Finding ubuntu amidst turmoil
On Monday last week, further civil unrest rose in our nation as we woke up to the news of trucks being burnt, roads being blocked, shops being looted and our everyday lives being brought to halt. An ominous atmosphere could be tangibly felt in the pits of our stomachs and our nation.
Not only were we facing the third wave of the coronavirus, but we were also experiencing more than documented 20,000 new corona cases daily, and most people could name someone that they knew who was hospitalized, in critical condition, or had sadly lost their battle to COVID-19.
In an unprecedented ruling, our Constitutional Court had ordered our former President Jacob Zuma to be incarcerated for fifteen months. The decision marks a victory to the rule of law for some. To others, it is an indication of our loss of appreciation for the former leader of the military wing that contributed to the freedom so many South Africans enjoy today.
The protests began with the former president’s followers threatening to bring the nation to a standstill. The events spiraled into an effervescence of violence that can easily be compared to many protests and scenes that were only familiar to South Africans during the 1990s. The tensions of pollical anarchy placed the country on the brink of a state of emergency.
To give context to the weight of the apprehensions, the backdrop of the current economic climate is of great significance. South Africa globally leads the pack on the inequality of income distribution across our population. In other words, the gap between the extremely wealthy and the extremely poor is the largest in the world as reported by the World Bank.
Many argue that the gap is a result of the government’s failure to create opportunities for communities that previously suffered oppression during Apartheid. The compounding effect of the Covid-19 has marked the further loss of jobs to the nation, especially in disenfranchised communities.
Small businesses have been closed down and as a nation, we have a deep sense of grief as we mourn and process the loss of loved ones. Small businesses and entrepreneurs had naturally felt the brunt of lost capacity due to losing staff. Regulations set also contributed to decreased trading activity and a decline in revenues.
As a result, businesses were in crisis and the added blow of the violence that swept our streets was untimely, to say the least. The extent of financial exclusion in our country means that many of the businesses affected were not covered by insurance. The businesses pose too much risk based on the profile of the entrepreneur or the position of the business.
Picture: Timothy Bernard/African News Agency
As a country that has survived much trouble and turmoil, we are hopeful to rise to calls to rebuild our nation. In Mzansi (our endeared name for our South Africa), we see the rising once more of the spirit of Ubuntu.
The entrepreneurs who operate our taxi industry are infamously known for their solidarity which has many times brought our country’s economy to a halt. Outside of a bus and train system that operates as a primary mode of transport, we rely on the industry to transport the working class to and from work.
In support of the economical restoration that is required for all, the industry has taken to the streets. They are joining our police and army that have been outnumbered to restore order. Convoys of their taxis can be seen paroling the streets. Other citizens can be seen sweeping the streets and clearing rubble.
Residents of Gaunteng helping to clean up after looters. Picture: Abigail Javier/Eyewitness News.
Volunteers have rallied around entrepreneurs and businesses to identify those who have been most affected. People are raising their hands to contribute to the restoration of our economy and jobs. In one of our townships which are closest to what is known to be the richest square in the mile in Africa, inequality is at its highest.
Community members in the townships have reported those who were seen with stolen goods being carried into their shacks to the local police and the army. Despite knowing the looters as sons, daughters and friends, they played their part in restoring order and calm.
Many businesses are offering their services to reinstate other businesses, as others offer financial assistance. An entrepreneur who owns a business in property in a township was interviewed. When questioned about his outlook after the looting, he said: “The extent of damage to my property is great, I need to rebuild. But where opportunities are lost, others are born”. Entrepreneurs dare to stake their living during uncertain times. They see opportunities where others lose hope. These people create solutions amid damage and destruction. The highest caliber of entrepreneurs builds resistance and tenacity.
The adversity that South Africans share cannot be denied. Racial tensions, corruption, joblessness, poverty, inequality, tribalism, and the list goes on. But the spirit that resides in a nation that daily wins and loses these battles, in the hope of building a country worth every life that was lost for us to live in our democratic country.
We find unity in the restoration that comes with building a beautiful country that we can all call home. Our highest currency is no longer our rand because though money goes a long way, where resources are scarce, the support of the community is literally a lifeline. This is the essence of ubuntu, motho ke motho ka batho, umuntu umuntu nga bantu, I am because you are.
By Okhela Ntsamai