South Africa has been a democratic country for almost three decades. Since its independence, there has been a lot of change in laws and how things are done. There has also been the inception of leaders who are tasked with ensuring that different sectors perform to their best. However, due to many challenges, it has been evident that some of the resources expected to better South Africa aren’t being utilised properly. In this article, we will take a look at
- how curbing mismanagement of resources can help develop South Africa
- the benefits of properly managing the development of this country
- how leaders can be held accountable for ensuring that South Africa’s development continues.
Our Resources Are Our Resource
It’s no secret that South Africa is rich in natural resources. In fact, many African countries are known to be rich in minerals such as oil, gold, platinum, and diamond. So, it is not surprising that Africa is a jewel and a marvel for many. The oppression that took place in many African countries before they gained independence robbed many people of generational wealth and stability, and since independence, many people have been playing catch up.
It is important to remember that South Africa and surrounding countries have for years been working on collaborating with different countries in exchange for different products and services, and these types of transactions cannot go on without government involvement. But with the help of non-profit organisations, development finance institutions, as well as boards tasked to oversee the management of resources, Africa and, more so, South Africa stands a better chance at an improved economy.
Youth Involvement Is Youth Empowerment
South Africa is a country mostly managed by leaders who have fought for the very freedom we enjoy today. While this is inspiring, these leaders need the help of young people to understand how the world is moving and which direction development needs to take. The same ideas we had 28 years ago, though they got us freedom, the past ideas cannot always be sustainable for today’s world. The Covid-19 pandemic showed everyone that not all goes according to plan, and that change is both inevitable and rapid at times. Involving the youth in powerful positions as well as affording them the platform to enact these changes can empower the nation and build a level of trust among residents. If we have people of different ages relating to South Africans of different ages, we stand a better chance of a country whose residents understand what is going on and can therefore make decisions that will benefit them.
Voting
Democracy in South Africa means that we can vote and decide on who will be the leading party that will govern the country for 4 years (a ruling party’s term in office duration). Think about the many changes that have come from South Africans being able to vote. This means that if we encourage more South Africans to cast their votes during municipal, provincial, and national elections, we will have more people deciding who should be elected as the ruling party. Many South Africans, especially the youth, have given up on the idea of voting for many reasons. Some feel nothing changes, others claim to not have time to go to voting polls, and some just aren’t interested. We can change this by creating better and easier ways to vote, such as opening online/special voting for longer and providing people with the option to always vote online or at the polls.
Luckily when it comes to auditing numbers and counting votes, South Africa is hardly in trouble, and this shows that the voting auditing system is well-functioning. So, if we can create more excitement around how impactful voting is, we will have more South Africans using their voices.
Accountability
The South African local government operates under mandates issued by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). This means that there are projects and developments expected to happen in local municipalities, and SALGA ensures that leaders in these municipalities are doing their jobs to ensure these developments happen. SALGA also holds officials accountable for any mismanagement of resources or the incompleteness of projects. If we have more organisations tasked to evaluate the state at all times, then our resource management and project development will be better.
Conclusion
Private companies, development finance institutions, as well as non-profit organisations are working hard at ensuring different sectors are better developed and recover from any mismanagement damages. Everyone can help in small ways by investing in different projects and initiatives that are going out of their way to help develop South Africa for the better. Reason being, we can wait for the government, but we can also help the government out. Why? Because South Africa belongs to all who live in it.