Leaders our weak link: iLIVE

Wits academic Chris Malekane hit the nail on the head ("Pay freeze would slash tax revenue by R5-billion - economist" October 19).

Eighteen years since South Africa's democratic breakthrough, Malekane unequivocally argues: "The crisis in our country will not be resolved through 'voluntarism'. It requires a strong, revolutionary leadership that is unafraid to implement what the people want - which is the Freedom Charter."

Evidently, devastation caused by centuries of colonialism and decades of apartheid cannot be changed by cosmetic reforms.

The fault lines of poverty, unemployment and inequality demand full implementation of the Freedom Charter as a prerequisite for a better life for all.

Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi often refers to South Africa's "Lula moment".

Unfortunately, Vavi has not understood the missing link in South Africa's democratic transition.

The missing link correctly identified by Malekane is a strong, revolutionary leadership that is unafraid to implement what the people want.

The critical question we need to ask, though, is: Does South Africa have such leadership?

Can the Mangaung conference be seen as a beacon of hope to deliver what we need?

There are two necessary conditions for the strong, unafraid revolutionary leadership.

The first prerequisite is that such leaders must not be corrupt.

The second is that they must have an impeccable revolutionary track record.

Leaders must not be compromised by the apartheid regime.

The invisible shackles of apartheid will forever make compromised individuals eternal cowards.