AFRICANEWS
SOUTH AFRICABishops write to Mandelaby the South African Bishops(1,280 words)
Your Excellency the President, Mr Nelson R. Mandela, And all people of goodwill in South Africa.
The MiracleThe Catholic Church in South Africa rejoiced with the nation at the miracle that saw a relatively peaceful transition from the scourge of apartheid to a new democratic dispensation. The April 1994 election can be seen as the high point of that miracle, an election that ushered in a new democratic government of national unity. This process was further enhanced by the selection of nine provincial legislatures, and the local elections, which established new local authorities. The pinnacle of this ongoing miracle was the signing into law in December 1996 by yourself, Mr President, of a new constitution, a constitution that is universally recognized as one of the most progressive and democratic in the world. Nevertheless, Mr President, we take the liberty of not agreeing with Section 1212](a) on the absolute right over reproduction. Despite this reservation, we recognize that the constitution underpins a significant shift from the supremacy of parliament to the rule of constitutionalism. The bill of rights is the cornerstone of that new constitution, and for the first time affords protection to all people in the country. Yes indeed, our country has come a long way, and God has blessed this land abundantly.
Ongoing StruggleHowever, one runs the risk of sitting back in complacency and assuming that all is well with South Africa. Nothing could be further from the truth. We realise that the former government, in its attempts to cling to power unjustly, disregarded ethical rules and values. This resulted in the erosion of values and diminished the notion of what is right and wrong. So while the struggle for democratic rule in this land has succeeded, the deeper struggle to regain that sense of right and wrong has hardly begun. It has simply moved into a new phase. There are many aspects of the new South Africa that are still in dire need of transformation - an undertaking that should see persons in government taking the lead. Chief among these aspects are crime and corruption. These two phenomena on their own have the potential of undermining most of the good work achieved to date.
CrimeThere is no doubt that the fight against crime is a fight that involves the whole community. The establishment of community police forums, the proposed tightening of gun control and tile changing of the image of our police force to one of service are all encouraging signs that working together can make an impact on the incidence of crime. However, there is no quick easy fix, and the fight against crime is a long term struggle.
CorruptionAs much as crime is visible in our society, the second threat to our fledgling nation is often invisible, and that is corruption. There is no doubt that the new government inherited both corrupt officials and corrupt systems. The question that must be asked is: are those corrupt individuals and systems being exposed and dealt with or are they being allowed to continue? By corruption we mean the use of one's public position for personal gain at the expense of that same public and the neglect of duties by those elected or appointed to perform them. Often it is difficult to root out corrupt individuals because they form part of a network of corrupt people working together for their own personal enrichment. The fear is that those who are new in the administration may all too easily fall prey to these systems, either succumbing to the offers of bribery that are seemingly too lucrative to be refused or, silenced by intimidation, not daring to expose the levels of corruption that they have discovered. This holds true also for the private sector. In both cases, public and private, the consequences are tragic for the youth of the country for whom elected representatives and successful business people are often role models.
Pledge of TransparencyWhat has to be applauded in the new South Africa is the government's commitment to transparency and openness, in keeping with a truly democratic process. Not only does this commitment distinguish the new administration from past regimes but it has put us in line with democratic practice- in many parts of the world. In the light of recent developments, however, questions arise about this commitment Here are a few examples.
Transparency and the Democratic ProcessIt is discouraging to hear the allegation that two and a half years down the line there is still a large number of civil servants who do not exist but continue to draw salaries. Likewise the allegation a major corruption in the pension system is cause for concern. The fact that not only students have been accused of cheating in the recent matriculation examinations, but even teachers and officials of the Department of Education, leaves us wondering where our country is heading. On the political front there are also developments that give cause for concern The handling of the Patrick Lekota case, for example, is a clear instance of a lack of transparency within the ruling Party something that affects all citizens.
The MalaiseWe are sadly forced to draw the conclusion that South Africa is perpetuating the moral wasteland from which we thought we were emerging as we stepped out of the wreckage of the past. Crime and corruption contribute to a deep malaise that is eating away at the fibre of our society. As a nation we have to stand together and say, ENOUGH! We must begin to put into place strategies that will challenge these abuses of power that threaten the legitimate expectations of our people. While significant progress has been made in combating crime little or no progress seems evident in whether it is getting worse.We acknowledge the steps that are being taken by the government, but question whether they are sufficient to halt the burgeoning culture of corruption and entitlement that seems to be sweeping all strata of society. As this lack of promised transparency impacts negatively on the whole nation, as a Church we feel we have a right as well as a responsibility to bring these matters to your attention.
Recognition of GoodWe recognise and gratefully acknowledge the good work that has been done in such a short time in areas such as land reform, the provision of water and electrification. If we as Church sometimes sound critical as regards certain issues, let it not be construed as lack of appreciation for the laudable strides that have been made in some areas. Rather, let it be understood as a powerful sign of our serious commitment in common with government policy, to work for the common good of all our people. This is really only possible in a truly transparent, open and democratic society - the vow kind of society we are all committed to building and respecting.
The Commitment of The ChurchMr President, we realise that you cannot shoulder this burden alone. We are prepared to work hand in hand with official agencies in fighting this culture of corruption that has become so widespread. Our Church is committed to work towards the restoration of respect for the dignity of the human person, for only when people have a genuine respect for themselves will they be able to contribute to the building of the nation we all desire.We are worried about our country. We are worried that the present levels of corruption if allowed to continue unchallenged, will destroy our dream of a truly democratic, free and caring society. Wishing you all God's blessings, Yours sincerely,
Bishop L. N. Ndlovu OSM
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