South Africa is in the grip of a wide-ranging crisis, especially affecting the poor and other vulnerable people. The state has long failed to deliver a “better life” to all or even many of its people. While violence and criminality remain widely tolerated, democratic life cannot flourish. A range of sectors need to address and remedy these features to regenerate democratic life. What is striking about the present moment in South Africa is that there are a range of crises at work at the same time. And in many cases, those responsible for these have been identified. In the main they remain in the positions from which they have caused harm, failed to perform duties, failed to resolve problems affecting the wellbeing of the public, or have caused – or failed to exercise their powers to remedy – harsh conditions.