Time for us to speak out about poor government

"SEATED on high, the undefeated One...".

These words have been resonating with me for a few days now. It's from a song called No Other Name by a church music band in Australia called Hillsong.

The events in our nation's legislature have concerned me deeply to the point where I actually cried on Thursday November 13 when I witnessed what was unfolding. I am deeply grateful to the men and women who literally put their lives on the line in defence of our constitution and democracy.

Their acts go far beyond the natural tussle of opposition versus government. These were good people standing up to the evils of constitutional destruction.

Twenty years ago our nation emerged from the ashes of great injustices to become the darling of the world. We were triumphant over gross human rights violations by a government convinced it was doing God's work.

It even justified its disgusting actions by using the Bible. God, however, will not be mocked and that government fell like so many other unjust regimes at the time.

Fast forward 20 years and what we see is another government acting unjustly. How you can allow a single man to benefit from a R246-million bill when millions of people are living on less than R2 a day, it is soul destroying.

It is no secret that the governing party, the ANC, lost its moral compass a good few years back. The recent ad hoc committee to deal with the president's private residence in Nkandla is simply a rubber stamp underlining this point.

I've always been positive about the future of our country. However recently, but for the grace of God, I struggle to remain positive.

I believe there is no better time for the church and good people to stand up and in the face of evil speak life. There are two things we can do: first pray to the point of tears and ask God, the undefeated One, to heal our nation. Second, we need to act.

In a democracy, apart from community activism, action is exercised through the ballot box.

God doesn't favour any political party. He will act on behalf of those who act justly.

Let this guide where you place your cross at the next elections.

Final thought: I've heard it said often from friends and family that there is no point in voting – it makes no difference. It's been said that the only thing needed for evil to prosper is for good people to do nothing.

 Grant Abbott, Charlo, Port Elizabeth