- Memela argues that corruption is increasingly being rationalised as a response to deep economic injustice.
- He warns that greed, inequality and the celebration of luxury are eroding morality in society.
- He contends that the greatest cost is being borne by the African majority, who remain excluded from shared prosperity.
It seems that in the next 10 years or so, going to jail will be no shame. It will be a normal thing, a rite of passage for black men to go through.
We are beginning to see more and more symbols of so-called black excellence associated with, or accused of, crime and corruption. It is very easy for the highly politicised type to, over expensive drinks, rationalise this sick phenomenon.
They will rightly tell you that without land or economic liberation, black people have every right to be corrupt and to steal. They explain that they are not stealing from the poor. They are stealing from the State that collects taxes paid by the filthy rich and other beneficiaries of economic injustice, including government-created multimillionaires.
They insist that the poor are poor and do not have money. Worse, they have no right to claim money they did not work for in a dog-eat-dog society. In fact, the poor must find a way to liberate themselves. Nobody is coming to save them. They rationalise that poverty is what drives crime and corruption.
The celebration of decadence
Innocent souls are corrupted by the rampant greed and selfishness of both the white and black elites, the haves who live luxurious lives.
And as a result of the celebration of decadence, everybody now wants to lead a glamorous lifestyle as portrayed in glossy magazines and television features like the reintroduced Basetsana Khumalo Top Bling show.
Worse, the racist capitalist economic system is inherently corrupt and based on theft, robbery and rape. Its strongest pillars, used to exploit gullible poor people and the much-vaunted markets, are selfishness and greed.
Capitalist robber barons have, for centuries, enjoyed the best that life has to offer in South Africa. Thus, increasingly, going to jail will not be seen as a bad thing. It is something that cannot be avoided. No jail pain, no gain. It is a price that you pay for wanting the best things in life.
Worse, with your honesty and commitment as a dedicated worker and professional, you cannot afford an apartment in Waterfall City or Steyn City, for example. Let alone a decent meal at any of their restaurants.
The erosion of moral responsibility
With the Madlanga Commission blowing the lid off corruption, many so-called successful blacks are looking forward to the live television interview show where they will be grilled about how they accumulated their money, or how they twisted and turned tenders to their preferred bidders.
There is a whole lot of damage that has been created by this supremacist capitalist economic system. It makes it difficult for anyone to care or be concerned about morality or ethical behaviour now. People are desensitised. Worse, they are ahistorical and depoliticised.
Of course, there will always be the question of human agency. It may be proper to ask why black people do not choose to do right for black self-help and development. For example, to use blood money or stolen money for black advancement.
But they continue to rationalise their conduct by blaming the capitalist economic superstructure. They say it is based on theft, robbery and exploitation.
For many blacks, it seems they have realised that they cannot beat the system. So, they have joined it. Sadly, it is at the expense of justice, equality and prosperity for all, above all the African majority.
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