NOVEMBER 25 2021
At a time when many South Africans, especially those
living in and around Durban, Pietermaritzburg and other parts of KwaZulu-Natal,
are anxious about their everyday lives following the disturbances in July this
year (2021), I would like to recall the rich legacy of non-racialism, peace,
democracy and unity promoted by freedom icon and South Africa’s first democratic
president, Nelson Mandela.
In the following feature, I want to remind South Africans
about how Mandela promoted unity and a “South Africa for all” despite him being
deprived of his freedom for more than half his life – 27 years of which was
being imprisoned on Robben Island.
IDEAL OF A DEMOCRATIC AND FREE 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.
This correspondent, who has covered Nelson Mandela
ever since his release on February 11 1990 and right up to his death in December
2013, believes 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 elements 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 white 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, who passed away a few weeks ago.
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 32nd
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.”
But now for the first time since 1994 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 elements are
poisoning the minds of young people and others through their racially-inciting
demagogury.
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 Nov 25 2021
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