The theory of economic trickle-down suggests that as the rich get richer, the wealth is bound to trickle down to the poor and, from this, all classes in society will benefit.
In a South African context, one can argue that corruption has had a trickle-down effect on the country. This is usually phrased as ‘corruption’ by those who do not benefit from it, and as ‘connection’ by those who do benefit from it.
With the coronavirus pandemic, corruption in the country has become deeply entrenched to the point that it has become the norm. As much as those who benefit from it have reached a better place socially and economically, it is disheartening to learn how many livelihoods – and the future of coming generations – are being destroyed at a faster pace than the rate of corruption itself.
The greed of a few individuals in power can impoverish the whole country, breaking the spirit of South Africa’s youth. Seeing corruption at the highest levels of governance leads many to believe that they also deserve a share of the wealth, and that it can be sourced through corrupt means. Those who are marginalised suffer for being excluded.
Indeed, a token of just how uncontrollable corruption has become is the scale of corruption associated with the R500-billion Covid-19 relief package that was allocated to help South African citizens during the national State of Disaster.
The corruption in this context ranges from officials embezzling funds from the stimulus package funds to theft of food parcels for the needy. The trickle-down effect was evident in Unemployment Insurance Fund fraud, where ghost employees received the UIF payments instead of the rightful beneficiaries who needed the money, as their livelihoods were being threatened by the pandemic.
Corruption impinged on social grant beneficiaries as well as small businesses, which are very significant for the overall economy. Furthermore, resources were looted in the procurement of personal protective equipment intended to protect school children, and in the sanitising of schools.
Private companies such as Dis-Chem and Babelegi Workwear were found guilty of charging excessive prices for masks. This shows how corruption has trickled down from the national government level to the local level, and even to the private sector.
It is sad that, even in a time of crisis, greed and corruption never ceases in South Africa. It has become a threat to the future of the country.
It is worth bearing in mind that other African countries such as Zimbabwe and Kenya did not wake up one morning bankrupt, but became corrupt through the actions of the governing elite.
In this national State of Disaster, the African philosophy of ubuntu was supposed to be harnessed in aid of the many whose livelihoods were destroyed. The Covid-19 stimulus package was supposed to trickle down effectively to the needy, and to help bridge the gap of inequality in South Africa.
From all of this, it is clear that collective action is needed urgently, as the situation has worsened and the state of the economy has deteriorated. More than anything, the future of the youth is being destroyed.
The views of the writer are not necessarily the views of the Daily Friend or the IRR
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