JACOB ZUMA - PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA
President Jacob Zuma just finished his maiden state of the nation speech, whilst the army and the police brass-band were in attendance, entertaining the crowds outside with the music and military performances in the streets of Cape Town, the city at the foot of Table Mountain. There were marches and motorcades as expected and lots of South African flags waived by school children from, all the provinces. Jubilation was in abundance.President Zuma started off his speech by acknowledging his predecessors and welcoming all the political stakeholders present at parliament. Being the 3rd of the ANC aligned presidents, since the demise of apartheid, much promises of change were made which in the previous 10 years wasn't considerable and above all slow. Lets however just hope at least some of Zuma's promises is going to come to fruition, especially the promise of 500 000 jobs to be created by the turn of 2009. This statement was a bit presumptuous I think, especially in a recession, but then again, I'm not a politician.
The accountability of teachers and the zero tolerance for their misconduct especially molestation of pupils was big. The roll out of broadband services to rural communities was even bigger. But the new public holiday on the 18 of July the biggest - Mandela Day, in which every citizen will be required to selflessly give 67 minutes of their time for the betterment of their community in respect of the 67 years given by Nelson Mandela (Madiba) to South Africa. President Zuma has hopes that Madela Day will be celebrated globally.
President Jacob Zuma's hard core attitude towards safety and security will in future be headed under the banner "Minister of Police'' and corruption was promised to be nipped in the bud. The way I see it, non of that can effectively happen if those civil servants perpetrating these acts of alleged corruption are still at the helm. He speculated on police dockets disappearing resulting in those affected offenders never standing trial, he also speculated of identity documents supplied illegally by "Home Affairs" for a bribe, he even speculated on bribery to win tender processes, but once again its the same song with a new singer. Cybercrime was also on the agenda, especially identity theft, so script kiddies beware!
I loved the part that President Zuma himself will personally meet with principals of schools to determine the future of our educational system. Nice, but impractical. The way I see it, the South African constitution has failed its people on at least 3 fronts, the first is job creation and poverty alleviation, second the outcome based educational system has retarded its citizens and thirdly the lack of assistance and concern for divorce or single mothers having to raise kids and having to work to maintain themselves. Keeping in mind the children are our future, without a proper up-bringing (including a father) and proper education (not outcome based) who could even expect to secure a decent paying job (alleviating poverty).
Even though the poverty relief fund in the form of grants has sustained most of the poor, over the past 10 years, it takes a big chunk out of the state coffers, some of it could rather be used for skills development. Working on the premise
"give someone a fish, you fed him once, but if you teach him how to fish, you feed him lifetime"
it is a preferable option, but not a blanket option. I'm certain there are 100's of physically disabled persons who would prefer to do a days work and feel useful than accept a measly handout, after all they are part and partial of our society. Likewise even rural woman without skills who qualify for a grant would far prefer to learn a skill and do something constructive to maintain their livelihood than receive a measly state grant.
Anyway, good luck to President Zuma for the next 5 years, our citizens would love you to walk the talk not just talk the walk. Lead by example and become that change you wish to see in South Africa.
That reminds me, right after the speech, President Jacob Zuma cleaned some dust off the breast pocket of Max's (speaker off parliament) jacket. Way to go Zuma ... When you see something wrong, correct it, without being asked. Civil servants take heed!
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