“The honeymoon period is over” as Moeletsi Mbeki put it at a recent Xubera Institute Lecture on corruption. He asserts that after liberation of an African country there is a period of between 10 to 20 years when everyone is grateful to the party that liberated them. This period is characterized by the liberation movement turned ruling party leadership blissfully enjoying the fruits of liberation, power and state resources. This period is also characterized by the former ruling class working very hard to protect the class and privilege provided by the colonialist regime. These two, the Capitalist Bourgeoisie (previous rulers and current owners of means of production) and the Bureaucratic Bourgeoisie (former liberation movement and current ruling class) are mutually dependent on each other while they are both dependent on the working class for different reasons. The two feed off and corrupt each other at huge cost to the working class. They appear to the naked eye as if they are adversaries but the truth is the one can’t exist without the other. During the honeymoon period, the Capitalist Bourgeoisie is trying to stall change and protect their class while the Bureaucratic Bourgeoisie is pre-occupied with power and personal enrichment.

In our South African situation, these are characterized by the White Inc and the ANC. Over the past 17 years the ruling party has made some strides in public development and management of the economy and it has dismally failed in some. The White Inc has been only pre-occupied with protecting their interests. The public is caught in the middle in that it has to serve both masters. When it times for elections we are suddenly remembered and are showered with visits by politicians, roads are fixed and RDP houses handed over. The White Inc will only remember our existence when extra labour is needed at the least cost. These two have institutionalized corruption so much that the public are nothing bystanders in their own country. We are reduced into nothing but voting fodder and labour muscle and brain.

The honeymoon is about to be over though. The people are awakening to the fact that the White Inc largely ignored the undertakings of economic transformation and what little has happened has gone into the hands of the ruling elite rather than the ordinary man on te street. The people are awakening to the fact that nothing much has changed in their personal circumstances but they have been voting for their heroes again and again. They are awakening to the fact that BEE is nothing but a flawed scheme cooked up by the White Inc corporations to appease the ruling elite and stall meaningful transformation.

In this awakening the people are shocked that their liberation movement has been changed into a get rich quickly vehicle for opportunists. They are shocked at the complicity of some of their leaders in propping up the White Inc and in corrupt activities. But guess what? Our people actually do not have an alternative!

This is now the time for each and everyone to get involved in the political and democratic sphere of our lives. Our fate can no longer be left in the hands of the leaders. We are all leaders to our own destiny.

If you are part of the White Inc, start by advocating for meaningful transformation that will bring tangible change in people’s lives. Impart knowledge and skill. Give proper access to finance and allow qualified black people to progress in companies. Start looking after the interests of all South Africans instead of a particular group. This will yield a more cohesive and productive South Africa. Treat black people with the respect they deserve as human beings. Acknowledge that you did benefit from apartheid and work with the rest of the society to reverse the legacy of apartheid.

If you are part of the ruling elite, start thinking of the struggle that gave you the opportunity to be where you are. Think about the country before your stomach. Think about the rich history and legacy you are desecrating. The people hold the power of the vote and one day, they will withhold it and surely you don’t want to go down in history as the guy who ran a proud movement to the ground.

If you are a member of the public, it’s time to stop complaining and start doing things for yourself. The government will not provide everything for you. You are responsible for your own destiny. Apartheid happened but it’s over. Yes the legacy still affects us but we can rise above it and conquer. If we are not happy with the people we voted into office, we have the power to change it. You can do it through internal democracy within the ruling party or form new political parties that will do as we need. Be responsible citizens.

If things continue as they are then we are not too far off from being another African failure. The honeymoon is almost over and the people must rise.