The shackles are off & we keep trudging along....where have the leaders gone?

Written by GQ from the blog GQ Enquiry on 27 Sep 2007
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Have you guys ever wondered who’ll be left behind to take over the reigns once the current leadership has gone? Our country is going through so many changes on the political front but I haven’t seen much involvement coming from the youth (anyone care to explain what this really means?) except for the “Youth League” of course.

I’m starting to worry about this sad state of affairs because I feel the youth could be more involved and influential in directing SA’s future. Some might argue that the youth is not educated enough, not focused enough, not driven enough, too many negatives for my liking. True as most of it may be, maybe it’s time those in the know shed some light on what exactly needs to be done in order for us to take over this mammoth task.

I also get the feeling that so many of our leaders are holding on too tightly to power and the power has certainly corrupted, raped & is robbing SA blind. Where have the stalwart guerilla’s gone to? Where have the custodians of black consciousness who preached equality & peace gone? What has happened to the worker’s voice, the worker’s mouthpiece has been hired by the capitalist to further his interests in business.

Was democracy only a fantasy/a euphoric expression induced by seeing a father/brother/lover/comrade walk out of incarceration after 27 years?

Instead black diamonds flaunt their threads, addresses & accents (both acquired & adopted). Lapping up all sorts of compliments from marketers who sell their wares cloaked in long term debt and financial strife. Will SA ever wake itself up from this deep sleep & rouse the talking heads- that sit in parliament & “represent us”- into action?

We’ve become so individualistic that ubuntu is losing it’s true meaning & instead it now adorns the doors of many boardrooms in corporate SA. Behind these doors it’s every man for himself. The darkie holds on to his title and doesn’t offend the powers that be for fear of losing it all over an argument that can be settled with a smile & a nod. Their white counterparts also tip toe around this darkie for fear of letting him go and being exposed for lack of transformation and fear of losing yet another BEE point.

It’s easy to get carried away & lose focus with this sort of thing, so do tell me where are we (Youth) headed to before I get too lost in my own thoughts? If anywhere…

15 Comments

GQ
27 Sep 2007 08:55

Toxic gal thanks for helping a sister out, I appoint u leader of the next generation

Toxic
27 Sep 2007 09:25

Plez GQ....

I think the biggest concern for us should be whether or not there are any that have the same drive, passion or calling-if u wish-that the struggle hero(ines) had. Given that the current leaders emerged out of a united drive/mission to emancipate the masses, it's going to be a mission to find a replacement that has an entire nation's interest at heart!

I don't know what role the YOUTH LEAGUE has played since its inception to be quite honest so maybe that's something else we should be worried about.

not sure whether you want to find out where the youth is heading or whether we have a pool of suitable future leaders given the current direction politics is taking.....given that not all of us aspire to be politicians.

Jordan
27 Sep 2007 09:27

I am going to reflect on this... brb

GQ
28 Sep 2007 00:38

<<not sure whether you want to find out where the youth is heading or whether we have a pool of suitable future leaders given the current direction politics is taking.....given that not all of us aspire to be politicians.>>

My concern is that i'm not seeing anyone at all aspiring to take up positions of leadership in the political front even for advocacy groups. There's nothing, lutho gal.

Wherever our youth is heading surely the destination warrants that there be leaders to lead the masses? Once this leadership pool has dried up who will fill the void? Just asking njeh & hoping to get y'all talking & thinking (maybe)...

sponono
28 Sep 2007 01:19

mmmhh interesting.....I need sometime....I'll get back to you -once they catch JAckie Selebi...then I'll comment

Toxic
28 Sep 2007 03:35

My concern is that i'm not seeing anyone at all aspiring to take up positions of leadership in the political front even for advocacy groups. There's nothing, lutho gal.

do you mean from the "youth" or just nje? uTokyo, Cyril Ramaphosa bona? Aren't they showing aspirations to become the next leader? All the SACP, COSATU and them want is someone that will ensure that they get the top seat in the next gravy train (JZ) and therefore are putting their collective weight behind me. I don't know of anyone from the YouthLeague( any league) who's being groomed to become the next president and who would want to become one for purely selfless reasons. All they care abt is how fat their pockets get and how they can milk this cash-train of all it has.

I doubt anyone wants such a person to lead them....I for one don't.

Wherever our youth is heading surely the destination warrants that there be leaders to lead the masses? Once this leadership pool has dried up who will fill the void? Just asking njeh & hoping to get y'all talking & thinking (maybe)...

Sure, there should be a leader but will any leader do? I'm worried that there are none that stand out for me right now....my goodness GQ, where are they?????

GQ
28 Sep 2007 04:14

@Toxic: Yeah gal, I see the Cyril’s, Zuma’s & the Tokyo’s but I really don’t see anyone emerging from our generation. That’s where my concerns are directed and it’s apparent that we (the youth) are not really engaging in politically inspired activities or conversations.

I also agree with you that no one stands out right now, not from the Tokyo’s group or “our” group. In the short term maybe the Tokyo’s could take over the reigns but in the long term, leadership prospects seems so bleak.

Oh what to do gal, Oh what to do…(*deep sigh*).

Floh
28 Sep 2007 04:40

I admire Malusi Gigaba, i think he tried his bit @ the Youth lead, unlike now it has been turned into circus, with boring speeches , trying to find seats @ Cosatu once they retire ( Fikile and friends).

I think the next person on the firing( Mbeki's) list should be none other than Fikile Mbalula.

Segololo
28 Sep 2007 04:50

Eish! Too deep for me... Today, I am here on earth but really not here... Want to add some constructive thoughts but not now... I will perk up and reply.

Toxic
28 Sep 2007 07:43

Who are the potential youth candidates----good or bad?

andi01
28 Sep 2007 08:26

For me the most reliable person to lead SA is Helen Zille. I think its about time we had a female president. In this country I think we need to move away from looking at the party when we vote but have faith in the candidate whatever the party they represent. The woman is firm and speaks her mind, i think if we need change in SA we need to give her a chance. We have tried many strategies and they all failed lets put our support behind her and let her lead us to a better SA.

Segololo
01 Oct 2007 05:33

Bring back Cyril... He takes no crap from people!

sweetie my baby
04 Oct 2007 04:26

yeah, these other guys are so suspect, Segololo is right - it's got to be Cyril. He doesn't need the gig, so he's not making a disgrace of himself - i also admire Helen Zille, but as a black person, have NO TIME for her political party. i honestly believe they'd set us 15 years back...

Cyril's got integrity, i believe, and the business and trade union background that we need in a BALANCED leader...

andi01
04 Oct 2007 04:37

i also think that we need to differentiate between the National Party (which is always new) and the DA, the DA has always been against apartheid, if u read Helen Zille's past ull know how involved she is always been, with the laws that were agains ipasi and apartheid as a whole. yes she isnt black but she understands the struggle more than some of black people. if we look @ the current Anc-led gorvonance, its just chaotic, we need to be realistic and vote for what will work for this country. I am a loyal SACP member, but to be quite realistic, as much as i respect ANC, they have failed us, just look @ de crime & corruption its even more disgrace dat most our leaders r involved.

GQ
04 Oct 2007 04:49

You guys should try and find an article by FW de Klerk on the net entitled -"Sound economic, Democratic policies key". Irrespective of what party you're aligned to or what your political views are he makes a few good points and it's this type of thinking that will see us propser as a nation.

Pity these points weren't expressed during apartheid we'd have so much progess by now (not to say none has been made but we could be better off)

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