Run on numbers: How South Africa's decline affects its poorest citizens

In the world of personal finance in South Africa, we are concerned about making ends meet. We need bread on the table, we need to save as much as we can, and one of our highest priorities is to ensure that our children will be better off than us. Saving is extremely difficult, but it helps to make use of the cheapest means of transport, and it is gratifying to see our children acquire an education that will assist them for the rest of their working life to ensure financial freedom. Financial liberty does not come in a matchbox, but it is to be found in dedicated, arduous work.

1.  Anarchy is seen as a situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society, because there is no effective government. Another term that is becoming more of a topic of discussion is that of a failed state.

A failed state is a state that is unable to perform the two fundamental functions of the sovereign nation-state in the modern world system: it cannot project authority over its territory and peoples, and it cannot protect its national boundaries. The governing capacity of a failed state is attenuated such that it is unable to fulfil the administrative and organizational tasks required to control people and resources and can provide only minimal public services. In addition, the state holds a mandate to protect and maintain our national assets.

The recent events show that we are not making progress. President Ramaphosa declares an economic emergency. This follows shortly after his call for a national debate, while the government wants to talk, but what is needed is decisive leadership. A general leads from the front with action. Decisiveness goes beyond speed; it’s about self-confidence, clarity, and execution. 

 2. Not even a full-scale war on the country could have inflicted more damage to a network of over 30,000km (18,600 miles) of track and station building infrastructure. South Africa has shamefully allowed incompetent management to allow the destruction of a proud and efficient working institution. Speaking at an inspection of newly refurbished train stations in Cape Town, Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) Fikile Mbalula vowed to take much tougher measures to protect the vital infrastructure. "Some of the vandalism that happened here went on unabated… we can't say by who because nobody is arrested, but clearly there are vested interests.”  Mbalula is as high up in the ruling party as one can get, and this response is not what citizens want to hear and see. They would much rather see him take the bull by the horns as opposed to talking about the bull. 

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, described the events and destruction of property at Fort Hare University as deeply concerning. Manamela stated: "We remain concerned about the destruction of property and acts of violence and condemn in the strongest terms actions that rob future generations of learning opportunities and divert scarce resources from improving the quality of education in our country," The minister welcomed the deployment of community and church leaders by the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, and stressed the importance of proportionate law enforcement.

3. Decisive leaders inspire confidence, nurture accountability, and create cultures where teams thrive under clear direction. The latest revelation by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has once again shocked the country. The mere existence and need for a special investigation unit to address political killings is already something that is an embarrassment to our country. To hear that political interference has taken place to disband the unit is very disturbing. The revelations by General Mkwanazi show us how broken and ineffective the police force has become, starting right at the top. We also have to deal with the suspicious death of a former police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, shining the light of our police shortcomings on the entire world. This all came soon after the death of South African soldiers on a Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has sparked fierce debate about the deployment of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers there. Some, including political parties, have questioned whether the soldiers were adequately trained, equipped, and supported. 

Rail journalist David Williams previously detailed the worrying condition of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa’s) network in a report for the Brenthurst Foundation.. 

According to a report for the Brenthurst Foundation: “Transnet was once seen as the only potential leader of regional railway revitalisation and growth. However, after Transnet’s two decades of decline because of bad policy, incompetent management, and corruption, it is a shadow of its former self. To make matters worse, because of the outdated ideology that still plagues South Africa’s ruling ANC, Transnet remains behind its neighbours in seizing opportunities to engage in PPPs.”

4.  Passenger trips have dropped from 634 million to the present levels of 40 million. The eroding of state capacity to deliver affordable transport is of such a magnitude that it is difficult to believe that such value destruction was not deliberate but merely incompetence. As South Africa has such a huge gap between the poorest of the poor and the wealthy, it is hard to believe that a political party could harm the section of the population that they professed to uplift. 

Here’s a cost comparison for traveling from Mitchells Plain to Cape Town CBD:

• PRASA Train: ±R10–R12
• Minibus Taxi: R25–R35
• Uber (UberX): R150–R190

Transport costs from Roodepoort to Johannesburg CBD (Park Station):

• PRASA Train: ±R10
• Minibus Taxi: R25–R45
• Uber (UberX): R110–R140

The neglect of the government has failed the poorest of the poor, as is clear from the above.

5.  Copper theft has become a significant problem in South Africa, with organized crime syndicates playing a major role in the illicit market. The theft of copper cables and other metals from public infrastructure not only disrupts essential services but also poses a serious threat to the country’s economic stability. Reports indicate that the economic damage from copper theft alone is estimated to exceed R45 billion annually, with some estimates suggesting the total cost to the economy could be as high as R200 billion per year.

News articles in 2023 claimed that “entitled High-ranking Eskom execs are linked to sabotage at power stations.” We have yet to see the claims of sabotage at Eskom to be properly investigated. 

6. What does the law say about treason?

High treason is defined as any unlawful conduct by a person who owes allegiance to the state, with the intention of:

• “Overthrowing the government of the Republic.
• Coercing the government through violence into any action or inaction.
• Violating, threatening, or endangering the existence, independence, or security of the Republic.
• Changing the constitutional structure of the Republic.”

There are many instances in South Africa where, due to the state's failure to take control of situations, citizens have taken the law into their own hands. Operation Dudula has been involved in several instances of violence against African immigrants in South African townships, including forcibly closing shops and raiding properties. Necklacing was to punish its members who were perceived as collaborators with the previous government. The country does not want to slip back into those practices. 

* Kruger is an independent analyst.

** The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Personal Finance or Independent Newspapers.

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