Two truths are infinite, the first is the infinite mercy of God and the second is infinite human stupidity.
Many assumed the advent of democracy would solve our problems. This assumption was a mistake.
Ismail Mamoniat, National Treasury’s deputy director general, said that state capture corruption is so entrenched in the government that budgets are often looted before they are spent on service delivery.
In September 2022, National Treasury warned that 151 municipalities were on the brink of collapse, while 43 have already collapsed. Parliament’s standing committee on appropriations noted that of the nation’s 257 municipalities, only 58 had unfunded budgets for the 2022/23 financial year.
Also, 151 municipalities are deemed “bankrupt and insolvent” and unable to pay creditors and third parties, including Sars and pension funds, and dysfunctional municipalities increased from 64 to 66.
The statistics suggest a nightmare that few genuinely understand. Municipalities are collapsing since officials and councillors cannot deliver service which is oddly its main purpose.
Since the majority of eligible voters do not vote, those who vote, oddly vote for political parties that employ ignorant politicians who appoint unqualified officials who cannot manage the municipalities.
For years I have argued that those who do not have a post-matric qualification such as a technical diploma or university degree should not be allowed to become a councillor or parliamentarian.
Education may not be the elixir to solve all our problems but it is a good start. Since our nation is already in deep trouble we cannot ignore the realities. It is almost too late since the collapsing municipalities will trigger surrounding municipalities and eventually this will collapse provinces.
Emotions cannot deliver services or create jobs or reduce the price of electricity or rates or feed a family. Yet we allow feelings to dictate so much of what are critical services that affect everyone.
For example, after billions in bailouts, the Post Office, Eskom and SAA, etc, have financially collapsed. Ironically, there are thousands of qualified black, brown and white people who can actually do the work, yet they cannot get the job because unskilled, inept, stupid people are being employed.
In the Abrahamic tradition, God does not help a person or community that rejects help because God does not change the condition of people unless they make some efforts to help themselves.
Voters who vote for corrupt politicians are in reality, accomplices. Those who vote ignorant, inept politicians and officials into authority cannot abrogate liability, they are similarly guilty.
* Cllr Yagyah Adams, Cape Muslim Congress.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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