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<\/p>\nRabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za<\/p>\n
01 April 2025<\/p>\n
3 minute read<\/p>\n
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In his opinion piece on where South Africa would be in 2025, Dr Pali Lehohla, professor of practice at the University of Johannesburg and former Statistician General of SA, says that the country saw the lowest annual growth rate this past year.<\/p>\n
While democracy was inclusive, growth was not, says Dr Lehohla. Governance structures were put in place, but the economy did not deliver. The \u201cShosholoza scenario\u201d came into play in the early 2000\u2019s and this culminated in economic growth at 6%, and a drop in unemployment for about 4 years within SA. Between 2002 and 2008, government still had control of possible outcomes.<\/p>\n
According to Dr Lehohla, the worst-case scenario in government for 2025; \u201cgwara-gwara\u201d or \u201cvulture culture\u201d has become a reality. He cited the example of a Basotho chief\u2019s philosophy, upon which the Basotho nation is built, which states that \u201cin the pursuit for peace, mobilising stakeholders, creating productivity, and guaranteeing inter-generational value through use of modern instruments of power,\u201d resulting in the country of Lesotho, a nation built on peace.<\/p>\n
Dr Lehohla states that \u201cVAT is not the way to go\u201d and questions whether the agreement to a rise in VAT by the ANC and the DA was a \u201cbargaining chip\u201d for the DA who is possibly \u201chankering for power\u201d. Our \u201copportunistic and incoherent\u201d leadership has led to irresponsible deals being made.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave we secured this country?\u201d he asks. With the health infrastructure crumbling and the implementation of the NHI being pushed aside, the inaccessible and unaffordable education system, as well as Trump trying to cause division amongst the citizens of South Africa, Dr Lehohla feels that we have taken some serious \u201cmissteps in nation building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Going forward, the doctor says that the question of whether we have responsible leadership in SA needs to be answered. We need the \u201cfreedom to act without fear,\u201d to fight for the society we so relentlessly fought for in the past.<\/p>\n