And we can lead in our way, by being active citizens.
main successful major corporations with small budding
“You cannot sit and observe,” says Dr Khoza. “If there
organisations and identify service areas, product supply
are things to be pointed out, if there are things to be
areas, and actively cultivate and nourish that.”
organised, if there are things to be taken up, the South African citizenry, particularly the intelligentsia,
“Successful economies tend to actually view running
should engage.”
matters of the nation, matters of the state, as a political economy. In other words, politics and economics,
“I think I just feel that there’s such a gap between the
almost in perfect tango, not adversarial,” he explains.
citizenry and government that people don’t seem to know how to communicate with them and
It is hoped that the new era of coalition government in
get responses.”
the form of the Government of National Unity (GNU) brings with it stability and energy to address
He argues that some interest groups, such as Business
challenges to drive economic growth, the perfect
Leadership South Africa, are engaging with success but
tango Dr Khoza is referring to, with serving the country as
Dr Khoza believes it’s not enough. He uses the example
the ultimate goal.
of street committees which were the life blood of local politics in lead up the elections in 1994 and a template
“They together have come to define their master
for an active citizenry. As an enhancement to the
as national interest. And for that reason I believe
participatory democracy which South Africa runs on, Dr
there’s hope.”
Khoza believes we should implement a constituencybased system which would allow for people to engage
“Historically they used to shout at each other as
directly with their chosen representatives in parliament.
adversaries. Now as members of the GNU they have an opportunity to whisper to each other. You achieve a lot
Along with a strong participatory culture, transformation
more softly, and with a whisper.”
is another challenge that needs to be addressed. Dr Khoza notes that while progress has been made
Education, as always, is a key priority for the GNU and as
at the board level, it’s not trickling down to senior
someone with a great deal of experience in the sector,
management. The challenges faced by small businesses
Dr Khoza’s perspective on the lacklustre foundations
- which Dr Khoza says need capital, knowledge and skill
in reading, comprehension and mathematics is an
- are another example of the country’s stumbling blocks.
important one. He laments low standards and calls on curriculum designers, and administrators at the tertiary
“We as a country have failed to understand what other
level, to start with the end in mind: “The end is what the
economics call a dual economy, where you couple the
political economy requires, particularly.”
“
I am cautiously optimistic because if you lose hope as an individual, as a community, as society, as a nation, you perish. So for me, hope springs eternal
16 I M P U M E L E L O T O P E M P O W E R M E N T 2 4
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