To honour Nelson Mandela and other heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle across all political affiliations is to honour the best in all of us. Mandela along with many of his comrades led the protracted battle against white supremacy and among them many met their fate at the hands of the murderous security forces while others were banished to the Robben Island. Some managed to endure the pain of having to live their lives in exile out of the urgent need to continue the fight against oppression. Oliver Tambo is one of those leaders who spent the better part of his mature time here on earth, campaigning tirelessly for sanctions against the apartheid regime and worked in building the liberation movement outside the borders of our country.
The struggle against apartheid was primarily the struggle to free our people from the clutches of racial oppression, in order that they may realise their common pursuits of social and economic prosperity under the full protection of the government. The common refrain among liberation fighters is the promise of a government by the people, for the people, yet the history of liberation movements indicate that almost always post-liberation governments are for the narrow interests of political liberators while the people continue to be subjected to empty rhetoric of a better life while their ignoble existence persists. The reasonable expectation would be a government with the people, a caring government inspired only by the pursuit of general good in the interest of the people. Unfortunately, as with some developing countries those in power derive political mileage from inequalities in society which they exploit for narrow political interests.
South Africa is no different. The ANC, particularly under Jacob Zuma, has demonstrated complete disregard for the interests of the people, which in itself is a blatant betrayal of the promise of liberation to the people and to all the principles and values espoused by founding fathers of the liberation movement.
Fikile Mbalula prior to the 2009 general elections penned a vitriolic letter to former president Mbeki wherein he said: “Mandela handed you a vibrant and united ANC, yet at the twilight of your Presidency, you chose to betray everything that Mandela and those that came before him stood for, struggled for, and laid down their lives for.”
Mbalula in this instance, inspired by some moronic exuberance, was expressing what Zuma’s cheerleaders had felt about Mbeki and his alleged role in sowing seeds of disunity in the ANC. There was a naïve expectation that his removal from office would miraculously serve as the glue that would bring cohesion to what was a conspicuously divided organisation. With hindsight it is crystal clear that the rush by the ANC political factory to dispatch Zuma to lead government was an ill-conceived decision because we now sit with a product that has glaring and unrepairable factory defects.
The ANC has resolved to hold the State of the Nation Address on the 20th anniversary of Mandela’s release from prison. Media reports are that Zuma will pay tribute to this icon of the liberation struggle and grandfather of the nation. It is rather shameful that Zuma will have the audacity to stand before the National Assembly and speak of the commendable deeds of Mandela, which the ANC is hell-bent in reversing. Zuma is nothing compared to what Mandela represented and fought for along with the other illustrious men and women of the liberation movement. It was not the purpose of the liberation struggle that the freed masses are subjected to rampant corruption, lack of service delivery, plundering of state resources, complete moral decay and seemingly unabating violent crime (and the minister of police reckons it’s better to be stabbed at than be shot).
The ANC, which Tambo, Mandela and others built into a cohesive force, is continuing to disintegrate under Zuma as the pursuit for material wealth has overwhelmed the commitment to serving our people and undermined their trust. Those in government appear to be prioritising the expansion of political patronage rather than the expansion of the delivery of basic services and enhancements to the general conditions of the economy in order that the lives of ordinary South Africans can turn for the better.
To honour the legacy of Mandela would require Zuma to do the honourable thing and step down. Not that Mandela himself is a saint, the ANC cannot afford to offend his legacy by being seen to represent iniquities in society nor should we allow them to continue betraying our trust. The best way to achieve the ideals Mandela fought for is to continue on the rightful path of freeing our people from the degrading conditions of poverty, to instil in society amiable virtues which should define our existence as humanity.
Creating a better a life for all should not be an empty refrain while the majority of our people continue to lead an ignoble existence. The duty of the government is to improve the living conditions of our people and ours should be to uplift the conditions of those around us in our respective communities, to continue the struggle for liberation from economic subjugation. To honour heroes of our struggle and on this momentous occasion to honour Mandela is to honour the best in all of us, to reignite the flames of hope among our people as we stride towards what should be a blindingly bright future!
Sentletse – you have hit the nail on the head. I concur. We need to find new leaders – and fast. And hold the old and current ones accountable for abusing their positions and power for personal gain.
The rot can and must be stopped – and it is up to us – South Africans who really do want a better future for all – to stop it. Let’s hold De Klerk and his cabinet accountable – and then move on to Mbeki & Co and Zuma & Co.
I have had enough – and so – I am sure – have most South Africans. We deserve better leadership and better governance. We – the people of South Africa – simply have to raise the bar.
while we are at it let us remember the Uncle Zephs, Oscar Mpethas, Clarence Makwetus also. We should take this time to rewrite our history as a history of the struggle of the South African people not as a history of the ANC.
Sentletse you’re revising history. Zuma was part of that ANC leadership that led the ANC in exile.If you want to give credit to the ANC in exile you should also accord it to Zuma despite your obvious hatred for the man. The ANC was never cohesive in exile, many people died in ANC camps under the watch of the then ANC president.
Some people disappeared without trace, some were killed by their own within the borders of this country. Ask people who were in exile or read some of their writings, you’d probably temper your romanticism of the exile ANC.
The sooner you engage in honest debate based on facts rather than fashionable sentiments, the better you would contribute to our national discourse.
You lost the battle in Polokwane, instead of gracefully accepting defeat and regrouping to launch a new campaign, you disengaged and relied on dirty tricks and smear campaigns. Imagine when the ANC looses to COPE and refuse to accept defeat and start using dirty tricks. That would be the end of democracy as you know it.
The media can only go this far to win the battle for you. Go to communities, identify their problems and come up with solutions, people are not stupid, they’ll vote you into power.
“The ANC, which Tambo, Mandela and others built into a cohesive force, is continuing to disintegrate under Zuma as the pursuit for material wealth has overwhelmed the commitment to serving our people and undermined their trust.” So, so true. But Mandela was released AFTER apartheid had already been completely dismantled, so you can’t give him direct responsibility for that.
So – why does it have to be the ANC or Cope? Are we – as young South Africans – incapable of starting something new? Something that works – for us? And please don’t suggest that Cope is new.
….and Mandela’s name will be invoked, and honoured, by those in the ruling party who need a diversion for their monumental scandals and corruption and non-performance.
In a nutshell. Thank You.
Sadly, I am old enough to have been economically and politically active when Madiba was released and lived through his term of office. I find that some of the analysis is blatantly false.
Mandela was not the sainted great leader that he is now made out to be. He was the first president of this country to turn a blind eye to corruption and run a nepotistic administration.
He punished the then health minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who had misappropriated funds by promoting her. He was the guy who set the arms deal in motion.
Madiba’s legacy was saved by his early exit. Had he served a second term, he would share a similar legacy as Thabo Mbeki.
The truth is that Mandela has now been deified to a status much greater than even he would be comfortable with.
Soon it will be a sin to say that, if it is not already so.
Honour Mandella? Why? This used to be a great nation. I had hopes that it would continue to be a great nation with a great future, but alas, it not so. We are a corrupt and violent cesspit, heading down the tubes so fast you can hear the wind whisling. And this why we must honour Mandella?
I will save my honour to honour something honourable, but not the false songs of praise.
Des Currie
THAMI – Spot on !! Compare Mandela’s legacy to that of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito after Japan’s destruction in 1945. In 40 years they became the second largest economy on this planet
In his speech of 15 August 1945 he urged his people “to unite your total strength and devote it to rebuilding our land for your future”
No promises of Affirmative action ,BEE , Social grants , and all the other socialistic wogwash !!
Simple plain hard work with a view on the future !!
If we do not leave the past behind , it will bury us – as it is already doing so – daily!!
Zuma is a disgrace and a sham. He is an insult to this country and doesn’t deserve to occupy the Presidency of this wonderful country which the likes of Mandela and Mbeki worked so hard for.
Sentletse,the same Mandela endorsed Zuma(and ANC thereafter)despite being exposed in his rape trial and Schabir who’s not fit to rule.Remember this introduction to the people of Idutywa before last election “here is Unxamalala…he is the ruler now…may god bless you”Now suddenly some people are shock by Zuma’s latest scandal.
@Graham, apartheid was most certainly NOT completely dismantled when Mandela was released. maybe the “whites only” signs were taken down etc. but the referendum for whites only was still to be held in ’92