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South Africa

posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 05:23 PM

About Me

I was fortunate enough to be in South Africa for Nelson Mandela's birthday on a Saga Holidays press trip. Capetown, Kwazulu Natal, Pretoria, Johannesburg, like most visitors I was a little anxious about my visit, mainly due to my preconceived ideas about the people and the country, most of it from the News and my knowledge of the country's racial segregation history. The irony of blogging about my trip on 121 (a website set up to provide alternative takes on countries to challenge negative perceptions) was not lost on me. As the trip drew closer I became very uneasy about my anxiety, mainly due to the fact that I moan more than anyone I know about the image of Africa in the West and people's lack of willingness to challenge the negative perceptions they have of our beautiful continent. My fears were laid to rest on arrival in the country, the warmth, hospitality and humour of South Africans I met everywhere added to a luxury trip that ended up exceeding all my expectations. The country and the people felt like home and family. I now know how the negative images we see repeatedly of a country and it's people form our opinions even though we ought to know better.

The Triumph of Ubuntu
South Africa on Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday can only be described as 'an African dream realised'. Mandela's dream.
The world cup in 2010, a thriving tourist and hospitality industry, economic and political stability, integrated schools where children only learn of their segregated past in history books, a free press that encourages political debate and one of the most progressive Constitutions, one which contains more guarantees of equality than any other in the world. The Constitution is proudly handed out in booklet form to visitors at most tourist attractions. Anyone with even a brief knowledge of their history could never begrudge them that pride. Theirs is a testament to the impossible possibility, and achievement of a country that only less than a decade and a half ago suffered from one of the worst forms of racial segregation.
The last country in Africa to gain independence, South Africa has come a long way in the 14 years it's been a democracy.
It now plays a father role in Africa, acting as mediator in conflicts throughout the last decade and offering refuge to brethren from troubled regions around the continent.
The beautiful weather, glorious sunsets, world class cuisine, adventure sports, breathtaking natural attractions are all fantastic reasons why visitors should make South Africa a destination of choice, but most importantly South Africa is witness to an Africa that works because 'Ubuntu'- the profound African sense that we are human only through the humanity of others, dictates the way the nation lives. For an increasingly cynical world it provides proof that a peoples will can triumph over any political adversity, to bring about desired change.

''During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people, I have fought against White domination, and I have fought against Black domination. 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 which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if it needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.''
Nelson Mandela

Today a grateful people reflect as they celebrate the 90th birthday of a simple man who brought them a hope higher than hope, jubilant that he lives to witness his dreams for their country realised, aware that many other loved political activists did not live to see the free South Africa their struggle brought.

To read more
http://121blog24.blogspot.com/

Comments

Ugonna Wachuku

Thursday, August 28, 2008 08:24 AM

Thanks a lot, Safiya. This is an interesting and thought-provoking post. I commend this with much appreciation. South Africa is, indeed, an inspiring microcosm for all nations. And may Somalia also experience that healing and prospering change you seek. GOD bless you abundantly with wisdom. Cheers!

Safiya Ahmed

Monday, September 01, 2008 12:44 PM

Ugonna thank you for your comment and prayer for Somalia. I hope South Africa continues to live up to it's role as a leader of the African continent. xx

Tommy Hutchinson

Tuesday, September 02, 2008 08:57 AM

In history you often read about great people having done great things so we are fortunate to live during Mandela's time and to experience him first hand. Thank you Safiya for this posting and i-genius hopes to be organising an event in South Africa early next year.

MOSHOOD (MOSH) FOLORUNSHO

Tuesday, September 02, 2008 04:27 PM

Safiya, Anytime I read any stuff about South Africa and the period of apartheid, I always have this nostalgic feeling of domination not only by the whites but also by ANC. There was a young man who fought apartheid with stones and bare hands in those inglorious period. The young man was by name Tsietsi Mashini. Because this young man did not belong to ANC, there was a calculated attempt by the power that be to completely erase his name from South African history. It took efforts from the Civil Society Organization to win his name back into the anals of South African history. Thank Goodness, Mandiba at later stage (2007) paid homage to this great young man by visiting his grave.

Barry Crisp

Monday, September 15, 2008 01:40 AM

It is a wonderful feeling, and a sense of pride and inspiration to be living amongst an era of amazing people doing extraordinary things.

Bende Mark

Thursday, November 06, 2008 09:31 AM

Wind/s of change(s) – Bende Mark Like any political and democratic dispensation, change is of the essence. My name is Bende Mark, a South African and a keen follower of global happenings. I am glad to share with you, Safiya, that after your return to the UK few months ago, the wind of changes started blowing with a strong westerly, as a promise of a new political landscape in the country ushered into our democratic system. The advent of this turn saw a formation of a new opposition party this past weekend, spearheaded by the former National Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) Mr Mosiua Lekota and the former Premier of a thriving and economically progressive Gauteng province Mr Mbazima Shilowa. These and other disgruntled members of the ruling party saw it fit to break away from the movement that they felt no longer represented the values and desires of a common man. The ANC, the largest and oldest liberation movement in Africa is decimating and many of us believe it is for the best. This break up or “divorce” as put by Lekota, follows the advent of a forced and controversial resignation of and by the former ANC president and the President of the Republic, Mr Thabo Mbeki in September this year. This was seen by many as an unfair treatment of a man who has done so much for the country's economic successes, a man who has placed the country on a global map as a recognised progressive global player. The most interesting thing about this decision taken by the ANC’s Nation Executive Committee (NEC) is that it was taken just six months before the end of President Mbeki's tenure. This is at the same time that the incumbent president of the ANC and presidential hopeful Mr Jacob Zuma is facing prosecution for all types of fraud and corruption charges. It is at the same time that the ANC is pushing for the scraping off of an FBI-like National Prosecution Authority (NPA) loosely known as The Scorpions http://www.npa.gov.za/ReadContent424.aspx, which has been set up to investigate and prosecute people involved in Serious Economic Crimes in the country. Since the new dispensation, the NPA has successfully prosecuted thousands of the so called hardened and organised criminals and they have been hailed as the most effective crime fighting unit in the country in years. I am not trying to negate or discourage the positive messages uttered here so far, it is without a doubt that South Africa and the world have been blessed to have a leader with such honour as Nelson Mandela. He is a true epitome of hope, sacrifice, dedication, wisdom and courage. Even these words fall short of describing the kind of blessing this man has been to us. I am merely trying to give another perspective of our continued struggle, amidst the progress and economic successes that a few of us are enjoying (which is another topic on its own, will reserve it for next time). He (Mandela) must be saddened by the infighting, the greed and the disrespect for the elderly by the ANC Youth leadership, which is presented in the form of an ill-informed and unrepentant Julius Malema, who made headlines recently through his controversial and irresponsible statements and his vows to take up arms for Zuma and eliminate those who are against Zuma becoming president of the country. The most worrying fact about this whole thing is that these utterances are not being reprimanded, instead they are being echoed by the ANC leadership. The ANC president has called ANC dissidents snakes and political hypocrites and remonstrated those who are planning to leave the ANC for the newly formed organisation. It must be sad to watch a movement for which you have embraced and fought for so many years fall apart and drift away from its primary mandate – which is to serve the people. With millions getting poorer every day and the so called “Black elite” getting richer by every rise and fall of the sun, it is really hard to watch, say or do nothing. However, I and many other young leaders in the country are very optimistic about the future, with or without the ANC as the ultimate ruler. The youth are starting to realise that an unchallenged government is more venomous than the most venomous Amazonian spider. That a future without its youth is no future at all, which is the message that that new party is driving on and which is appealing to young people. The youth in this country is now yearning for a political youth organisation that represents the needs and the desires of the youth in this country in this current climate, which the ruling party’s youth wing is not. Another important aspect of this whole phenomenon is that people will start to think more about who and what they are voting for come the 2009 general elections, contrary to having the ANC being the natural choice because of what it stood for and represented. It gives us choice, which even the strongest opposition parties are failing to provide to the general masses. I think we are entering a new phase in our country’s infant democracy and the latest events in the country are a representation of this new phase. In essence, this represents a turning point in South African political landscape and it is something to be excited about, regardless of who wins the next elections. This gives me hope that we will all take charge of who will from now on occupy an office at the Union Buildings.