Remembering Nelson Mandela

By Sicebise Msengana

"I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying." -Nelson Mandela

I admired him not only for  success in his political career, but also because of his work ethic and courage.

Nelson Mandela was a man who dedicated himself in fighting apartheid. Things didn't have to be this way, but he sacrificed 67 years of his life in service to his people. After the so-called "peaceful" transition to a democratic South Africa,  20 years of power, and the majority of African South Africans are still poor, while whites have  gained significantly from the deal we made with the devil.
  Gillian Schutte writes "the transitional system of reconciliation, which seemed only to benefit white folk – coupled with the implementation of a business-biased macroeconomic policy – whites have continued to benefit hugely from the system. Economic studies have shown that many whites have in fact grown richer in the past 20 years – while the majority of blacks and smaller pockets of whites and minority groups have just grown poorer..."

It's important to to bring into light  other aspects of his life that perhaps were not so heroic.  We have to seen the widespread of unemployment, corruption and crime. Some problems in South Africa illuminate from the failure of dismantling white supremacy, also known as apartheid.  Mandela's legacy has facilitated the continuation of the exploitation ( neo-apartheid) of the African soul using an African face. "He was at the end of his life also a bitter old man, well aware how his very political triumph and his elevation into a universal hero was the mask of a bitter defeat. His universal glory is also a sign that he really didn't disturb the globe order of power," added Slavoj Zizek.

However, one mistake don't outweigh many good deeds, regardless of how bad it is. Mandela's good acts still remain as an example of good leadership. He went to prison for his convictions and spent 27 years, for his beliefs. Not everyone has the courage to do what Madiba did. People are good at talking but nobody can walk the talk. The future of African leadership depends on us young people. It's us who should change the course. Setting our own path. But the message has to clear and uncompromising!

These people who are telling us Africans, to love or be "nonviolent" towards our enemies or wait for freedom in some distant future are teaching criminal philosophies. We should do our best to ignore them. Africans wherever and whenever they're provoked should fight back.

Africans, in my opinion, should fight for justice even if it means breaking the enemy's necks.