AS WE CELEBRATE 27 YEARS OF FREEDOM TODAY – APRIL 27 2021 – WE MUST CHERISH NELSON MANDELA’S RICH LEGACY OF A UNITED, NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

 

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” – NELSON MANDELA

 

April 27 2021

 

As we celebrate 27 years of our new democracy on Tuesday, April 27 (2021), I would like to bring you some of the words of wisdom that our first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, had stated  about freedom for all people.

Over the years ever since his release on February 11 1990 and his passing in December 2013, Dr Mandela always acknowledged the role played by all South Africans in the struggles for a new, non-racial and democratic South Africa and how the new South Africa would be a home for all citizens and people.

I produced this radio documentary on his 90^th birthday on July 18 2008.

 

NELSON MANDELA – HIS RICH LEGACY OF A UNITED, PEACEFUL, NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

 

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

 

 

The late former South African President, Nelson Mandela, was more than just a political leader. At a time when South Africans are celebrating 27 years of our freedom, it is appropriate to assert that Mandela was one leader, like many of his contemporaries, who had continually promoted unity, non-racialism and peaceful co-existence of all people. 

Veteran journalist, Subry Govender, who has covered Nelson Mandela ever since his release on February 11 1990 and right up to his death on December 5  2013, writes that wherever he is now, Mandela will be deeply disillusioned and disappointed by actions of those political leaders who are now spreading racial hatred and disunity. It seems that these new political elites have no respect or regard for Mandela’s RICH LEGACY of unity, peaceful co-existence, non-racialism and democracy.

 

RICH LEGACY OF NON-RACIALISM, UNITY, PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE AND DEMOCRACY

 

Although Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades and spent more than 50 years of his life fighting minority rule, he has always promoted the values and principles of unity and peaceful co-existence of the majority African people alongside the white, coloured and Indian-origin communities.

He first demonstrated his desire for a peaceful and united South Africa only a few hours after his release from prison on February 11 1990. Addressing a massive crowd of people at the Grand Parade in Cape Town, he said:

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

                    

F W de KLERK: “Man of integrity”

 

At the same time, he went further to demonstrate his commitment to a peaceful South Africa when in his speech he showed no animosity to his former oppressors and spoke highly of the last white President, F W de Klerk.

De Klerk, not only made Mandela’s release possible, but was also chiefly responsible for the peaceful transfer of power from the white minority to the black majority, led by Mandela’s African National Congress.

He referred to De Klerk as a “man of integrity” despite drawing some “no, no” from the people who had gathered to welcome him as a free man.

This is what he said about De Klerk:

“Mr De Klerk has gone further than any other Nationalist President in taking real steps to normalise the situation.

“It must be added that Mr De Klerk himself is a man of integrity.”

Mandela pursued the unity theme throughout the negotiations process from 1990 and thereafter as President, and during his retirement.

Only five days before he was installed as the country’s first democratic President on May 10 1994, Mandela outlined his vision for the new South Africa when he addressed a large crowd of people in Cape Town. This public meeting was organised with the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and struggle stalwarts such as Dr Alan Boesak, Trevor Manuel and Mr Dullah Omar.

He once again spoke of the new non-racial South Africa being a country where all people would live in peace and harmony.

 

“CITIZENS OF ONE NATION”

 

“The South Africa we have struggled for, in which all our people, be they African, coloured, Indian or white, regard themselves as citizens of one nation is at hand. We honour the best sons and daughters of all our people. We can count amongst them, Africans, coloureds, whites, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews – all of them united by a common vision of a better life for the people of this country.”

He showed this theme when he established his first democratic government. It was not only all inclusive but he also ensured that the different communities were represented in his Cabinet. He also travelled the length and breadth of South Africa in order re-assure the different cultural and religious groups that individual and group rights would be protected in the new, non-racial and democratic South Africa.

 

“NO CULTURAL GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL SHOULD FEEL INSECURE IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA”

 

In one address in Durban in November 1994, Mandela gave an assurance that no cultural group or individual should feel insecure and that they should become part of the new South Africa. This is what he said:

“The benefits of the new era for peace and prosperity, freedom and tolerance will now be clear. We are one nation of many cultures and religions. No community or religion has anything to fear from non-racialism and democracy. On the contrary, all communities and religions now enjoy equal respect without preference.”

In one address in Soweto in Johannesburg during the same period, Mandela told the people that the ANC did not regard itself as conquerors. This was his theme throughout his five-year term as President and when he stepped down in 1999 it was the same message that he passed down to his successor, President Thabo Mbeki, and other leaders within the ruling ANC.

And in 2008 when South Africans observed the 32^nd anniversary of the Soweto uprisings, Mandela used the occasion to once again remind the youth that they must work towards promoting unity and non-racialism.

This was his message: “As future leaders of this country your challenge is to foster a nation in which all people, irrespective of race, colour, sex, religion or creed, can assert social cohesion fully. Mindful of your own challenge you must continue to promote the principle of relentless freedom and democracy as it is the foundation upon which issues of human rights are ingrained.”

Now as South Africans celebrate 27 years of our new democracy, many people are justly concerned that Mandela’s sacrifices for our freedom may have been in vain. This is due to the unchecked way in which some political leaders are poisoning the minds of young people and others through their racially-inciting demagoguery.

It seems that these new political elites have no respect or regard for the values and principles of a united, free, peaceful and democratic society that Mandela had pursued during his life.

Mandela would definitely be feeling disillusioned and disappointed wherever he is now.  Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com April 27 2021