South Africa’s real crisis: Mr President, it’s time for a family meeting

South Africa is standing at a critical crossroads.

The recent headlines have been dominated by the outcry over a few dozen South Africans, described loosely as "Africans," who accepted an opportunity to relocate to the United States in search of a better life for their families.

This has been treated as a national scandal, a media frenzy that conveniently diverts attention from the harsh reality millions of South Africans face daily.

While we debate the choices of fifty-odd individuals, the true scandal lies in the staggering unemployment rate in South Africa, which now hovers just under 33%.

That is one in every three people without a job.

For our youth, the situation is even more dire, with nearly two-thirds of young South Africans locked out of economic participation.

This is the real crisis.

Where is the outrage for the millions of South Africans without work, without hope, and without a future in their own country?

The exodus of skilled and ambitious South Africans is not new.

It is a symptom of a far deeper malaise: systemic failure of leadership, governance, and delivery. South Africans are tired of promises.

They are tired of hollow words and endless commissions of inquiry. What they need now is decisive leadership and a credible plan to turn this country around.

Mr President, it is time for one of your famous “family meetings.” But this time, not to talk about lockdown regulations or COVID statistics.

This time, you need to face the nation with honesty about the state of our country, and more importantly, what you and your government are going to do to fix it.

We are not asking for miracles.

We are demanding accountability.

Joblessness in South Africa is not a new phenomenon. It is the culmination of years of policy paralysis, corruption, state capture, and a lack of visionary leadership.

The reality is brutal: South Africans are leaving because they no longer see a future here. That is the real tragedy.

That is what should be keeping our media, our politicians, and our President awake at night.

And yet, the issues dominating the public discourse remain disconnected from the lived experience of ordinary citizens.

We see municipalities collapsing under the weight of corruption and incompetence. Basic services have become luxuries.

In Johannesburg, a symbol of African modernity, sinkholes are swallowing streets, right in the city that is preparing to host the prestigious G20 Summit.

Is this the image we wish to present to the world?Crime has spiralled out of control.

Load shedding continues to paralyse businesses and stifle economic growth.

Infrastructure is crumbling. Hospitals, schools, roads, and water systems are deteriorating before our eyes.

How can we, in good conscience, lecture those who choose to seek a better life elsewhere?Mr President, the people of South Africa are your stakeholders.

Before you address the global investor community, before you embark on yet another international charm offensive, you owe it to the people of this country to address their needs first.

Investors will only come if they see a country that believes in itself, with leadership that is serious about growth, job creation, and stability.

You often speak about the “social compact.” But what social compact can exist when millions are excluded from the economy?

When citizens feel abandoned and hopeless?

The time for talking is over. The time for acting is now.

We need a credible, actionable plan to stimulate job creation.

We need to cut through red tape, make it easier for small businesses to thrive, and invest in sectors that can absorb large numbers of workers ,sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure development, and the green economy.

We need to empower entrepreneurs, not overwhelm them under layers of bureaucracy. Equally important, we need to restore the rule of law.

Crime and corruption are not just moral issues; they are economic ones. Investors and citizens alike will not invest in a country where the rule of law is optional, and accountability is a rare exception.

South Africans want to believe in their country again.

They want to feel that staying here, building here, and raising their children here is worth the effort. But they need to see leadership that matches their resilience.This is a desperate call for hope. For direction.

For leadership.It is easy to criticise those who leave. It is much harder to build a country they would want to stay in.

The task of nation-building cannot be outsourced. It falls squarely on the shoulders of those elected to lead.

Mr President, the time has come for less talk and more action.

You owe the people of South Africa more than carefully crafted speeches and symbolic gestures.

You owe them hope: grounded in reality, backed by concrete plans, and delivered with urgency.We are calling on you to convene the nation.

To have a real family meeting. To acknowledge the crisis, take responsibility, and present a plan that gives every South African a reason to believe in this country again.

Our people deserve that. Our democracy demands it.

The time is now.

Adri Senekal de Wet is Independent Media’s editor-in-chief.

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