Africa-Press – South-Africa. Renowned economist Dawie Roodt said South Africa is a failing state which is breaking its compact with its citizens.
Roodt told Biznews that the primary function of the state is to look after its people and protect its citizens. It is called a social pact.
The citizens agree not to take the law into their own hands. Instead, they agree to pay taxes for the state to fulfil this duty.
However, in South Africa, people are not safe. They have to protect themselves through extreme security measures, including private security companies.
A good example is the recent attack on a delegation led by Ian Cameron, the chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police.
Following an oversight visit at the Philippi SAPS training academy close to Philippi East, Nicholas Gotsell, Lisa Schickerling, and Cameron came under attack.
“This was a serious and deliberate attack, and it underscores the risks faced during oversight work,” Cameron said.
Cameron acted in self-defence with his firearm, and the delegation sped off to the closest secure location.
Roodt said the attack on these high-profile politicians, who were forced to take the law into their own hands to defend themselves, is a clear sign of a failing state.
“The South African state is failing in its primary function of protecting the people of the country,” Roodt said.
He said South Africa is a dangerous place to live in because the state is not doing its job or fulfilling its duty towards citizens.
“We can rightfully ask the question of whether we still have the responsibility and obligation to continue funding the state,” he said.
He said the social pact, where citizens fund the state to perform certain duties on their behalf, has been damaged by the government.
Source: dailyinvestor
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