A great nation despite its government

In a world where Jew hatred is rising and even in vogue, South Africa continues to buck that trend. In the 20 years I have been here following a 10-year stint in Australia, I haven’t had a single antisemitic experience. On the contrary, as religious people, South Africans have a lot of recognition and appreciation for the Jewish people, an ancient and biblical people. There’s no location where I feel unsafe or uncomfortable walking as an overt and proud Jew.

At the same time, the government of South Africa has chosen throughout its time in power – and amplified since 7 October 2023 – to be staunchly anti-Israel. As Jews, our bond to Israel and Jerusalem is biblical, unwavering, and unbreakable. To create an atmosphere that “forces” Jews to question those ties is no less offensive than were the government to create an environment in which its Muslim population would feel condemned for its association with Mecca and Saudi Arabia, despite the latter having less in common with South Africa, from a values point of view, than Israel.

Moreover, the incalculable contribution which Jews have made to South Africa as a whole, and the liberation movement specifically, is belied by the haste with which the government has endeavoured to demonise Israel and its supporters. In so doing, the government has betrayed the Jewish community and its trust. The sense of betrayal we feel cannot be overstated. Moreover, the government has lost its ability to be an honest broker in achieving peace in the region, something it was originally uniquely positioned to do following its victory over apartheid.

Critically however, the government of a country is there to serve its citizens – all of them – Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and any other religion, atheist, or agnostic. In its posturing in regard to Israel, not only has it betrayed the Jewish people of South Africa, it has brought the discord of a global conflict to its own shores. Something one would think it would be mandated against doing.

In this regard, one would like to see a more nuanced stance from the South African government, one which doesn’t sow discord in the country, but unity. A democratic government is for the people, of the people, and by the people. The government’s duty is thus to serve the interests of its citizens above all else.

There are few places in the world where it’s easier and better to live as a Jew. The Jewish community services its religious needs in an enviable way. The warmth of the broader population allows for proud Jewish expression. We simply hope and pray that the government will start to reflect the will and the needs of the people rather than its own narrow interests.

I cannot help but feel that the greatest victim of the lack of governance and vision of the past 30 years is the broader population of South Africa. It pains me to see its challenges and difficulties. I’ll break it down into the areas of greatest concern.

Education

South Africans are a great people. However, the shackles of poverty cannot be broken without a good education.

• Teachers need to be paid a good salary so that we can attract the best and brightest to teach the next generation. They need to be properly trained and appropriate Key Performance Indicators need to be in place and enforced;
• The lowering of the pass rate does nothing to better the educational outcomes of the population. This, in turn, guarantees continued poverty. Though it may serve the government to be able to say that a high percentage passed, a low pass grade does nothing to inspire students to succeed. Moreover, lowering the pass rate is a demeaning statement by the government, saying, “You’re not clever enough to do well, so we’ll make you feel good by considering fail marks as passes.” What a terrible indictment! Pass rates must be brought in line with international standards. To do this, we need better and more skilled educators. South Africans can do this with the right tools and expectations;
• Good schools must be in areas where people live. A child who has to get up at 04:00 to walk a few hours to get to school can never succeed. Either great schools must be in areas where people live, or the government must provide safe transportation that will get pupils to school on time, while allowing them to have a proper night’s rest; and
• One can learn from everyone and everything. Despite all his failures which led to the failed state of Zimbabwe, former President Robert Mugabe ensured that his people were well educated. If he could educate the people of Zimbabwe, we can – and must – adequately educate the people of South Africa.

Health

In many countries across the world, public-sector hospitals are some of the best available. Though arranging elective treatment has its shortcomings in a public setting, the standard of medical treatment need not be diminished. When my father was critically ill in the 1980s in South Africa, he went to a public hospital for major heart treatment because it was the best place to be.

The public sector today is nothing short of a disgrace. I have had the unfortunate opportunity to visit people in public hospitals, and how a government can allow such facilities to operate without major overhaul is beyond belief.

Much of the problem, as I understand it, can be attributed to poor governance; corruption – the abuse of public funds; and an apparent total lack of care for the well-being of the population. As with all areas, leadership is critical. People must be appointed to positions based on competence, measured by outcomes, and held accountable for their institutions. In all areas of public life in South Africa, accountability needs to be the order of business.

Policing

The same can be said here as well. The level of incompetence, apathy, and corruption is breathtaking. Once again, there’s no accountability for failure. Once again, the greatest victims of such ineptitude and lawlessness is the segment of the population unable to pay for private security companies and heavily guarded areas and homes. As with everything, the middle to upper class can ensure the best of all the aforementioned services. The ones suffering most due to government apathy – at the very least – are the most needy and unfortunate of society.

Like education, we need to pay the police well. At the same time, true oversight of policing outcomes must be in place. Police who underperform – and certainly those who are corrupt – should have no place in the force. As the upholders of the law, the consequences for corruption and ineptitude in the police force needs to be significant, unwavering, and absolute. It’s unfair to competent and honest police men and women that the perception of the entire force is one of corrupt ineptitude and incompetence.

Corruption

A two pronged attack needs to be undertaken to deal with corruption.

First, there must be real accountability and consequence for corruption. The law needs to be unforgiving to people in positions of power, especially on the public dime, who engage in corrupt behaviour.

Second, the law should exonerate the one giving the bribe, and hold to account only the one taking the bribe. As long as both parties are equally liable in the eyes of the law, neither party has an incentive to expose corruption. If, however, the person giving the bribe will not be held accountable under the law, they may well inform the appropriate authorities and thereby stamp out corruption. This should be true only if a bribe has been accepted. However, if the official has refused the bribe, reporting the person attempting to give a bribe should result in that person being punished with the full force of the law. In summary, both the corrupted and the corruptor must be uprooted.

Conclusion

South Africa is a remarkable country. Its people are remarkable and unique. The future of South Africa can be incredibly bright. Leadership needs to take cognisance of the challenges it faces, and must have a deep-seated desire to improve the country and the lot of its citizens above all else. When this is achieved, South Africa will truly realise its potential.

• Rabbi Gidon Fox is the rabbi of the Pretoria Hebrew Congregation and a dayan on the Johannesburg Beth Din. Originally from England, he matriculated here, and after a 10-year stint in Australia, returned to South Africa in 2005.