This year marks 25 years of the country’s negotiated democracy, a time which we all should be celebrating this momentous milestone.
However, South Africa finds itself in a dark hole.
The economy is failing, unemployment figures have skyrocketed and inequality is still an enemy that is threatening the developmental agenda.
Upon receiving Mcebisi Jonas’ new book After Dawn- Hope After State Capture, like every citizen who has come to know Jonas recently, I thought I will read about why he refused to take the R600 million bribe allegedly offered by the controversial Gupta family.
Jonas shocked us all when he revealed that the Gupta brothers offered him a huge sum of money to take up the Finance ministry post.
However, this book doesn’t even come close to sharing the gory details about that incident.
After Dawn takes an in-depth look at the challenges facing the country under the current administration.
In this thoroughly researched offering, Jonas takes the reader into two different journeys.
Firstly, he takes stock of the obstacles that are hindering the country’s developmental agenda.
Things like state capture, the influence of business in state affairs, policy uncertainty and the collapse of state-owned enterprises.
The second journey is one which focuses on solutions which the current administration should implement in order to turn the country’s fortunes.
While some of these solutions have been part of many government policies, Jonas nonetheless calls on leaders to stop with rhetorics but rather focus on implementing these policies.
President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote the foreword for this book.
This could be a positive since he is the right man to see fit that these policies get executed.
Many patriotic South Africans will definitely find this book as a befitting tool that can do its bit to help rebuild the country after the ‘fall’ of the Jacob Zuma/Gupta state capture project.
Some of Jonas’ comrades in the ruling party might disagree with his proposals, especially on applying meritocracy on all government appointments.
After Dawn calls on all South Africans to rally behind the state, put their hands on deck, invest their energy and passion in SA INC.
This is a must-read book for all patriotic South Africans, from the historical white elite group, the aspirant black elite, the labour groupings, the poor and unemployed group.
It is also a must-read or even better a good warning shot to President Ramaphosa and his executive that bad politics and policy uncertainty will further exacerbate inequality, economic exclusion and unemployment.