‘Manifesto: A new vision for South Africa’: brutal truths and plans for renewal

Johannesburg - Manifesto: A New Vision for South Africa is a recent offering by author Songezo Zibi. As an industry leader, journalist and editor, Zibi has written extensively about South Africa’s political system, economy and social dynamics.

Since 2007, he has been a consistent and recognised voice for accountability, good governance, nation-building and for the creation of a dynamic, inclusive economy.

In January 2022, Zibi co-founded Rivonia Circle, a think tank that will give birth to innovative and more effective ways of political participation. Their mission is to produce ideas and leaders that will turn South Africa into a modern, prosperous and just society.

Manifesto asserts that for millions of South Africans, the promise of democracy, a promise our Constitution attempts to set out in its preamble, will not be realised in their lifetime. Some who are yet to be born will live and die poor and marginalised because their country was not ready to provide the tools that would help them to make their lives meaningful, healthy and prosperous.

This situation is no accident.

While the structural conditions that created the initial inequalities are a result of colonialism and apartheid, the worsening of this condition after 2010 is the result of political negligence, incompetence and rampant corruption borne out of a deep disconnection between the political elites and the real needs of the people.

South Africa is in urgent need of a comprehensive overhaul of its political and state institutions, its social structures, as well as its economy and policies.

From the onset, Zibi makes it clear that this book is an attempt to start a conversation about national renewal with the specific purpose of direct, materially beneficial outcomes for South Africa’s most vulnerable.

“Manifesto” presents a path to social, political, economic and social change and renewal, and challenges all South Africans to unite behind the ideals of our constitution and social democratic values to realise full meaningful freedom.

It implores professionals to return to active political life as they are key to building the strong, capable and development-oriented state hopes of millions depend on.

South Africans should adopt a different mindset and accept the responsibility of leadership so that the country can finally have the future it has been waiting for the ANC to deliver.

Layered in 10 chapters, the book positions itself as an urgent call for all of us to rapidly co-operate across our social and economic differences, to imagine and sign up for an imminent political future.

There are many historical references in the book. Zibi looks at how politics has functioned over the past twenty-seven years and has identified what has gone wrong and what changes need to be made. The decisions taken over the last three decades have been the focus of the book.

“Manifesto: A New Vision for South Africa” is published by Pan Macmillan and is available at all major bookstores.