There are many reasons to believe in South Africa and to keep the flames of hope burning alive even while the naysayers and doomsday prophets shout out failed state slogans.
Us South Africans are a resilient bunch, and there’s almost nothing that can knock us down. When the punches keep rolling, we stand there and absorb each and every one, only to come out stronger from the fight.
Rising costs of living, diminishing salaries, interest rate hikes, fuel price increases, corruption, crime, disparity, and poverty encompass our everyday living and we could have easily given in a long time ago.
The flames of democracy and a new vision for a united South Africa that burned so brightly after the 1994 elections seem to be just embers on a dying fire but as News24’s writers point out in the publication’s Friday Briefing, there is still cause for great optimism over the country’s future.
Political analyst, professor Tinyiko Maluleke writes about our deep love of the country and how it keeps us captive to the promise of a better future. One Movement SA leader Mmusi Maimane writes that the next generation of South Africans will steer the ship onto the correct course even though there is just concern for our current course.
Business Unity South Africa’s Cas Coovadia calls on civil society to help government lead the way in turning the country around as does UCT vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng while highlighting how students struggle with poverty and what society can do to lessen inequality.
While Qaanitah Hunter writes about how she thinks South Africa won’t suffer the same fate as Venezuela and become a failed state.
Take some time today and over the weekend to read the diverse range of thoughts compiled in the Friday Briefing, it’s well worth remembering that our country is worth fighting for and that there is so much more we can all do to lead us towards prosperity.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
BRUCE WHITFIELD: Looking for calm, Absa appoints an insider as boss – Financial Mail
SA has no idea of the consequences of siding with an autocratic war criminal – Business Day
TERRY CRAWFORD-BROWNE: Nato is responsible for the consequences of Russia-Ukraine war – Business Day
PATRICK BULGER | Confidence to burn: parliament votes for itself in histrionic session – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
EDITORIAL | SA’s future is in your hands, Masemola. Let’s hope you’re cop to it – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
How to eat Russia’s oil lunch – curtail its share of the global energy market – Daily Maverick
Spectrum at last – and the strange beast that is the South African civil service – Daily Maverick
