By Boiketlo Lamula
A simple chemical that is a vital source of life for complex organisms has been turned into a commodity which can only be afforded by some and not others.
Allow me to paint a mental image for you: as many as there are stars in the heavens, so is the number of water molecules in your body, covering a vast and innumerable area. This is why, in the very first week of the second-year biochemistry syllabus, the first and foremost topic that is covered on the molecules that make up the human body, after an introduction to living organisms and their intricate biological makeup, is the importance of the chemical structure of water and how it is thus able to support and sustain life.
South Africa has just entered Human Rights Month, and Human Rights Day is quickly drawing upon us, yet 30 years later into this democracy, we live in a state of the nation where we must get to the point of protesting to be able to have water. “By the way, it is your right to have access to clean drinking water from the tap”, said Vuyo Baneti from the ENIC office at Rhodes University, which focuses on transformative acts that enhance the inclusivity of marginalised and disadvantaged groups of our society.
The time has finally come for us to reconsider leadership and how we keep perpetuating toxic power relations between ourselves and the governors we place above us. A disease should be treated at its molecular level. Governance and the law are at the micro-level of these key issues. For instance, an analysis of water protests and the municipality's failure can be tracked over time to reveal a profoundly flawed implementation system – the failure of governance to implement solutions. Governance has a trickle-down effect: from the national level, improper mismanagement of funds and failure to abide by the laws, constitution, and acts that rule the citizens have also resulted in the same dire implications at the student level governance. The same patterns are perceived throughout the entire public governing body of the country.
At least, a positive light has emerged from the recently appointed coalition government. Let's ask when we will move past these issues. Because we seem to have gained traction on the how – various bodies of knowledge have also coalesced to come up with actions that can be taken; the Institute for Water Research at Rhodes University works closely with not just the different scientific departments but also the economic and political divisions to do research and implement strategies.
However, it is also essential to take note of the remaining wounds caused by the Devil’s claws in this situation: the unfortunate consequences of colonialism are that African states will continually suffer governance for as long as we stick to the system of centralising power around one person, with minions that surround him to feed into his authority. It is essential to know that we were never educated about this kind of governance and always had our political ways of running communities.
African states thrive, and perhaps many other states around the globe, too, thrive on a small community-based leadership system. This is why the work and leadership of student-led movements such as the SRC would rather focus on university-centred solutions to the water crisis – demand accountability for the university building its water treatment plant and why construction is not yet underway. And with the current standing of having installed water tanks at every residence and dining hall, why do refills take ages to be responded to?
The power issue demands attention: there is a difference between a leader and an authoritative king. Where a leader thrives on influence and thus perpetuates prosperity for every individual and community of the land, an authoritative king thrives on power and the external validation of those he depends on. We need to consider whether we have kings or leaders.
But in conclusion, while some issues demand our action, some issues call for some miracle beyond us, and some expectations may be over-ambition.
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