It is the worst of times. We need the best of leadership but South Africa, literally and figuratively, is in such a dark space today that it is difficult to see the light.
The never-ending service-delivery chaos, which has worsened in the past few days, not only threatens to destabilise the country but demonstrates the serious disconnect between our leaders and our communities.
Eskom's load-shedding, the contracting economy, and infighting in our security institutions all form part of the black cloud that has cast a dark pall over what was once known as the Rainbow Nation.
The anarchy in our streets and the violent protests in our townships are now so common that the abnormal has become normal.
What is particularly troubling is that our leaders have no solutions but only add to the problems .
Leaders are expected to know what to do, to make the hard decisions that make our lives easier in the long run.
If our leaders have no foresight and simply make extravagant promises to buy votes, the democracy for which so many people fought will be at risk.
After almost four weeks of protests in Malamulele, in Limpopo - during which schools and businesses were forced to close - the ANC has finally caved in and is calling on the municipal demarcation board to consider the protesters' demand that they be empowered as a separate municipality.
What this tells the rest of the nation is that it is okay to burn, loot and deny services because that is what it takes to get the government to listen to you.
Is the ANC afraid of offending its electoral constituency?
It has its slogan: "We won't fail our people."
But to live up to that slogan it must lead.
The ANC, as the ruling party, has a duty to fight racism, patriarchy, corruption, xenophobia and poverty - even if by doing so it upsets some of its voters.
It must serve the people and the constitution, not just its voter base.
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