A culture of self-enrichment among some South African politicians and public servants is putting the country’s democracy and post-apartheid promises of creating a better life for all at risk, according to the most-senior official at the National Treasury.

“We have to remind our leaders -- and I’m speaking as a South African -- who are in government, in public service and politicians to get off your high horse and do what we have to do to ensure we create access and a conducive environment for people’s lives to change,” Dondo Mogajane, the Treasury’s director general, said Thursday at a National Budget Dialogue.

“If that’s not going to be a motivating factor, we can start calling South Africa a failing State because the things that define a failing State are beginning to show, where we don’t care about the poor and improving their lives.”