HELPING THE STATE
TRUDI MAKHAYA: Impasse shows need for citizen power
A strong democracy requires multiple centres of power
Over the past few days the nation has been trying to decipher the machinations in the inner sanctum of the ANC. Tweets, leaked audio recordings and Instagram posts have been analysed for clues about developments in the "transition", where bland official party statements have failed to give definitive answers. The anxiety in the air, coupled with frustrated calls for politicians to resolve an impasse they created, reflect our nation’s involuntary addiction to politics. A strong democracy requires multiple centres of power. This moment of confusion just goes to demonstrate how politics has become overly dominant in directing the state of affairs in our country. Worse is that this is a politics that does not create incentives for political representatives to be responsive to the needs of citizens. This calls for other sections of society, especially civil society and business, to exercise their distinct forms of power to shape outcomes.A strong business sector provides livelihood oppor...
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