Enough with this ticking bomb nonsense                          

                 

With 2014 being the 20^th anniversary of our young democracy, I believe it is of great importance that we as a country remember who we are, what we are capable of and where we come from. I am of the view that a clear understanding of the above three factors will help us shape the South Africa we all dream of, a South Africa free from poverty, HIV/AIDS, youth unemployment and corruption both in the public and private sector. However in order for us to realise our dream as a country, we need to stop blaming the past, but learn from the Tambos, Mandelas and Fischers of the previous generation. It was Frantz Fanon who said that, “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.” I believe that the time is ripe for us as young South Africans to formulate a response to our current political, social and economic challenges.

Ours is a great nation that suffers deeply from forgetfulness, we seem to remember not our greatest victories but only the ones we lost. We forgot how with only stones in our hands defeated a monster called Apartheid that was armed with guns and teargas. How we are the first nation in Africa to host successfully the 2010 FIFA World cup and how peaceful eleven cultures and a mixture of religions are all represented in one country without violence or anarchy.

I believe that one of the reasons we have such huge challenges in the country is because the pen is no longer used to encourage the weak, inspire those in despair and give hope to the hopeless. But the pen today is used to deceive, steal hope from people’s hearts and push them into panic mode. It is this new writing that has no conviction that encourages a pessimistic language to be on people’s tongues, it is such writing that encourages unanointed prophets of doom to declare that ours is country sitting on a ticking boom.

It was Biko’s Frank Talk that comforted the souls of the both young and old, giving them the passport to dream of a better South Africa.  We have within the country’s DNA, attributes that can move us from a good nation to the greatest nation on the face of the earth. But before we can get there, we need to start believing in present and future of our country, for I heard a preacher say that sometimes the greatest human weakness is in not believing.

So from me to you, enough of this nonsense, enough with this ticking bomb speech. Enough with I am moving to Australia attitude, enough with all this cynical writing and speech that has been circulating within our media space. Let us return to who we are at core, Conquers. Let us return to our speech, Amandla!! Awethu!! And most importantly let us forget that which separate us from the west, Ubuntu.

In conclusion South Africa is indeed a great country; the challenges we face do not define us but are testament of great exploits waiting in our path. May we become a county flaunt in the language of hope, may we rise above our mountains and give the world a more human face.

Mpho ledwaba is a hopeful youth that aims on pushing South Africa Forward one article at a time.