image was created by Mihály Köles and obtained from Unsplash.
Lees die volledige artikel in Afrikaans
Die fundamentele hervorming van die Suid-Afrikaanse staat – motivering en strategie
Kommentaar
Dit moet begin by die kinders. Implementeer vaste beginsels, gepaardgaande met morele en tersiêre onderrig is absoluut nie onderhandelbaar as ons 'n bestendige toekoms hier wil bou nie. Te veel burgers van SA is tans onbeskof, ondankbaar, gewelddadig en onopgevoed met 'n gebrek aan diplomatieke, respekvolle vermoeëns om met mekaar te verkeer, of te onderhandel. Daarsonder is ons op pad na nêrens. En veel meer natuurlik, maar sonder fokus op die kinders, mors ons ons tyd.