South Africans have lost our moral compass by looking after No 1 at all costs, says Sandile Memela.
Johannesburg - We, as a country, have a serious problem with national morale. Everywhere you look - be it at individual, collective or organisational level - you can sense that “something is wrong”.
No doubt, over the last 22 years since the release of former president Nelson Mandela in February 1990, the country has produced bright and charismatic leaders. Many have risen to international stature to head international institutions and become significant global players.
In fact, South Africa has gained a reputation as a country that punches above its weight. But our own house and family (South Africa) is faltering. Attentively listening to the voice of the people on the ground from all backgrounds, races, creeds and classes, a sense of gloom and doom appears to permeate the atmosphere.
Those who see a half-empty glass are correct. The atmosphere seems poisoned by rivalry, competition, selfishness, greed and, above all, suspicion and lack of trust.
We lack trust so much that each leader, from Mandela and his successor Thabo Mbeki to President Jacob Zuma, is considered guilty of some misdemeanour until they’ve proved themselves innocent.
The suspicion and lack of trust has seeped deep into the soul of the nation. Nobody is spared. At the risk of generalising, no one trusts what is happening, especially in government and the corporate world. South Africa is now perceived, rightly or wrongly, as one of the most corrupt societies in Africa.
Worse, the people have a low trust in their political leadership being capable of doing anything major to satisfy their aspirations. In casual conversations, the attitude is: “It is our turn to eat.”
The fact we have launched Corruption Watch confirms this perception as people don’t see it as part of the solution but as an acceptance that the problem exists.
It is obvious to anyone watching that unbecoming conduct, behaviour and attitude exists in very high office, business, government, churches and civil society.
But even lower in the hierarchy you still find dishonesty and an attitude of looking after No 1 at all costs. No one is innocent.
The problem cuts across race, class, culture and background. For example, “clever blacks” are cynical towards EFF commander-in-chief Julius Malema because they see him as someone who does not walk the talk.
Much as he is seen as “the custodian of the constitution” in the light of the Constitutional Court judgment and continues to mouth the correct utterances on nationalisation, the land question, wealth monopoly and racism, people are convinced he is saying these things to throw a veil over his own alleged nefarious activities.
Of course, the greatest damage is to the perpetrators themselves. They are obsessed with their own self-satisfaction, desiring to put themselves first with all the things that money can buy.
This selfishness and greed has long-term consequences that affect the psychological make-up of a national character.
It violates what ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa calls the sacred “social compact” with the people. It marks a failure where there is lack of credibility and integrity. This gives birth to suspicion and lack of trust. Nobody needs this, especially South Africa, with everything going for it.
Trust is essential, not only to all relationships but to social cohesion, nation building and working together to create the society that we all want it to be: non-racial, non-sexist, united and effectively working. It is like the glue that holds us together.
There is no way we can translate all the noble ideals enshrined in the constitution without trust. It is like the cornerstone of a multistorey building.
What this means is that everybody, especially our leaders and other prominent people, must learn that their public profile - which is what they are known for - must reflect the soul of this nation.
We must continue to demand that their actions, behaviour, conduct and attitude must be faultless in reflecting integrity, honest and credibility.
It does not help anyone to stand on public platform to talk about safe sex, for instance, when they have been busted for unfaithfulness, promiscuity and not practising safe sex.
It does not help to talk about anti-corruption when our lifestyles have not been subjected to an audit. Who is fooling who?
It is okay to hold high corporate, sports or political office but this does not necessarily mean that people respect you or trust you.
You will be tolerated out of politeness but do not assume that people care or are listening to what you have to say when your walk does not match the talk.
Trust is not a right but something that needs to be earned, just like respect. There has to be something you are doing that makes people believe they can trust you and that you mean what you say. It is something that is a social contract between people and their leaders.
Leaders are people of integrity that the people trust and believe in because of what they do and not what they say.
Some people ponder over why some patriots say negative things about the country and its government and corporate leadership when we are doing so well and are an iconic example in Africa and the rest of the world.
This question demonstrates the plight that we find ourselves in.
Your achievement and success story does not mean anything when you have lost your integrity and your moral compass.
Remember, your integrity is everything!
* Memela is a journalist, writer, cultural critic and civil servant. He writes here in his personal capacity.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
The Sunday Independent