IF THE poor were to stop wishing for something better than democracy had promised, the unemployed give up looking for the dignity work offers, and those never meant to experience equality cease crying for justice, would this be music to investors to make South Africa beloved for business?

Would the reason for the massive investor turnout be driven by the generous spirit to do away with inequality, unemployment and poverty?

Central to the question is whether or not justice is the ultimate governing motive by which all human interactions are conceived, born and bred for humanity's sake.

In their clamour for stability, investors have no business believing that justice is none of their concern.

Business should know by now that stability does not walk alone. It is accompanied by justice.

Stability alone can be manipulated to become a haven for tyranny to sadly make real Samuel Johnson's contention that "patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel".

James Leroy Wilson rightly states that there is nothing wrong with patriotism.

Neither is there with criticism. When conscientious objection is labelled as unpatriotic, exposure of corruption deemed hostile and honest disagreement not only vilified as unthankful but also met with character assassination, know that the truth has become too close for comfort for rogues to cope.

"Your country is, after all, the land you call home. To do what is best for your country is to do what is best for your home," says Wilson.

But how can the best of our homes ever be possible when poverty menacingly prowls the streets? How loud should the warning bells be ringing about the rising tide of unemployment threatening to plunge our country into tragic, mindless chaos?

Is there hope for our world to get better when the corridors of power appear to pay nothing more than lip service to the devouring beast of inequality embroiling both wealthy and poor in a fatal battle?

The excruciating loss of life and limb in a battle for wages on August 16 2012 at Marikana in North West, the disgruntlement of farmworkers more recently in Western Cape that saw women walk off their working fields 11 days later and the fiery protest at Zamdela township in Sasolburg, Free State, on the weekend of the commencement of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, are all worrying signs of hope diminishing for ordinary people.

But where there is light in the room for all to see what needs to be done unconstrained, rock star Bono boldly has news for you: do not change the bulb, but change your leaders.

Equally lacking in leadership urgency for redemptive action are the capitals of the world.

Be it about climate in Copenhagen, the wealth of nations annually being discussed in Davos and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals in New York, committed actions have not gone beyond the borders of the rhetoric that those summits have come to be known for.

In September 2000, the world seemed fired for purposeful united action when it adopted the Millennium Development Goals, which included, among others, the reduction of poverty to noticeable levels by 2015.

Two years before that target date, in Davos this year, the world appears divided and less concerned about the capability to keep the promises made.

Durable stability not only points to political leadership bidding for their respective states to be considered worthy doors for investor opportunities to knock on, but also fiercely fighting to make their countries equally home for their citizens for justice to prevail and business to prosper.