We are a nation bereft of confidence

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Tue 09 May   [ron_derby] We are a nation bereft of confidence, and as such we can’t move in any direction. Words simply aren’t enough at this point, to get us out of this slump. And when I say, “we”, it’s everyone from the public sector, private sector, civil society and the everyday consumer. The biggest job before President Cyril Ramaphosa when he walked into office in January 2018 — after the ousting of his predecessor — was to boost our confidence levels. He did so, impressively latching onto the “Thuma Mina” moment afforded by the sad passing of Hugh Masekela weeks earlier. Sustaining it has however been impossible. We must not forget the effect of the pandemic on not only our psyche, but the whole world really. (No one has recovered, let alone newsrooms that remain far quieter places.) It’s something no president in the modern world has experienced since maybe the Spanish Flu — a different place and time. We haven’t managed to lift ourselves out of the pandemic gloom for a variety of reasons — the capacity shortcomings of the state have been exposed, corruption remains rife, organised criminal syndicates strengthen their hold and all the while, inflation has hurt the buying power of our beloved rand. It’s really been a confidence sapping ride over the past five years and let’s be honest, not entirely on the shoulders of the state. There have been factors out of their control — the pandemic, the backlash against globalisation has affected just how the global economy operates and the war in Europe has made things all the more gloomier. But were it not for the state’s dysfunction, its mixed messaging around an important issue such as electricity, there’d still be some level of confidence from which we could imagine a change in our fortunes. The private sector alone can’t lift our spirits — whether they like it or not — it’s critical that they work together in solving this energy crisis. Not doing so, increasing the inequality question as only the few find means to escape the darkness. [Pravin_Gordhan_0825_DV]( [Government to lodge urgent appeal against load-shedding ruling]( Gordhan said his department would challenge a ruling that gives the state 60 days to exempt hospitals, schools and police stations from power cuts [// Read more]( Articles labelled as Premium are only available to subscribers. [CLICK HERE]( to subscribe Already a subscriber? [SIGN IN HERE]( [SAPS unrest]( [Police unit to protect tourists touted]( The deputy minister of tourism says government is working hard to bring law enforcement on board to address the safety concerns deterring travellers [// Read more]( [MkhwebaneED_398074]( Premium [R30m legal fees stall Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s parliamentary inquiry]( The suspended public protector wants the public to be told how much parliament is paying for the evidence leaders This article is only available to subscribers. [View subscription options]( If you are already a subscriber, login here. [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Objects of Desire: The Home Edit]( The best objects for the love of our homes [// Read more]( [Climate change threatens agriculture in Africa]( The unfortunate part about the impact of climate change on this sector is that Africa’s full agricultural potential is yet to be discovered [// Read more]( [African immigrants in UK reeling from cost-of-living crisis]( Survey respondents skip meals and make use of food banks as overheads increase [// Read more]( [Numsa, ArcelorMittal sign wage agreement]( The three-year agreement runs from 1 April to 31 March 2026 [// Read more]( Premium [Habitat fragmentation a greater threat to larger animals]( Fragmented habitat and climate warming could put large animals at a disadvantage because of their slower travelling speeds This article is only available to subscribers. [View subscription options]( If you are already a subscriber, login here. [// Read more]( Pic of the day [load-shedding] Another day in the dark. Stage 6 load-shedding could continue throughout this week. ( Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images) [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa