South Africa's real crisis: Mr President, it's time for a family meeting

SOUTH Africa is standing at a critical crossroads.

- ADRI SENEKAL DE WET

The recent headlines have been dominated by the outcry over a few dozen South Africans, described loosely as "Africans," who accepted an opportunity to relocate to the United States in search of a better life for their families.

This has been treated as a national scandal, a media frenzy that conveniently diverts attention from the harsh reality millions of South Africans face daily.

While we debate the choices of fifty-odd individuals, the true scandal lies in the staggering unemployment rate in South Africa, which now hovers just under 33%. That is one in every three people without a job.

For our youth, the situation is even more dire, with nearly two-thirds of young South Africans locked out of economic participation. This is the real crisis.

Where is the outrage for the millions of South Africans without work, without hope, and without a future in their own country?

The exodus of skilled and ambitious South Africans is not new.

It is a symptom of a far deeper malaise: systemic failure of leadership, governance, and delivery. South Africans are tired of promises.

They are tired of hollow words and endless commissions of inquiry. What they need now is decisive leadership and a credible plan to turn this country around.

Mr President, it is time for one of your famous “family meetings.” But this time, not to talk about lockdown regulations or COVID statistics.

This time, you need to face the nation with honesty about the state of our country, and more importantly, what you and your government are going to do to fix it.