Driven into a corner and unable to react to challenges posed by opposition parties and critics, governments across the world tend to enact laws to shield themselves from scrutiny.
South Africa today finds itself in a situation in which the ruling party tries to pass laws and declarations that deal with the immediate needs of today. However, it fails to look beyond the current crop of leaders whose positions will come to an end soon.
Attempts by ANC MPs last week to change parliamentary rules on the dress code were exposed and dealt with. The proposed rules had nothing to do with enriching our democracy or adding value to our laws, but had everything to do with factional politics.
The people of South Africa should reject any attempt by any party to pass legislation aimed at fighting narrow battles.
Why should we have rules aimed at preventing the Economic Freedom Fighters' MPs from interrupting President Jacob Zuma when he delivers the State of the Nation speech?
It cannot be that a constitutional democracy can be tampered with by those whose mission is to remain relevant to a faction that holds power. What happens when those being protected move out of office?
We expect the ruling party to show maturity and give direction .
Our failure to look into the horizon will always give rise to a temptation to see challenges from opponents as overwhelming, thus needing total onslaught.
Our past history and how leaders such as former president Nelson Mandela used state power should be a lesson to all.
Those who adopted a total solution to the black problem failed in their mission and only those with a vision ran a full mile and realised their goals.
Our leaders today have a duty to look beyond EFF and its leader Julius Malema. South Africa needs leaders with vision and not reactionaries.
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