Pessimism and expectations of instant solutions are the diseases of our time.

It is bewildering how people blindly believe what prophets of doom and populists dish up.

In SA people talk about genocide and even announce it on foreign platforms, while farm murders are at the lowest level in 20 years.

In the US, President Donald Trump describes immigrants as rapists and criminals, while white Americans are responsible for regular mass shootings. He even announced that crime in Germany is on the rise due to immigrants, while it actually decreased.

Of course we are facing problems, as is the case in other countries, but skewed facts and incitement increase tension, lead to division and do not contribute to solutions.

Another disease of our time is the expectation of instant solutions. What went wrong over many years, even over generations, cannot be rectified overnight.

Diversity, a divided nation and socio-economic inequality, worsened by corruption and state capture under the Jacob Zuma era, create a fertile breeding ground for populists and opportunists on all sides to divide and mislead, from the Malemas to the Hofmeyers.

It is now more important than ever that cool heads prevail.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is busy turning a huge ship around. His strategy is longer term - he is not playing the game of the populists who put short-term own interest above that of the country.

A longer-term perspective, constructive criticism and positive inputs are what our country need now.

Dawie Jacobs

Sterrewag