WE NEED A STATESMAN, NOT HOPE

South Africa is packed with dangerously ambitious political leaders who lie their way to power, while there are a negligible few equipped with attributes of good leadership.

Our country finds itself staring into a dark pity of disaster because many of our political leaders have a severe deficiency in certain fundamental qualities of a good leader, such as integrity and accountability. They are nowhere near the principles of leadership, and no matter how hard you look, you will never see any indication of a dutiful political leader across all political parties.

Their primary objective is to get elected in order to have unlimited access to a cafeteria overflowing with illicit buffet. They are masters of flip-flops on critical issues as the political sands shift. They make lofty promises, but when the proverbial rubber hits the road, they come up with a truckload of tricks on why they cannot deliver on even one promise.

The lot that passes themselves off as revolutionaries mysteriously develop crippling bouts of amnesia the moment they get elected.

It never crosses their minds that good political leadership is vital in determining the allocation of resources through sound policies, establishing partnerships with relevant stakeholders and making dependable decisions that will have a positive impact on the nation’s well-being and all citizens.

We are witnesses to how the current crop of leaders have no desire to focus on South Africa ’s long-term betterment, above and beyond their short-term personal benefits. We have coalition arrangenments in several municipalities that are collapsing. In their quest to flex their political muscles and nutrify their unbridled ambition, they have thrown the voter ’s needs into a crocodile-infested dam.

At The Telegram , just like all citizens of this country, we yearn for formidable political leadership endowed with a fusion of charm, honesty, and the capacity to evaluate circumstances and make good judgment calls based on what will be better for the nation.

A disciplined political leader’s primary goal should always be representing the interests of the electorate, not just themselves. We are know that the reality of politics is generally complex and often messy, but great leaders are able to balance their actions with what is right for the country and commit themselves to living by the maxim, the country before party and self.

Coalition governing is the disaster that it has become because those elected to represent the people have their sight set on the party mandate and accessing a financially rewarding office.

None of the parties in the vat en sit arrangements called coalition is willing and able to take proper action in the interest of the municipalities when the need arises.

Principally leadership in a democratic dispensation requires statesmanship instead of being just a ‘politician’. It is therefore important for the person seeking political office to possess the morality and ability to stand up for what is fair and just.

Statesmanship

Today our country is moribund because at the top there is no statesman.

An online newsletter called work.chron.com unpacks the importance of a stateman – somebody we will wish for until the end of time.

The general view of a statesman is of someone interested in the common good of constituents and not his ego.

Statesmanship Qualities and Principles

Statesmen stand on a platform of fundamental truths. They believe in specific core values and don ’t change beliefs to get ahead in politics. A statesman, however, may change his policies and methods of going about achieving his goals. He may even be criticised for doing so, but he believes that short-term sacrifice is necessary for long-term triumph. According to the author of Politics Among Nations , Hans J. Morgenthau, statesmen are political realists. They look at policy in terms of its effect on the nation.

Statesmanship and Vision

Statesmen have a clearly defined vision for their country and constituents. A statesman knows exactly what he wants to accomplish during his time in office. This requires foresightto recognize that he will confront problems and will need solutions to realise his goals. A statesman must be a good leader to build consensus with the people around his ideas. He is a prolific orator, able to incite participation and movements with intelligent arguments. A statesman believes in his message, and he has to keep his word to continue to form supportaround his ideas, unpopular though they may be.

2024 is around the corner and our country needs a statesman more than ever before. If we do not end up with a statesman after next year’s elections, then will we have to put up with more decades of massive rolling blackouts, mediocre education outcomes, inequality, mounting unemployment, frighteningly high crime levels, rampant corruption, divestiture, dysfunctional municipalities and bankrupt state-owned entities.