Rebuilding a state that works for all the people cannot be conceived purely at the level of clean ups and ‘orange overalls’. The need for a professional civil service that has relative autonomy in making decisions within their field of competence has been neglected, especially on the left. Political heads need to allow professionals space to act within their competence. The all-round crisis that engulfs South Africa stares us in the face. The level of crime appears beyond the capacity of police to control even if they had the desire. Many clearly do not have the inclination to perform their duties and are themselves complicit in criminality through the selling of arms, and several other illicit activities.