IF I WERE THE PRES

Politicians are gearing up and posters everywhere. ANC faces difficult times, mostly related to credibility. So I was wondering what must be going through the president's mind. I think he is a good bloke in an impossible situation; what he could possibly say to swing votes: He goes populist and international investors squeal and he will not be able to deliver. He does what must be done, and he risks losing the masses. I personally think the time for truths is way overdue, so I thought it would be fun to write my version...

"My fellow South Africans. In just over a month the country goes to our 6th annual general elections and you will vote for who you think should lead us out of these difficult times. And they are difficult times no doubt. The world is going through difficult times, Africa is going through difficult times, and here in South Africa, I would be lying to you if I tried to convince you otherwise.

The ANC led our people out of the shackles of oppression, and few will say that the lives of all those once oppressed, is a long way from where it was before. But I am not coming now to boast of achievements. I am respectfully asking for forgiveness because along the way, we have made mistakes.

The government made mistakes. Our very members made many very serious mistakes. The private sector made mistakes, caring more for profit than people. The media made mistakes, covering stories and incidents from polarized perspectives. And you too made mistakes, not shouting loud and long enough when we let you down.

We all know where we are, and we all know it is not going to be easy. But we will have no hope of getting there if we don’t start somewhere. And that somewhere I believe, is the truth. There have been too many lies, skewed facts and an endless parade of lawyers. It has got to stop.

Corruption, xenophobia, violent crime; we have the laws to deal with them. They are there. It is not the constitution or our laws that are at fault. It is the way we implement them. They have been bent for power. They have been twisted by money. They are manipulated for investment in both. And the true facts have been smeared and blurred, bleeding our country.

The Zondo Commission has done incredible work digging up criminality and devious behaviour, but we cannot wait until their work is done; at this stage we do not know how deep the rabbit hole goes. I believe you like me, suspect it goes everywhere, with everyone at some stage either directly or indirectly being touched, contributing or being involved.

I am not saying we are bad people. Exactly the opposite. But the machines we feed, run by us collectively, sometimes could have Machiavellian drivers which hurt society. In government, many say too many have too much power. But realistically, what is the alternative? We have just gone through a period where too much power was short sighted. But instead of diving for cover, we need to regain your trust and therefore should face scrutiny, me included. Yes, I too have made mistakes. We need to win back your trust, and that can only be by our actions. In the private sector, there too it is the top echelons that juggle with our nation's fate. Every time a man is retrenched or laid off, his life and that of his family are threatened; when directors receive enormous bonuses and incentives at the same time, it is not right. You have the firepower and resources and should stand beside us, making the right decisions to reignite consumerism, not contributing to unemployment. If to get elected, I am to make promises to you which I know we can’t keep, then we must be defeated for speaking the truth. If people benefitting from the gravy train are the majority, and want me to keep things heading in the same direction, then I wouldn’t want to be elected. But if you can face reality square in the face, and stand with us to do what must be done to make our country strong, knowing full well that at times hard and unpopular decisions will be made - and it is going to take time - I promise no more lies, no more sugar-coating, and no more corruption tolerated. We will weather this storm, just as we did the years of apartheid. We shall overcome, and together will rebuild an honest, transparent, ethical, and moral country, held on course by our constitution, steered by law, order and justice for all, and powered by me, you, and the dreams our wonderful nation. Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika."