South Africa is dwindling guys, if you’re not aware. You’re dwindling. You’re a boat without a skilled sailor, a ship without a rudder, and the seas are taking you wherever they want. Those seas are the agendas of everybody but the South Africans themselves. Talent is leaving, capital is being externalised, tax revenues are being lost. Those are the facts to be upset about. And the only question for South Africans to answer for themselves is, ‘In two generations’ time, when your grandchildren look at you and say, this beautiful country you tell me about that had so much potential, where you guys ran ads about being alive with possibility, what happened to it? When it was happening, what did you do?’ It’s up to you. The future of this country, it’s up to you.

— Vusi Thembekwayo

What will we do to save our country?

I will be the first to admit that there have been times when I have thought to myself, "South Africa is not worth saving. A drowning person who will only take you down with them. Save yourself and find opportunity elsewhere."

I have since, thankfully, come to realise that I am indebted to my beloved country. It has given me such a wonderful youth, filled with incredible experiences, leading me to become the young gentleman I am today. I understand my position of privilege, and acknowledge my duty to do everything that I can to serve the people of South Africa.

In January of both 2023 and 2024, my friends and I helped the Morgan Bay Community and Township by cleaning up their neglected field and, subsequently, hosting a soccer tournament. In 2023, after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, we, the 'Cape Mabenas', lost the final game, with 'Eleven Milan' taking home The Crazy Store Cup. Even though we lost, we couldn't have been more proud - uniting a community like that and sharing in their joy created a memory in all of us... something that makes me wonder why we don't all put more effort into reviving this place that we call home. We returned in 2024 for an even more successful event (although we were severely less well-conditioned haha). This time, attempting to gather funds, clothing, books, hardware supplies, and the like from our own communities, passing on what we could to the deserving folk of our beloved Morgs.

I believe that it is each and every citizen's responsibility to utilise their full potential and apply themselves to South Africa, doing what they can to help move the country forward.

SA is filled with untapped potential, waiting to be unleashed; we, the next generation of talent, are the ones who need to see it through.

The Springboks can't be the only ones keeping the country from falling apart; it is our time to rise to the occasion. I call upon all of us to stay and to serve. The grass truly is greener where you water it.

So, I ask, what will you do to make a difference?