702 People's Dialogue: Citizens reflect on poverty and inequality in SA

JOHANNESBURG - Materialism, a lack of patriotism and an inability to understand one another beyond race and class disparities. These are just some of the concerns plaguing South Africans who’ve turned up at the 702 People's Dialogue 
  
702 held its own conversations to get a sense of the nation's pulse ahead of government's National Dialogue, which kicks off next week.
  
Some of the issues raised include unemployment, economic transformation and crime.
  
Just days before the inaugural National Dialogue, Radio 702 has gathered South Africans across all walks of life, who are currently grappling with the many challenges facing the country, with most in the room expressing frustration with corruption that’s not being tackled sufficiently. 
  
Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse's Julius Kleynhans said laws and policies and even the various commissions are not the problem.

READ: 702 People’s Dialogue: Calls for revitalisation of skills development structures to help tackle unemployment
  
"It's really a lack of political will. Corruption is not being defeated by new frameworks, it's thriving because of the absence of consequence, and I think that is."
  
Another listener, who described himself as a concerned citizen and father, said it's not enough to speak about corruption, people have to see action being taken.
  
"Get more police on the ground and also to train them in a different way, to be custodians of law enforcement and love for people and the country." 
  
Some listeners have placed the rot firmly at the door of politicians in the country, saying those entrusted with leadership are not patriotic.