Tomorrow, R2K marks Freedom Day as an important day that gives us an opportunity to reflect on our compromised democracy. 2018 will be remembered as the end of the Zupta era! While this was an important advance in the struggle for an accountable government, the R2K was amongst the civil society organisations that made a significant contribution in confronting many of the social, economic and political ills symbolised by the Zuma administration. Yet some of the structural traces of that era still remain with us!
Although President Ramaphosa and his team have "embarked" on a plan that they claim will revive the economy, create jobs, deliver quality public services and boost confidence amongst the foreign investor community, we remain sceptical! R2K maintains that the core problems faced by the vast majority of South Africans are largely as a result of structural socio-economic inequality. This is further compounded by a political culture of a lack of a participatory and inclusive political and procedural democracy.
Without a radically redistributive approach that has the interests of the majority at its centre, inequality in this country will forever remain perpetuated. We call with urgency that major improvements be made in both public and private sector accountability and transparency, which without it there can be and will be no real freedom, except for the rich and powerful!
