Demand more as we celebrate 20 years of democracy

25 April 2014 - 10:09 By The Times Editorial
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On Sunday we will celebrate 20 years since we put this country on a new path. In 1994, we laid the foundation for a democratic state that promised to improve the lives of the formerly oppressed.

We must use this anniversary to reassess our role in taking South Africa to a higher level. Our appraisal should be frank and honest. We need to do this to fix the wrongs and multiply the successes.

As a nation we should not only celebrate, but look in the mirror and deal with what we see.

When we reminisce about April 27 1994, we must remember the sacrifices we made to move from a troubled nation to where we are today. Our story is not yet complete, and will never be as long as the basic needs of our people are not met.

The government should strive at all times to be alive to the contesting needs of the country. It should find a balance and stop looking backwards. We appreciate and value where we come from, but today's needs demand that we act and find solutions speedily. That is why the coming elections should be about where we are taking South Africa. The polls should be about the next phase of our revolution. The ANC leadership should be aware of this. Gone are the days when people sang and danced; now they demand services and a responsive government.

It is through service to this nation that South Africa will become a better place in which to live. April 27 should be a new chapter for this country, and we should not be shy to demand better of our leaders.

We have a mixed bag of stories to tell about the journey we have travelled in the past 20 years. We should shape the next 20 years and insist that those who will lead us into the future have the requisite qualifications.

South Africa has reason to celebrate on Sunday, but we should also learn from the mistakes we made.

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