South Africa is tired of empty promises from all the parties

Promises turn into lies if they are not kept. We saw a number of political parties launch their election manifestos over the weekend. The question that preoccupies us is whether the parties will be able to deliver on their promises.

It is too easy to come up with an impressive list of things to do, knowing too well that it's just a pipe dream that will fizzle out soon after the elections.

For far too long citizens have fallen for those with the gift of the gab, and citizens have paid dearly. The time has cometo interrogate what these different manifestos say to us. It does not help this democracy and our future if we allow politicians to continue making promises they won't honour.

From the ANC to the smallest provincial party, there are impressive manifestos that would give hope to every voter out there.

We have been told how millions of our people will be employed and how corruption will be crushed, but all the talk and the rallies are short on detail.

The ANC speaks about job opportunities and the DA speaks about 6million jobs. Others promise to nationalise key assets of the economy. All of the above fail to answer the question: Is this right for our economy?

In the global world in which we live, it is imperative that we look beyond our borders.

Growing the economy and giving our people a chance to make a living will take South Africa to another level.

It would help if the electorate would begin to ask difficult questions of their leaders and scrutinise the documents that are paraded around.

The sacrifices and dreams of our past leaders were for us not to be spectators in the building of this country. The majority of the electorate still does not bother to go through the promises presented and the reality under which they live.

As we prepare to vote in the coming elections, it will do us good if we scrutinise the manifestos and ask hard questions. Politics of insults should be a thing of the past. Let's discuss real issues.