By Hakim Kyeswa
In a recent post, I argued that countries like Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Ethiopia nations with minimal white influence are rapidly overtaking South Africa in various sectors, despite South Africa’s 5 million whites dominating its economy. I posted that these African nations are improving at a faster pace than South Africa, which remains shackled by a white minority clinging to the remnants of a failed apartheid ideology.
My opinion was met with criticism, but recent events in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have only reinforced my argument.
The incident in Goma is a stark reminder of the shifting dynamics on the African continent. Well-trained and disciplined black Rwandan rebels, not even as well-equipped as the Rwandan army, surrounded and defeated white-trained South African soldiers, killing some and overrunning their positions. South African media attributed this defeat to the rebels’ superior weapons, discipline, and training. What is striking here is that these rebels are black and black-trained, a testament to the growing capabilities of African nations that have long been underestimated.
This is not an isolated incident. Historically, the same rebels, alongside Rwandan and Ugandan soldiers led by James Kabarebe, were defeated by Zimbabwean forces under General Constantine Chiwenga during the battle for Kinshasa, also known as Operation Kitona. This victory led to Zimbabwe being sanctioned by the West for disrupting its plans in the region.
It was a pivotal moment that underscored the resilience and strategic prowess of African nations, even in the face of external pressure. Today, Rwanda and Zimbabwe have mended their relationship and found common ground in their shared vision of a united Africa.
The Goma incident symbolizes a broader trend: African nations like Rwanda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe are rapidly overtaking South Africa in various areas, including military prowess. South Africa, meanwhile, remains trapped in a bubble of self-delusion, fueled by a superiority complex and an over-reliance on its white minority. This decline is not new.
South Africa’s military fate was sealed decades ago when the Boers were defeated in Angola and Namibia by newly independent nations like Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, with the support of Cuba. Despite this, Western military ratings continue to portray South Africa’s army as one of the best on the continent, perpetuating a false narrative that has led the country into conflicts it is ill-prepared to win.
My intention is not to embarrass South Africa but to encourage introspection among its strategists and scenario planners. South Africans often have an inflated perspective of their capabilities, largely due to the presence of white people in their country and the self-aggrandizing propaganda perpetuated by their media. This has fostered a culture of freedom, hedonism, racism, and delusions of grandeur, all of which have weakened the nation.
The truth is that South Africa is a nation in decline, much like its Western masters, with a growth rate below 1% for over a decade. Meanwhile, the rest of Africa is catching up and, in some areas, overtaking the once-dominant giant.
At the heart of South Africa’s decline is its white minority, which continues to sabotage and marginalize the black population, preventing them from reaching their full potential. The nation is like a horse trying to run on its two white and Indian front legs while its black and coloured hind legs are tied. This imbalance is unsustainable and is crippling the country’s progress.
The weakening of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is a case in point. It is this decline that emboldens figures like Peter Mulder to threaten civil war, knowing that his fellow Afrikanerbond members within the army are weakening it from within as they plot Cape secession.
South Africa must shed its inflated self-image and over-reliance on its white minority. The nation must invest in its young people, training them to be the best through diligence and discipline, rather than relying on false accolades that have only served to weaken a once-great nation. The rest of Africa is rising, and South Africa must decide whether it will join this ascendancy or continue its decline. The choice is clear, but the time to act is now.
