They pulled no punches, they were honest in their assessment of the troubles plaguing South Africa and they did not shy away from providing possible solutions. These were some of the hallmarks of the inaugural annual public lecture by Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Suzanne Paxton and Prof Somadoda Fikeni that was hosted by the executive committee of the Convocation of the North-West University (NWU).
Dr Fraser-Moleketi is a former Minister of Public Service and Administration and the current chair of the United Nations Commitee of the Experts on Public Administration, Suzanne is a senior producer, journalist and presenter for the SABC and RSG, while Prof Fikeni is chairperson of the Public Service Commission. The lecture, titled "Building State Capacity for Economic, Political and Social Stability", was moderated by famed television presenter Lourensa Eckard.
All three presenters pointed to the Springboks’ triumph during the recently held IRB Rugby World Cup and elucidated how it served nation building and advanced social cohesion.
They also agreed that – in general – there has been a hollowing out of exceptional leadership at political level, with public political disengagement as well as a lack of active citizenship becoming increasingly prevalent.
“We are on a slippery slope in South Africa,” Dr Fraser-Moleketi said. According to her, institution building that endures is imperative for an effective public state.
She also emphasised that if it is not the intention of leadership to serve the people, they should not allow themselves to be in political leadership positions, adding that if public servants become politicised, the public service suffers.
Prof Fikeni was unequivocal in his statement that, along the way, those in power have lost their way and that their moral fibre has become depleted. He explained that there is a legitimacy crisis due to a lack of performance from the public sector and that the appointment of people loyal to the ruling party instead of on the basis of their expertise has come back to haunt the country.
Suzanne highlighted why it is important for citizens to participate in the democratic process by making their voices heard and using the various channels at their disposal.
“If people are not getting what they want from the government, why are they not participating or why are they not taking responsibility for their decisions? We need to set goals for ourselves. At the moment we are drifting,” she said.
The speakers agreed that active, engaged citizenship is best for correcting the country’s course.
Prof Fikeni: “We are far from 1994 and we are far from what we aspired to achieve. We have lost our imagination, we must reimagine.”
Dr Fraser-Moleketi could not have said it more eloquently when she reiterated that: “We must separate the party from the state. The state is not the party. We must make a difference for the beautiful ones yet to be born.”
From left are Bert Sorgdrager, NWU Council chairperson, Lourensa Eckard, television presenter, Prof Somadoda Fikeni, chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, chair of the United Nations Commitee of the Experts on Public Administration, and Suzanne Paxton, senior producer, journalist and presenter for the SABC and RSG.
