A government that toys with the public plays with fire

Accountability is a profound word. When a government is not accountable, revolution is almost sure to follow.

Governments that take it lightly run the risk of fomenting anger among their people. In South Africa, our leaders are playing with fire. They are like children with a hand grenade.

In the past few weeks, we have seen how the word "accountability" is no longer part of the state's vocabulary.

Our leaders refuse to be accountable

From the National Council of Provinces chairman Thandi Modise to Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, our leaders offer no proper apology for the most shocking of mistakes.

Modise stands accused of animal abuse after the pigs on her farm were so starved they ate each other. Rather than a real apology, we hear stories about how she is the victim of some-or-other political conspiracy.

Muthambi tells the nation that the appointment of Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the permanent chief operations officer of the SABC is rational, even though he has been found to have lied about passing matric. Muthambi does not seem to realise she is a public servant. We are her employer, but she ignores us.

The corruption that plagues this country would largely vanish if only there was accountability.

If the ANC wants to honour the legacy of the members who brought it into power, it should bring transparency and accountability back.

We cannot have a situation in which political leaders waste taxpayers' money on defending their bad decisions in court rather than spending it on service delivery.

Accountability goes a long way in shaping the nation and we cannot afford leaders who act, and act unwisely, with impunity.

Rather than write angry letters to newspapers, we should make our outrage clear to President Jacob Zuma.

As the head of state, he is expected to lead by example.

If there is accountability at the top, then there will be accountability at all levels.

We demand accountability. Nothing less is acceptable.