Global Citizen initiative a threat

There has been widespread response to the Global Citizen initiative and its potential impact on South African politics. Analyst Mcebo Dlamini notes that the theme appeared to be the need to preserve Nelson Mandela's legacy of a united SA. In a column on the News24, he site notes that various corporations pledged financial support amounting to billions of dollars. ‘For unsuspecting and uncritical masses this might seem like a noble cause, but a closer look reveals that it might not be what it presents itself to be. Philanthropy in many instances is used by capitalists who exploit the people and extract resources from countries then give back less than a fraction of what they take in order to give the impression of humanity. They do this to conceal their greed and sometimes to evade taxes.’ Dlamini believes that philanthropic initiatives like Global Citizen appear well meaning but often there is an ulterior motive behind them. ‘The problems that SA faces are structural and they cannot be solved through donations. The rainbow nation hogwash that Global Citizen is attempting to forge will not be successful because regardless of the donations that are made, the conditions that make poverty and inequality possible are still intact. A united SA will only be possible through redistribution of land (land expropriation without compensation) and an incorporation of all black people in the economy (nationalisation of mines and all strategic sectors of the economy). Failure to do this will bear no fruits because the very same companies that have pledged donations exploit the people and subject them to lives of poverty and squalor.’ Dlamini says the event was potentially dangerous because it gives room for arrogant people with money to assume the role of government outside of government. ‘Should this not be curbed we run the risk of having an elite group of unelected individuals deciding the country's fate. Such should not be allowed.’