South Africa’s government is unable to protect its citizens and reliably provide basic services such as electricity and water, indicating that it is a failing state. While the state has not completely failed, South Africans are increasingly having to take matters into their own hands to secure basic services. This may be through investing in alternative energy sources such as solar, backup water systems, private education, and private security. The state’s alternatives, whether it be Eskom, the government education system, or the police, have been unable to fulfil their mandates in recent years.
Sam Busa