In 1994 we as a nation came together and moved away from the oppressed white minority rule with a vote for the African National Congress, thus bringing forth the new Democratic South Africa. The people had spoken and the so called Rainbow Nation was born, South Africa began its journey on its new course. Twenty years later most would say we have not reached the destination we had set out for. We have made many strides as a young democracy in social and economic issues, but in order to set a new course, one that we are in critical need of, we are going to have to evaluate the current state of our country. Today inequality is growing in the form of poverty, which is clearly shown in the gap between the social classes in South Africa.

Gavin Mageni head of the Design Institute states that our democracy is still facing significant socio-economic, socio-cultural and social-political problems. According to Mageni these problems in our democracy can be attributed to the way we experience democracy,  democracy should be seen as being a relative concept  ,not just in a country but in an intrinsic way essential to our own beings.  In order to achieve this, we need to implement a paradigm shift in the way we not only define democracy in ourselves but the way we embrace the ability to democratize the world we see. He states that by applying the principles of design; listening, creating, developing and adding value , we will add a value chain . This value chain empowers us to change our paradigm by sharing knowledge and establishing co-creation and cohesion.

Design should be seen as a catalyst of economic growth, and its strength depends on the ability to innovate for economic sustainability and global relevance. Currently a chasm exist worsening socio-economic development, all the investments, research, time and development somehow does not manifest in a tangible product or economic results.  By applying the concept of design we can fill the chasm, ideas converted into concepts and intelligence leading to the creation of feasible products. Instead of focusing on research and development we need to focus on research for development. We have the ability and skilllset to redesign the world, to create beauty and simplicity from complexity and choas by utilising our energy to create growth and a social value.

Our democracy is not just written as a nation, our democracy is a story of working together as a community, being a cohesive unit caring for each other’s wellbeing and joining forces for the development of not only us as individuals but a country.

In order for us to write this new story we need to include of the following points; creating jobs and livelihood; expanding infrastructure; transitioning to a low carbon economy; transforming urban and rural spaces; improving education and training; providing quality health care; building a capable state; fighting corruption and enhancing accountability,transforming society and uniting the nation.

We live in a country were the injustice of inequality is seen in the rampant poverty that surrounds our daily lives. The social and economic gaps between our income classes keep growing adding to our ready divided country. Only as a nation, standing together as a community can we achieve the goals set, eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. We have banded together before to fight and win inequality, surely we can do this again.  As the saying goes, be the change you want to see in the world.