Time reveals true character: critique of South Africa's Government of National Unity

This Chinese proverb, "as distance tests a horse’s strength, so time reveals a person’s heart,” speaks about endurance, honesty, and the slow exposure of true character. For me, as a young South African, it also speaks directly to how we should judge political decisions, especially the idea of a Government of National Unity. I do not agree with the current partners of the GNU, and I believe that only time will confirm why.

The proverb reminds us that strength is not proven in moments of pressure or public performance. It is proven over distance. Anyone can look committed at the start of a journey. Anyone can say the right words in a crisis. But when the road is long and uncomfortable, when sacrifices are required, true intentions are revealed. In politics, this matters deeply because decisions made for short-term stability often collapse when tested by time.

Supporters of the Government of National Unity argue that it represents maturity, compromise, and putting the country first. On the surface, that sounds noble. But unity without shared values is not a strength. It is delayed. It is avoidance. It is pretending that big political differences can be smoothed over simply by sitting at the same table. Time does not reward pretending. Time exposes it.

South Africa’s problems are structural, historical, and deeply unequal. They require clear vision and accountability. A GNU blurs responsibility. When many parties share power, no one fully owns the outcomes. When things fail, blame is passed around. When things succeed, credit is shared vaguely. Over time, this weakens democracy rather than strengthening it. The proverb warns us about this. Distance reveals the heart, and a heart that avoids responsibility will eventually be seen for what it is.

As young people, we are often told to be patient. We are told that unity will create stability, and stability will eventually bring opportunity. But we have been patient for a long time. Youth unemployment, failing public services, and widening inequality are not new problems. If anything, they have worsened over time. A Government of National Unity does not confront this reality honestly. It manages it. It maintains a fragile balance between elites while ordinary people continue to struggle.

The horse in the proverb does not prove its strength by standing still together with other horses. It proves it by moving forward over distance. Movement requires direction. A GNU pulls in multiple directions at once. Each party protects its own interests, voters, and donors. Over time, that tension does not produce progress. It produces paralysis.

There is also a moral issue. Time reveals a person’s heart, and political choices reveal values. When parties with opposing histories, ideologies, and accountability records unite without genuine ideological alignment, it sends a message that power matters more than principle. For a young generation already cynical about politics, this deepens distrust. We learn that convictions are negotiable and that promises are temporary.

Some argue that South Africa has no choice, that unity is necessary to prevent chaos. But fear is a poor foundation for governance. Decisions made out of fear rarely hold up over time. If the heart of the GNU is simply to avoid instability rather than to transform society, then distance will expose that weakness. The cracks may not show immediately, but they will show. The proverb does not say distance reveals perfection. It says distance reveals truth.

Over time, South Africans will judge whether the Government of National Unity served the people or merely protected political comfort. My belief is that time will show it to be a compromise that delayed hard decisions rather than confronting them. As a young South African, I want leadership that is tested by distance and proven by consistency. I want accountability that does not disappear into collective responsibility. Unity is not valuable on its own. It only matters if it moves us forward. And if history teaches us anything, it is that time is ruthless with hollow ideas. It always reveals the heart in the end.

*Mayalo is an independent writer, and the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Independent Media