We need to stand together in unity to overcome the challenges we are facing

In his state of the nation address this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “This is no ordinary year, and this no ordinary state of the nation.”

Finance minister Tito Mboweni, in closing his budget speech, talked about the need for courage and perseverance amid the enormous difficulties and challenges we are facing. The president and the finance minister are attuned to the unprecedented economic and social challenges confronting our country on various fronts.

We are all feeling the pressure. To overcome these challenges will require more than just government action, it will require united action from us all.

As South Africans we know how to fight the good fight, as we fought and overcame the evil of apartheid. This is again a moment for unity in diversity in our nation. This moment of unprecedented challenges is an opportunity to demonstrate how South Africans from all walks of life, races and communities can stand together and overcome once more.

Our country is still dealing with the coronavirus pandemic that has caused loss of life and inflicted enormous damage in every sector of our society. We are told not to let our guard down against this deadly virus as the country emerges from the second wave and the number of infections and deaths declines while the rate of recovery improves. We must continue to uphold hygiene protocols as our first line of defence. There is a possibility of a third wave of Covid-19, which we must avoid by acting in unity.

Pointing fingers and playing the blame game while people suffer will not solve anything, nor will it take the country forward

Another challenge facing us is the high rate of unemployment, in particular among our youth. The unemployment statistics recently released by Stats SA should cause all South Africans to sit up and take notice. They point to a ticking time bomb that all of us, especially leaders in civil society, the government, business and the labour movement, should work together to defuse before it explodes and upends the social order.

The unemployment rate rose to 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2020 — the highest joblessness rate we have ever seen. These numbers represent people who have families. We cannot allow this trajectory to continue unchecked.

The above statistics indicate that we are facing a crisis of unemployment and the ongoing debate about who is to blame is unhelpful. It is time for the government to put out an SOS to the rest of society and that we come together to find tangible solutions to resolve this crisis. Work in this regard is especially needed from civil society.

Pointing fingers and playing the blame game while people suffer will not solve anything, nor will it take the country forward. The high levels of unemployment have a direct effect on the level of poverty, which in turn increases the gap between the haves and the have-nots and deepens inequality in our country.

The greatest threat that poverty poses is to the sustainability of our democracy. As stated in one of our new democracy’s earlier policy documents, the Reconstruction and Development Plan, “No political democracy can survive and flourish if the mass of our people remains in poverty, without land and without tangible prospects for a better life.” Former president Thabo Mbeki put it somewhat more dramatically in the mid-1990s when he said: “When the poor rise, they will rise against us all.”

Poverty and inequality are ultimately the biggest threat to our democracy and to the seams that hold SA together. Unfortunately, these seams, the social cohesion of our nation, are coming apart. As poverty increases among the majority, even as the social wage has increased thanks to the social welfare policies of post-apartheid SA, we remain at risk.

Then there is the rising cost of living that is fast outstripping incomes, even for relatively well-off people. Fuel prices went up this month for the third month in a row, in the middle of the pandemic that has destroyed jobs and businesses both large and small. One wonders where people will find the money to pay for these increases.

The fuel price increases come amid proposed hikes in electricity tariffs. If these are implemented, they will push the working class — the majority of our people — to the bottom. Something needs to be done urgently.

Indeed, it is becoming extremely difficult for people to consider saving when they are struggling for survival. For many, the top priority now is just putting food on the table. Citizens are struggling to juggle their various financial commitments and the periodic price increases make it impossible to cope.

No doubt, the pressure experienced by many is going to force them to consider incurring additional debt to get by. Clearly, we have a crisis on our hands. SA needs an economic recovery plan but it must be one that will have a meaningful impact on lessening the burden on ordinary citizens who can no longer cope.

On the other hand, we are still battling the persistent epidemics of gender-based violence and corruption in our country. We are far from winning the battle on these two important issues.

All these challenges are an indication that the country will be in trouble unless we put our differences aside and start focusing on overcoming them together.

I believe that Ramaphosa must now call an imbizo at which all stakeholders can come together to find solutions for our country. We cannot be bystanders as these challenges unfold — we want to be part of the solution.

All stakeholders, including political parties, business, labour, civil society and religious/church leaders, can come together with the government and take on these challenges as a united nation. I remember the way, in the early 1990s after the evil system of apartheid had been dismantled, we needed to unite our people and the idea of a “rainbow nation” was born.

We all rallied behind that idea; all our national events and sports matches were directed towards building a rainbow nation, united in its diversity. In spite of the challenges I have outlined, I remain positive, inspired by the promise of our great people and filled with the hope that if we stand together with the government, this year can be better for SA than last year was. Let us have great expectations and work together to realise this dream.

• McCauley is president of Rhema Family Churches and co-chair of the National Religious Leaders Council