A lot has been happening recently. The markets are in turmoil, the rand is in freefall and worst of all, it seems as if we are entering a recession. In fact, a few sectors are already experiencing a recession. And, the worst is not over. World financial markets are experiencing their sharpest decline since the Great Recession and the rand just keeps on falling.

Unfortunately, there is something that has not changed over the past few weeks - and recent economic growth numbers are indicative of this, namely desperately poor political leadership!

All this is likely to contribute to weak growth and even a recession, higher inflation, higher interest rates, higher levels of unemployment, state debt that is getting out of hand and most likely a further downgrade for the country. Times are going to get very tough!

But a very different and heart-warming take on our society and its future... I am honoured to be the ambassador of Childline and Child Welfare Free State. Last week I was shown the wonderful work they do in and around Bloemfontein. In one of these places of safety there are approximately 30 small children, mostly around two years of age – the same age as my and my wife’s twins. Those 30 small children are very well looked after and they just wanted to be picked up. It broke my heart.

And then it hit me… There is so much we need to do to fix this country. We all know that education, crime, weak growth and much more, need to be corrected. The reality, unfortunately, is that it will take many years and even decades before we will see positive results, even if we immediately start doing everything right – which is unlikely.

But is there something that will make an instant difference? I think so.

Our senior judges and political leaders met this past week. The chief justice requested the meeting after a number of vicious attacks on the courts by, among others, senior politicians.

One of the ineptocrats is the Minister of Police. Jip, it’s the same guy who used that video to show that President Zuma’s swimming pool is actually a ‘’fire’’ pool.

The country is suffocating under a wave of crime and the Minister of Police spends his time doing the dirty work of ‘’Namma One’’ – which is to undermine and to discredit two of our remaining functioning institutions, the courts and the public protector.

There is so much that needs to be done in the country, yet it seems as if the first priority of most ANC MP’s – and others that are directly or indirectly appointed by President Zuma – is to make sure that Namma One’s interests are properly looked after. And that is a lot of work! Namma One and his family and friends can be quite demanding.

So many of our ‘’civil servants’’ are so busy cleaning up behind President Zuma – and to discredit those that are not prepared to clean up after him – that they don’t have time to do their work! No wonder Eskom, PetroSA, SAA, Prasa and many more state enterprises are in such a mess – and all this impacts hugely on the economy. And our country’s destitute children are dependent on foreign donations because President Zuma wants a chicken run.

What can we do to improve things overnight?

We can get rid of the symbol of corruption, disproportionate personal indulgence and inferior decisions and leadership. We can get rid of President Zuma. The image of economic undermining, the pinnacle of ideological confusion and the icon of hopelessness – all that will disappear overnight.

Not all our problems will disappear, but we will take an important step in the right direction. At least his servants will have time to do their work without putting President Zuma’s interests first.

I am sure the rand will strengthen!

Written by Dawie Roodt - Chief Economist at the Efficient Group