Rekindling the Mandela Legacy: Why South Africa Desperately Needs It?

By: Maria Goyayi

Nelson Mandela, the first black South African President, and an iconic anti-apartheid leader, has left quite a remarkable legacy to South Africa and the world at large. His unwavering commitment to justice, peace, integrity, freedom, and reconciliation continues to inspire millions of people, youth and old alike around the world. In recent years, South Africa under the African National Congress leadership has found itself to be constantly associated with incompetence, violence, and corruption. As the nation transitions from an apartheid regime to a non-racialized economy it significantly suffers from an identity crisis. Critical social trends such as increasing gender violence, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and corruption have constantly dominated the narratives regarding South Africa. While life gradually improves for many, problems which were once associated with apartheid stubbornly have resurfaced. Protests over government failures, which may involve roadblocks, tire burning, and riots, are common. Poor education and healthcare systems still affect many blacks; Police brutality still persists, despite the force not being dominated by whites and generally poor public services with government departments still treating people with heartless disregard. Consequently, now, more than ever, with critical social vices on the rise, South Africa desperately needs to rekindle the spirit of Mandela. The nation desperately needs his ideologies to bind and create a socially cohesive South Africa. Here are some of the reasons why South Africa desperately needs and should rekindle Mandela’s ideologies:

• The Power of Love, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation

One of the most remarkable aspects of Nelson Mandela’s leadership was his ability to forgive and promote love and reconciliation for all citizens and non-citizens   residing in South Africa.  After being incarcerated for 27 years, he emerged as a symbol of hope, peace, and unity, advocating for a peaceful, non-violent transition from apartheid to a non-racialized democratic South Africa. Mandela was convinced black and white South Africans would need to trust one another to move into a shared future. He understood that for the nation to heal past wounds it requires embracing forgiveness, love, and for moving forward together. Currently, as South Africa faces new sets of challenges, deeply rooted in inequalities and social divisions, the nation once again needs to embrace the legacy of forgiveness and reconciliation.  By embracing forgiveness and reconciliation among different segments of its population, the nation bridge gaps and build an inclusive and socially cohesive society.

• Upholding Human Rights and Equality

Mandela tirelessly fought for human rights and equality for all gender and race. He strongly believed that every South African, deserved equal opportunities and treatment, regardless of their race, background, or gender. His extraordinary leadership and life commitment to end apartheid and bring peace and reconciliation to South Africa remains an inspiration for all humanity and the struggle for a world free of injustice, racism, discrimination, and violence. Sadly, today, South Africa still struggles with poverty, unemployment, xenophobia, and other systemic racism. Racial tensions persist, and levels of extreme violence and crime remain high, particularly crime against women where teenage girls are raped, mutilated, and left to die. Subsequently, through reigniting the Mandela spirit of human rights and equality, South Africa can recommit itself to creating and safeguarding a just society, where all citizens have access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. This shall not only honor Mandela’s vision but also uplift the lives of millions of South Africans who are currently marginalized and discriminated. Only together as a nation South Africa shall strive to success as, a peaceful and just nation. Mandela not only liberate an entire nation from the grips of the racist apartheid system but also continued fighting for the world’s most vulnerable people until the very end of his life.

• Leadership with Integrity and Accountability

Unwavering integrity and commitment to accountability are among the descriptors that are widely associated with Mandela’s leadership. He ruled by example and promoted transparency and ethical governance under his leadership. For instance, his fight to end HIV/AIDS while it was not perfect at the beginning, in the years after his presidency he became an ardent campaigner for HIV/AIDS awareness in South Africa. On the contrary, South Africa is facing numerous challenges, including state corruption scandals, violence, and police brutality that have eroded public trust in the government. Cries in the form of strikes and riots over poor public service, for instance, are constantly on the face of South Africa. The proliferation of often violent service delivery protests at a municipal level has been largely attributed to poor service delivery, low productivity, poor communication, poverty and unemployment, poor participation of communities in decision-making processes, and lack of access to information. These have consequently fuelled rumors of favoritism, corruption, and mismanagement by officials. The protests are often regarded as targeting local ward councilors who are deemed responsible for rendering municipal service. To restore faith in leadership and governance, South Africa needs to rediscover the moral compass that former President Mandela embodied. Through prioritizing transparency, integrity, and accountability in leadership, the nation can overcome its present challenges and create a more prosperous future for all.

• Embracing Diversity and Unity

South Africa is known for its rich diversity in culture, and vibrant tapestry of ethnicities, traditions, and languages. Mandela recognized the strength of unifying this diversity under a common purpose. In one of his inspiring speeches, he said “It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not”.  He had a strong belief that unity shall bring sustainable development and peace to a racially divided nation. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. He explored different tactics to embrace unity in a diversified South Africa, including sports such as rugby. His anti-populism ran too deep and at times he was not afraid to take extremely unpopular stands against divisions. For example, when he encouraged the Rugby World Cup of 1996, the story of “Invictus,” he took huge criticism from within the black population. However, in the current South Africa divisions still persist, often fueled by political polarization and socioeconomic disparities. Currently, there is a stronger emphasis on ethnic identity and populism, on differences. Divisions by gender, race, background, political ideologies, and income are common among South Africans. These differences have been the main reasons for instigating violence, disorder, and destruction of properties in South Africa. Rekindling the Mandela legacy implies celebrating diversity, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a sense of national unity. In doing so, South Africa can once again tap into its collective strength and build a society that thrives on its differences rather than being divided by them. South Africans need to co-exist with each other and unite, despite their differences, to bring prosper the nation.

• Inspiring Future Generations

Nelson Mandela’s legacy holds tremendous power to inspire future generations in South Africa and beyond. His legacy portrays much courage, sacrifice, wisdom, and nobility – attributes that demand deep respect and have much to teach future generations. Mandela’s legacy came to symbolize the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice among his countrymen, the Africa continent, and the world at large. Nelson Mandela has been, and will remain, an inspiration for many around the world involved in humanitarian work through his strong belief and commitment to inclusivity. By teaching and creating awareness among the youth about Mandela’s life, his struggles, and his accomplishments, the nation can instill values of compassion, justice, accountability, and equality in future leaders. Nelson Mandela is an iconic South African who is remembered as a leader whose legacy stretched beyond South Africa and inspired the continent. Through sharing Mandela’s story, South Africa can empower its young citizens to stand up against injustice, work towards a fairer society, and create positive change in their communities.

Former President Nelson Mandela’s spirit serves as a guiding light for South Africa’s journey towards a more inclusive and prosperous future. Mandela’s life as an activist, a scholar, a leader, and, ultimately, one of the world’s greatest-ever humanitarians offers a platform for South Africa and the world at large to reflect on its progress. As a nation, being confronted by numerous challenges as it transitions from apartheid to non-racialized democracy needs to embrace Mandela’s spirit in healing the nation and bringing sustainable development.  By embracing forgiveness, upholding human rights, promoting accountability, practicing integrity, fostering unity in diversity, and inspiring future generations, the nation can rekindle the spirit of Mandela and overcome its present predicaments. The country stands at a critical juncture, and now, more than ever, it desperately needs to harness the power of Mandela’s legacy to shape a better tomorrow for all its citizens. Therefore, calling on the government and its stakeholders, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Faith Based Organisations (FBO’s), and the South African Community at large to advocate for and embark on this collective journey to turn the impossible into a reality and honor the legacy of one of the greatest leaders of our time.

Dr. Maria Lauda Goyayi is an academician and a researcher. She writes in her personal capacity.