If South Africa is to prosper tomorrow, it has to make sure its people are well-educated, that it has a meritocracy as its guiding principle, and that its people realise that with rights come duties.
If South Africa is to prosper tomorrow, it has to make sure its people are well-educated, that it has a meritocracy as its guiding principle, and that its people realise that with rights come duties.
That’s according to Geoffrey de Jager, who received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University on Saturday for his extensive philanthropic contributions spanning across education, heritage, social justice and the environment.
“I don’t want to get a job because of a quota, I want to get a job because I’m the best person for the job. That’s the cornerstone of all prosperous economies,” said De Jager at a press briefing on Friday.
De Jager said democracy was a fragile thing and many South Africans did not understand its real meaning. “Democracy is not about someone else doing it for us. It’s wrong for us to say the government must do it. We are the government, we are the ones who create the infrastructure and provide healthcare and education,” he said.
“Democracy is about making people aware that with rights come duties. For a right to exist without a duty is a privilege. Too many people talk about their rights, but not about what they’re going to do in exchange for those rights.”
De Jager singled out education as the primary way of safeguarding South Africa’s democracy. “Roads and railways are all well and good, but we have to educate our people to be able to maintain and improve this infrastructure.”
De Jager said that it should be made easier for the private sector to be involved in education, for example allowing companies to invest in schools as tax breaks. In his speech at Saturday’s graduation ceremony, de Jager encouraged graduates to be participatory citizens.
“If you are willing to contribute and participate in corporate life… whilst thinking outside the box and embracing the principles of fair play and participate in civic life, then I believe South Africa will succeed as a democracy… A degree means nothing unless you go out into the community to prove yourself….”
