On July 1st 2020 I sat around a discussion table with two of CapeXit’s Directors, Des Palm and Warren Jones, and four young millennials, Julian Aspbure, Timo Barnardt, Nicky-Leeze de Wet and Babalwa Kuali. Not only do these four young, bright and promising people believe in secession, they’ve already put their hand up to work on an Education Advisory Board. They passionately want to secede, and here’s why. The education system in South-Africa is fatally flawed. Many education centres’ Senior Council groups demand no true leadership from those chosen to be placed in leadership positions, leading to the prioritisation of elitism rather than servitude, which is what true leadership should be. “To become part of the student council you have to be popular” Says Nicky-Leeze De Wet. I don’t know why I was shocked to hear it. It seems to be the way our leaders in general are chosen. All shine and no merit. Schools are, for the most part seriously overcrowded. When talking about some Eastern Cape schools, Julian Aspbure relates that things have degenerated far past the point of no return “I know in the Eastern Cape they have classes where there are no teachers. One of the parents come in and read from the textbook and that’s your lesson!”.
I have the utmost respect for teachers in South-Africa don’t get me wrong, it is a hard and thankless job. They are underpaid, overworked, understaffed and unappreciated, but let’s be honest, today one has to pay a small fortune for your child to have a decent education. Students have lost their respect for their teachers and their teachers have lost their right to instil discipline. It’s a recipe for disaster and your child is the main ingredient. School curriculums are no longer engaging or challenging. The books our children must read are so full of indoctrination it would make any propaganda department of a socialist/communist regime proud. Gripping and challenging information has become replaced by repetitive propaganda pieces. I wonder when last South-African had a normal, acceptable and honest curriculum. Don’t believe me? Have a look at your child’s textbook tonight. Just make sure you have a Disprin at hand, it might give you a heart attack. And when those first heart palpitations start, which they undeniably will, remember that they only need 30% to pass. Apologies if that hammers the nail in the coffin.
I believe Timo Barnardt summed it up quite nicely when he said that the content of school curriculums leave students complacent at best and indifferent or even depressed at the very worst. “Unfortunately, it feels like every language paper should have a suicide hotline where you can tear it off of the page and then go call them right after the exam.” Timo Barnardt joked. As for the lack of challenges, Timo said something quite insightful. “Yes, I’m standing on the shoulder of giants, hitting my head on the roof. I’m not challenged.” Many issues were raised and these young millennials came up with solutions faster than you could imagine. Those who saw what South-Africa was before its fall from grace can remember happier times. Times where our education system was praised globally, and a South-African education could get you far. But its no longer only those who remember the way things were who know that something has gone terribly awry. This ship that is South-Africa is sinking so fast that you would have to be morally, politically and mentally comatose to not notice the rising water. So, what do you do when you realise that this place you call home is falling? What do you do when you realise your own child may be able to do very little with the education they receive from public school, unless you can cough up the money to send them to private school? What do you do when you notice that the ship is sinking, and it is sinking fast. You do what Julian, Timo, Nicky-Leeze and Babalwa so bravely did. You put your hand up. You step up. You don’t start looking for a lifeboat made just for you. You approach secession activists and ask what you can do to help build the lifeboat for us all faster. If these four young, vibrant millennials are up for the task, what’s your excuse? Or will you let a prosperous future be built solely on the backs of those you are supposed to raise and protect? And if all this devasting corruption, endless cadre employment, the inability to keep the lights on in a country that is quickly joining the ranks of one of the most dangerous countries in the world, isn’t enough to make you even consider what these four young courageous millennials are willing to do, then I would have to quote CapeXit Director Des Palm, “I’ve got an 80/20% principle, I refuse to spend 80% of my time and energy on 20% of the people that you’ll never convince”. If you don’t want to help build the way forward, don’t stand in the way of those who are trying to do something. But remember, secession gives no free rides. You must vote, you’re either in, or your out, personally, I know you’ll come around.
