The national debate should not be Gupta State Capture vs White Monopoly Capital

The National Debate should not be Gupta State Capture vs White Monopoly Capital

by Luke Waltham

Over the last few months, a growing divide has occurred between those who solely focus on Gupta State Capture and those who solely focus on White Monopoly Capital. This "binary" debate that has been created in South Africa has not only been divisive but it has been completely sensationalized by both sides. In fact, both sides are right and wrong, to an extent because both Gupta State Capture and White Monopoly Capital are issues that need to be taken seriously in this country because they both hamper and prohibit South Africa from transforming and developing a better economic, social and political South Africa.

When it comes to the Gupta State Capture saga, there is no doubt that our state is being heavily influenced by Gupta decisions. After reading the Public Protector's report "State Capture" and reading, hearing and seeing the various scenarios that have taken place for the last few years, one cannot deny that the Guptas have played a vital role in making executive and political decisions in the country. This has caused many unethical activities to take place and corruption has subsequently increased in South Africa. There is no doubt at that.

However, we cannot ignore that White Monopoly Capital also plays a role in majorly influencing state, political decisions and it has a lot of power in lobbying with the government. White Monopoly Capital has been a problem for a long time as it hasn't given black people opportunities to grow, develop and establish businesses. Instead, a few, white-owned businesses have been dominating the South African economy. Yes, you may argue that the BEE has benefited some black individuals but it has only benefited a small, black elite.

The problem we are facing in South Africa at the moment is that the extreme supporters of both sides are creating fake news, fake stories and disturbing propaganda to divide South Africans and force them to focus on a debilitating, dysfunctional debate rather than dismantling the forces of corruption. A clear example of these propaganda machines has been Bell Pottinger, a British owned marketing & media company that has been tasked with causing racial mayhem in South Africa through negative, skewed media and propaganda. These attempts are causing harm to the development of the South African society.

The most important approach to this debate between the Guptas and WMC is to acknowledge and identify that both exist and both are problematic. Despite both sides trying to use each other as scapegoats, South Africans need to overlook this and realise that both need to be dealt with. The Guptas must not have influence and power over our executive, especially the President and it shouldn't be that we have an economy that is dominated by one particular group. Thus, we need to focus our resources on: solving political and economic corruption and work to transform our economy so that it caters for all South Africans and isn't restricted to a group.

All we need to do, as South Africans, is end this binary argument of Gupta State Capture vs White Monopoly Capital and realise that both issues are important to address and solve. This is a vital starting point to make South Africa a better state for all, one that is not being divided by either forces of corruption and mass influence.