BEN TUROK: Reflecting openly on what went wrong with the ANC
Politicians and senior public servants emulated the conduct of a new class of luxury-loving, conspicuous consumption business types who set new standards of profligacy
It is time to think aloud, to reflect publicly on what has gone wrong in the ANC, government and parliament, without any equivocation. The condition of our country is too serious for excuses and half truths. The latest violent row in parliament reflects the turmoil in our society and a loss of direction across the board. We face two major crises: the crisis in the economy and the moral crisis in public life. Unfortunately, the latter has captured public attention at the very time all should be focused on fixing the economy. What went wrong in government over the past two decades? We all saw how incumbency led to a belief in entitlement, even in the early days of democracy. The philosophy of “it's our turn to eat” began to creep into public life. The tendency was not brazen at first and was lost in the turmoil and excitement of building a new democratic system with black people in command. But it was evident. Ministers who had never before had a paid job wanted good salaries — at lea...
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