TEc "Still everything to play for" - part of a Special Report on South Africa. My view:

I would like to compliment The Economist for this brilliant Special Report highlighting South Africa's huge complexities, problems, rags and riches, challenges and hopes.

It is obviously not easy to define a country - any country - in one word or ten or hundreds, least of all that most starkly unbalanced society that is South Africa.
Yet, that is probably - even if it sounds oppressively contradictory - the country's best hope of pulling through over the coming years to achieve a successful common destiny.

For those who've been directly hit or affected by so many different forms of violence that day is none too soon.
Indeed for many it is too late and I can only begin to grasp their fears and sense of hopelessness.
However, except for crime which absolutely nothing can fully explain, there are no responsible short-cuts to development and wealth distribution following centuries of skewed racially-based societal set-up.

The very requirement to attain higher all-round inclusiveness needs to be matched by policies prudent enough that they maintain existing imbalances to a large extent.
For instance, most people would agree that public administration at central, provincial and local level must retain and promote qualified civil servants.
Evidence shows that standards of service may have dropped because recruitment criteria have been slackened to accommodate political appointees or falsely empower blacks(?) economically.

Yes a few thousands have been quickly rewarded but how many millions may eventually have suffered as a result?
None of it is cast in stone and I would still see the half-filled glass.But unless the glass is seen to be filling up instead of emptying over time the obvious conclusion calls for acknowledgement and policy reversal. Or at least witty adjustment.

Where the South African State cannot waver or hesitate is in its already substantial efforts to bring down crime.It simply cannot, will not I expect, rest on statistical laurels no matter how relevant.
Every means and strategy at its disposal must be deployed to develop a culture within police forces of maximum efficacy on prime goals.
Success can only be claimed when the common man in the street finally perceives his streets are free and safe enough.
It is this perception of restored security in public and private places that will ultimately unleash the great potential in South African society.
Despite every other social/economic problem and none may be sidelined or underestimated.

As easy as words and concepts may flow for a country in permanent flux and aspirational need, sound judgement by the political leadership - in government as well as in the opposition - is absolutely paramount.
All holding public office or desiring to must realize it takes time and robust policy to deliver collective gain.
A lot of time and culture geared to good governance first and foremost despite human failings and frailties.

I strongly believe this is well within reach of most South Africans.
For now, as might be expected, South Africa's generally well-run sophisticated private sector is the example-setter.Not because it remains primarily in white hands but because it does create wealth, employment, human and material development.

South Africa combines the very best of the First World with the very worst of the Third, scoring average middlings.
The overwhelming challenge - if it should get summed up as one - is to bridge that yawning gap from the Third to the First.
Never the other way around.