South Africa: Hopeful

My brother who is visiting South Africa from Europe said to me the other day how the public servants strikes in South Africa are bringing the racism out in some South Africans. But it’s also bringing the heroism out in others. Lead SA has been initiating an alternative response to issues in the country, calling South Africans to take the lead and make a difference. Amongst other things, Lead SA is encouraging a spirit of volunteerism, which has resulted in thousands of people rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in at hospitals that have been abandoned by their striking staff.

The Jesuit Institute's weekly reflection reads:
Lead SA is asking us to reflect on what kind of leadership we are creating in our country and what contribution we can make. Whether in politics, in business, in unions, in schools or in the churches, we worry about a ‘crisis of leadership’. Can we still tap into the ideals that drove the Struggle? Can the spirit of togetherness that we found during the World Cup continue after the flags have been folded? Whilst it is tempting to blame those who have the title of leader, we should remember that actually we are all leaders: we have the ability to influence those around us and we have the responsibility to challenge those whose leadership is found wanting.

In terms of the strike, the weekly email from TGIF had an interesting comment. Beyond all the political and social complexity of this drawn out strike, lies the “somewhat undereported dimension of relationships. Yes, the strikes are about money, but there's something deeper going on - something at the relational level. The mere occurence of a strike, it could be argued, bears evidence of relational breakdown. Then there are relational implications in the huge earnings differentials between top and bottom public service officials - it says something about how people are valued. Intimidation and violence only occur where relational capacity is already damaged, and they certainly effect little that is relationally redemptive. It might not be enough to address the money issues without addressing the relational issues. Justice is a complex matter, but at its heart, justice has to be relational.”

I thought this an important slant on the situation and it leads me to wonder what I can do to restore relationship with my fellow South Africans. On a really small scale, it felt important to me that when a few hundred teachers sang and danced their way through The Junction (a relatively upmarket shopping center in Pretoria North) I stood by and listened to what they were saying and read their signs. It felt important to listen and hear and take in. It felt important that I could exchange a few words with some of these teachers and show them that I cared about what they had to say. It sounds really insignificant but it feels important to me that we think about our relationship with others who feel unjustly treated. By being open to hear them, we may be taking a small step towards redemptive relationship.

Things are pretty rough at the moment, between the strikes and the threat of media tribunals. And yet there are so many people who are rolling up their sleeves and making a difference. People are choosing to take the lead. That’s what makes me excited to be a South African!