South Africa: signs and symptoms of a maturing African democracy.

South Africa is beginning to exhibit the signs and symptoms of a maturing African democracy. Mature democracies have problems with paying their workers and they lose staff to the West, which further sets the economies backwards since most qualified personnel are out in search of greener pastures. Before the backwards movement, first the signs of displeasure manifest themselves in strengthening trade union movements. The workers are generally so hopeful of change that they are on the streets protesting (asking/begging for change) because they still hope that a solution lies in some government office.

Just last week, there were strikes for pay raises, which makes me wonder what is to come next. I am deeply worried too about the protests in that we are beginning to see the South African government now coming to terms with using rubber bullets and the police against their own people. A few years ago, it was almost impossible as everyone remembered the bad Apatheird times, but now, I wonder what gases and bullets will follow as the government tries to deal with a discontented population.

The discontent and government inability to address these issues satisfactorily are just but the weakning of the immune system. Sooner or later, it may become the norm to see people striking and government being put in a tighter corner where gases and bullets will make more sense as a means of self-defence.

Interestingly, the advocates of democracy fail to acknowledge the unique problems that face these young democracies. So when they fail, the only thing they can say is " we told you so!"