South Africa sitting on ticking time-bomb

I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate South African young people who made history this week. They marched from Johannesburg to Pretoria all in a bid to demand economic freedom. Many young black professionals are without jobs. There is no equal opportunity between young black people and white people in this country. I am one of the people who blame this tragedy on the Codesa negotiations, in which banned political parties sat with the apartheid government and sold us out. They settled for political freedom and let go of economic freedom. The political freedom they got ensured a certain future for themselves and their children. We still live in poverty.

The past was more than unfair to the black people of South Africa. I however have reservations about people leading the marches against economic inequality. Julius Malema is accused of enjoying kick-backs of government tenders. He has no university degree, lives in an upmarket suburb and drives a Range Rover. It is very difficult of join in a cause led by people like him. As my friend and colleague Iman Rapetti said, there is something raw and honest about the march.

Many commentators were too scared to endorse and support the marchers. But i believe that deep in their hearts of hearts, they know the truth. So many of my acquaintances were tweeting and updating their facebook status using their iPhones, Android and Blackberry smartphones, rebuking and ridiculing the marchers.

Fortunately there are people like me and Lucky-Girl Lekganyane who survive poverty and make the best of what we have. And so we are able to see such people and defend our long road to economic freedom.  I saw one update from a facebook friend of mine who said, “How is marching going to solve your problems. We are going to be stuck in traffic for nothing.” At least she has a car that she will sit in comfortably when my borthers and sisters brave the heat wave and run just to make a point to the people who are at the helm of our economy.

Most of the people in the march cannot secure meetings with people in power, they cannot secure job interviews and someone out there is worried about being stuck in traffic. Someone in my neighbourhood is not sure if they will have dinner.