By Neo Semono
With the smell of roses and perfume likely to fill the air more than at any other time of the year today, we ought to dedicate a stem or two from our Valentine’s Day flower bouquets as a token of love for our country.
While couples will toast to their future and enjoy the sweet treats the day will have on offer, our country deserves some love too.
The Preamble of our Constitution speaks to building a united and democratic South Africa “able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations”.
The rainbow nation which saw President Nelson Mandela becoming the first President of a democratic South Africa, has been digesting world events involving our beloved country, that have put a damper on how we see ourselves and how the world perceives us.
This as the country this week reflected on the 35-years since the release of Madiba from prison on 11 February 1991, to which government has encouraged the nation to continue to embrace diversity, unity and an equal society.
While Cupid has been shooting his bow and arrow at prospective love matches, our country has found itself in the crosshairs of the United States of America, which has issued an Executive Order titled “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa.”
The order states that the US will not provide aid or assistance to South Africa and that it shall promote the resettlement of Afrikaner refugees escaping alleged government-sponsored race-based discrimination, including alleged racially discriminatory property confiscation.
This as President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Expropriation Bill into law in January. The Act sets out how organs of State may expropriate land in the public interest for varied reasons. It also states that property may not be expropriated arbitrarily or for a purpose other than a public purpose or in the public interest.
It is the government’s attempt to remedy the sensitive and complicated matter of South Africa’s land reform project. The pain of the dispossession of land for the majority of our people, some of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice, remains profound.
However, the Act which underwent a five-year public consultation process, has struck a sour chord in relations between South Africa and the US.
That which stands in the Constitution’s Preamble is not just a lofty idea, but something that more than three decades into democracy, South Africa is still striving for.
There are some who may say that South Africa should forget the past and move on, but the past has a way of sneaking up on one if not addressed. We ought to understand that it is important for South Africa to right the wrongs of the past in its journey to a prosperous future for all.
And just as any individual will put in the effort to put their best foot forward when heading out, South Africa is attempting to not only ensure that its shoes shine on the international stage, but also to make sure that it does the work needed to create a better life for all on home soil.
In last week’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ramaphosa said that while there are global fundamental shifts that affect every aspect of life, including geopolitical tensions, violent conflict, and the “pursuit of narrow interests,” South Africa will not be deterred.
“We will not be deterred. We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied. We will stand together as a united nation.”
He added that “we will speak with one voice in defence of our national interest, our sovereignty and our constitutional democracy.”
It is in our national interest to ensure equitable access not just to land, but the economy and other areas of life where the majority of our people lag behind. If we don’t, it is likely that the same patterns of poverty and unemployment will continue to play out and become worse.
While the world around us is in constant flux, no country is an island.
At our core, we all need each other, as individuals and sovereign countries around the world. We ought to be able to come around the table and address that which the other may not understand about the other.
Other parts of the US Executive Order state that all executive departments and agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development, shall, to the maximum extent allowed by law, halt foreign aid or assistance delivered or provided to South Africa, and shall promptly exercise all available authorities and discretion to halt such aid or assistance.
Despite this, our executive has not closed the door on dialogue.
“We reiterate that South Africa remains committed to finding diplomatic solutions to any misunderstandings or disputes,” said the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola.
We are under no illusions that the world is not without adversity and that the road ahead is unpredictable.
“By staying true to our values, by harnessing our unique strengths and endowments, and by forging a common purpose, we can turn these trying circumstances to our advantage and propel our country forward. As South Africans, we stand for peace and justice, for equality and solidarity,” the President said in his SONA address.
This Valentine’s Day and beyond, may we not only spare a petal or stem to signify our love for our country, but work alongside government to impart skills, create jobs, inspire investor confidence and grow an economy that works for all. -SAnews.gov.za
