Conclusion

I have been involved recently with the Dinokeng Scenario Planning exercise which involved a number of people from all walks of life – government, private sector, academia, civil society and so forth – who met to consider two key questions which face South Africa:

• Firstly, how can we address the critical challenges of our time, before they destroy our accomplishments?
• Secondly, what can each of us do to help build a future that lives up to the promise of 1994?

We came up with three possible scenarios for our future, depending on which choices we make today. In the first, we, that is government and citizenry, walk apart. In this scenario the state becomes increasingly weak, ineffective and distanced from those they are supposed to serve. Frustrations within communities boil over into protest and unrest which is met by resistance and even violent repression by the state which is fearful of losing power, yet unable to meet citizens’ demands and expectations.

In the second, we walk behind – that is citizens walk in the shadow of government. In this scenario the state becomes increasingly strong and directive, while civil society stands back. Private initiative by business and civil society – which complements the state’s inadequate efforts to meet citizens’ needs – will be crowded out by the state’s pervasive intervention and domination.

In the third scenario, we walk together. This tells the story of an increasingly collaborative and enabling state: one that listens to its citizens and leaders from different sectors, and engages with critical voices; and that consults and shares authority in the interests of long-term sustainability. This would result in an engaged citizenry that takes leadership and holds government accountable, sharing responsibility for policy development and outcomes.

The HSRP offers a perfect opportunity for us all to ‘walk together’. If we can harness the goodwill and educational expertise of all South Africans, both in and outside of government, and all work together to realise our goals, then many more South African children will be offered the opportunities promised to them by our Constitution. It is up to all of us to push this agenda. The old African proverb says, if you want to travel fast, travel alone; but if you want to travel far, travel together.

Thank you to all who travel together with us in thought, word and, most especially, deed.

Njongo Ndungane

Inanda students and teachers.