Poverty stalks the heartland of our country. It is a human-imposed affliction, which only the organised and empowered population can eradicate.

Poverty is not merely the lack of food, shelter and clothing. It is also the absence of opportunities, infrastructure and safety.

This includes the absence of safe drinking water, reliable electricity, effective mass transport, road, quality educational institutions and accessible healthcare.

We know that our land is endowed with natural resources and ranks as one of the richest nations in Africa.

Yet, the mass of our people live in squalor and our children are denied a future.

We have a clique, a handful of unscrupulous elite, who enjoy our resources. This horrendous situation cannot be allowed to continue.

Our democracy is in dire peril. Genuine democracy is about transparency and accountability in government.

Corruption has been and remains the major source preventing economic growth and stability in our nation.

The very structure of our politics is top-heavy, concentrating too much power in too few hands.

This increases the chance of power being misused and manipulated for varied interests, bypassing the common good.

We are all nauseated by the epidemic proportions that corruption and poverty have acquired in South Africa.