A Response to Media- (EFF think tanks) and the confusions in politics If great thinkers like Steve Bantu Biko took time to critically evaluated the circumstances that confronted the plight of black people then and, developed a credible response then, why is it that; the current crop of generation fails to grapple with the dynamics of oppression. Biko could be said to have captured four cardinal points i.e. the implications of the creations of homelands, the strenuous debate of religion and African culture, the simple take of economic class and the race issue and lastly the need to understanding the “liberal” approaches that inevitably created a hindrances to the emancipation of black people. Steve Biko clearly knew the difference of articulation and intelligence and for the mere fact that he put his ideas on paper and illustrated such in an acceptable academic environment, shows a great in-depth of concern and need to unite black and further the aspirations of the black majority. Needless to stating all this, his ideas were not perfect; as literature does not accord a perfect mixture and a perfect lock in solution to all problems, as the dynamics at play overflow, simplistic approaches to any problem. Scholars have managed to give credible critique in the facets at his reductionist approach in the Hegelian theory, limitation of the Marxist theory conceptualisation and application, failure to highlight the shortcomings of the democratic voting system i.e. “one man one vote system”. The academia world offers an immense contradictory outlet and sometimes it becomes quite problematic in matching theory and practice. Irrespective of all this, Steve Biko nevertheless paved a new wave of thinking and quite willingly gave most people the critically sense of identity. In all this outlay, it becomes apparent that we need to tap into the emerging Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). It is of grave concern that EFF is borne out of frustrations of the leadership battles within the ANC. Their manifesto seems to be a resuscitation of the Freedom Charter (hence it accrues that popular appeal with the masses). The fundamental question would be, have they (EFF think tanks) critically evaluated the current dynamics at play besides the failures of the Zuma African National Congress (ZANC). It’s imperative to follow the path of knowledge carefully and asses the problems facing South Africa as posed to being a mere “media-guru”. Julius Malema is not at fault here, he clearly has no time to read the economic fundamentals of the relationship of trade, state, fiscus and the distributive mechanics channelled through the bureaucracy of government. Most people in the country can’t afford do this tedious act and yet claim to being the “vanguard” of the masses. The pseudo-intellectuals or rather the people that want to relieve the past have now found home in EFF and maybe justifiable so. The central question i pose to most of these people is that; have we as a nation, critically thought of the challenges we as a nation confront, or i we reduced to being gullible subjects of the media’s cheap politicking’s. The media in its freedom of speech and expression attained through the “democratic” gains have to a large extent distorted information and have reduced the plight of the skewed relationship to a mere soapie and, yet the poor still remain sheep’s to be slaughtered in the ballot box. Yes, it’s true the media should not dictate the perceptions of the masses however; the irony is that they have a great steak in influencing our outlook. Has South Africa lost all credible scholars in analyses or is this a myriad of the confusion entertained through the democratic gains. At the same token, Malema is making a good statement in the quest for economic freedom however; he lacks neither the theoretical knowledge nor the correct combination of solving our economic woes. I pity the discourse of the politicians and quick-readymade analyst we find in our media circles. Hey i am just concerned as to whether, we have neglected the sleepless nights of Biko, Sobukwe, Mandela and the rest of the people that spent time to diagnose the problems and offer meaningful solutions. It seems like voting, has been reduced to a “public” holiday and maybe we just have to call it a Braai day and the status quo remains as such.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Mar 2014 10:34:02 +0000
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