In less than a month, Nelson Mandela Bay will become the first South African metro to run out of water. The metro’s water chief has called for prayers as the disaster moves closer, confirming that water for drinking, washing, flushing toilets and fighting fires will be severely limited.
A city brought to its knees by political shenanigans, unemployment and a vicious second wave of Covid-19 is in the grip of the worst drought in its history.
As we are approaching local elections, it is a good time to reflect on what are, arguably, the real systemic problems facing SA, and keep an eye on the approach of different candidates and parties regarding the issues here.
MARCO LONGARI / AFP
Short, medium, and long-term development processes need to be implemented by a capable government of a coalition of agencies to ensure that conditions that feed frustration, anger, and destructive conflict are removed if we are to get rid of the culture of destruction , writes
Deon Pretorius.
What can be done about the culture of destruction in South Africa? This is a question I have been asked following the publication of my recent article entitled
The article makes two points about what to do about the destructive protest, looting, and rioting. One relates to mindsets, and the other the context in which they develop and within which people conduct their struggles.
Deon Pretorius Share A police officer and civilian woman outside Shoprite in the Durban CBD on July 12, 2021 amid civil unrest and looting following the Free Jacob Zuma protests. Photo by Gallo Images/ Darren Stewart
Despite the theories and ideologies of revolution it is time that we wake up to the reality that the problems that face us will not be solved by rioting and destruction; it will only make the problem worse, writes
Deon Pretorius.
Amid all the extremely distressing riots and looting spree that followed the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma last week, it is reassuring and encouraging that so many people took a stand to prevent further destruction. Besides the antipathy expressed for the opportunistic looting, what these citizens statements appear to say is that destructive protest is self-defeating.