South Africa is Facing its Worst Crisis

South Africa is facing its worst crisis; the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party capacity is going to be stretched to its outermost limits during 2016. It is also the year that will determine if the ANC can hold onto power with the municipal elections taking place. People are angry, frustrated and annoyed that the government has ignored the plight of the poor for over 21 years. Within the ANC factions, there are signs of revolt in at least three provinces. Violence is a natural feather of branch meetings in the North West province. ANC is part of the macro dynamic system, and the problem with ANC is that it was not moving with the current flow.

The drought is so severe that food subsidies are needed to avoid famine and imports are rising in an attempt to avoid starvation. The availability of water now and in the future looks bleak, and the management of the water system is ready to break the back of South Africa. The ongoing power issues is a primary threat in South Africa and with the winter months rapidly approaching could spell disaster.

 There is no money for free university education, and the student movement will have to accept this fact, or tertiary education will be doomed for another year. The recent student protests for free education is continuing, and there is no quick solution. Public Education is in a mess, and the government does not seem to have a solution or plan to resolve the ongoing shortage of textbooks and lack of funding or employing competent teachers.  What is the likely outcome of the standoff with university students?

The rand continues to slide amid growth prospects, and investors continue to diversify into safer currencies and better operating areas. China continues to cut demand for South African commodities. Taxes are raised causing poverty to increase. It is a real and growing tragedy that urgently needs better management of South Africa’s resources to reduce the worsened situation even despite external influences such as the Chinese market.

As more mines close down, the unemployment crisis worsens, and there is no plan in place to create jobs. People expect grants from government and the money well is dry, triggering many to resort to criminal activities in an attempt to survive. The government cannot deal with the escalating crime that remains a danger to the country. Corruption and bribery are uncontrolled elements within the government departments.

President Jacob Zum has two serious cases to answer to around March this year, the spy tapes saga and the rationality of the session to drop the 783 corruption charges. There is the Economic Freedom Front (EFF) matter in the constitutional court regarding the money spent on the Nkandla homestead. 

Is the ANC parasitic in a way and does the ruling party survive by feeding on the blood of the unsuspecting voters? Those who are fortunate enough to be still managing positions should minimize the suffering of the poor and the unemployed. The ANC have nothing on the table that has the potential to arrest and improve the situation that is deteriorating on some critical fronts. There is nothing that appears to the innovative, imaginative competency that South Africa needs. The ANC is going to come out of this brutally bruised.