There was a time, not so far in the past but far, far away from memory, when the refrain "pick up the spear has fallen!" would have reverberated around and defined the mood at FNB stadium. In truth, the spear fell a long, long time ago and was not, as required, picked up. It is lying, probably broken or rusted, somewhere between the release of Nelson Mandela and the conclusion of CODESA II. It has, sadly, been downhill ever since. Of course there is another view: that the spear was picked up and that it continues to pierce the way forward for South Africa and for Black South Africans in all their glorious shades and hues.
Today, there's no chants of "pick up the spear has fallen". Today there are boos and cheers, song and dance and tears and smiles. Today we celebrate a life lived and cherished by many. Today is about reflection, recognition and understanding. Reflecting on the time Mandela was active in South African political history. The time interrupted by some 27 years. The time rebooted in 1990 and shut down in 1999. A short time in the history of the struggle for a free and equal society. It is time to recognize the contribution of Nelson Mandela to the emergence of the South Africa we know today. From the instruction he issued to Umkhonto we Sizwe to defend Shell House, the headquarters of the ANC, as it then was. To defend it against the attack by Inkatha. To the decision to disband Umkhonto we Sizwe.
Throughout his political life, Nelson Mandela remained, in his own words, a disciplined member of the ANC. In this capacity he championed the cause of non-racialism, justice and peace. Contradictory as these may sometimes be. For the ANC and for Nelson Mandela personally, these were not up for discussion. He declared "I have fought against white domination. I have fought against black domination. . ." The fight against white domination seems to have ended with the election of Nelson Mandela as president of the Republic of South Africa. That I believe was the beginning of the fight against black domination. He may have been the face and embodiment of the struggle against Apartheid but he was so as a member of the collective that is the African National Congress. A collective he would never cross or be against. Always a disciplined cadre of the ANC. The collective that is always at the ready to fight black against black domination.
Nelson Mandela is not by any means unique in any of the attributes for which he is revered around the world. These attributes are in fact the stuff Blackness is made of. From the time he went on a visit to Orania, that enclave of Afrikaner separatism, where he is reputed to have shared a cuppa with the wife of apartheid's architect. To the time when he led the springboks onto the field when they scored a rare victory against the All Blacks to claim the rugby World Cup in 1995. This turning of the other cheek is what millions of black people do and have always done. When it comes to other black people though, there's no turning the other cheek - there's black on black violence. It is not about peace and reconciliation, it is about self-defence units and about destroying the opponent, defending the ANC. The kindness he is reputed to have shown his enemies is not unique. It is the same kindness that black women continue to raise white children, often at the unavoidable expense of their own. The tolerance and accommodation for and of whiteness is what black people do and will continue to do. The tolerance and accommodation that we show the 2 white people at a township funeral by conducting the proceedings in English/Afrikaans. The courage of Nelson Mandela was etched on the defiant faces of children who faced the brutal might of apartheid forces. The women and men of the unrelenting defiance campaign. The church and civic leaders who took to the streets to claim their humanity. Their struggles created the legend that is Mandela which in turn sustained their struggle.
Nelson Mandela like everyone and everything, is not just one thing. He is many things, some contradictory, some beautiful, some ugly. He is as much the Nelson Mandela of the Magoo's bomber as he is of St George's cathedral peaceful demonstrators. He is the Mandela of the self-defence units and of the mourners at a mass funeral in Boipatong, Soweto, Ulundi. But history is written by the victors; or is that rewritten? This is the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela that I pause to pay tribute, respect and gratitude to. As Jacob Zuma said in that BBC interview: "there are no more Mandelas".
Just Iike with his release from prison, the first democratic elections, the victory of the springboks, the victory of Bafana-Bafana, the hosting of the soccer World Cup - the euphoria of unity, of the rainbow nation and of nonracial South Africa, will pass. We will go back to the two in one South Africa, back to life as we have come to know and expect it. We will return to the crazy normal that is our South Africa. We will move on to the politics of electioneering and finger pointing, of lies and empty promises, threats and fear-mongering.
Until then, I pause to pay respect to Madiba. To celebrate his life and to wish his family and loved ones well and condolences. Hamba kahle qabane, the spear has fallen, broken, lost.
Today, there's no chants of "pick up the spear has fallen". Today there are boos and cheers, song and dance and tears and smiles. Today we celebrate a life lived and cherished by many. Today is about reflection, recognition and understanding. Reflecting on the time Mandela was active in South African political history. The time interrupted by some 27 years. The time rebooted in 1990 and shut down in 1999. A short time in the history of the struggle for a free and equal society. It is time to recognize the contribution of Nelson Mandela to the emergence of the South Africa we know today. From the instruction he issued to Umkhonto we Sizwe to defend Shell House, the headquarters of the ANC, as it then was. To defend it against the attack by Inkatha. To the decision to disband Umkhonto we Sizwe.
Throughout his political life, Nelson Mandela remained, in his own words, a disciplined member of the ANC. In this capacity he championed the cause of non-racialism, justice and peace. Contradictory as these may sometimes be. For the ANC and for Nelson Mandela personally, these were not up for discussion. He declared "I have fought against white domination. I have fought against black domination. . ." The fight against white domination seems to have ended with the election of Nelson Mandela as president of the Republic of South Africa. That I believe was the beginning of the fight against black domination. He may have been the face and embodiment of the struggle against Apartheid but he was so as a member of the collective that is the African National Congress. A collective he would never cross or be against. Always a disciplined cadre of the ANC. The collective that is always at the ready to fight black against black domination.
Nelson Mandela is not by any means unique in any of the attributes for which he is revered around the world. These attributes are in fact the stuff Blackness is made of. From the time he went on a visit to Orania, that enclave of Afrikaner separatism, where he is reputed to have shared a cuppa with the wife of apartheid's architect. To the time when he led the springboks onto the field when they scored a rare victory against the All Blacks to claim the rugby World Cup in 1995. This turning of the other cheek is what millions of black people do and have always done. When it comes to other black people though, there's no turning the other cheek - there's black on black violence. It is not about peace and reconciliation, it is about self-defence units and about destroying the opponent, defending the ANC. The kindness he is reputed to have shown his enemies is not unique. It is the same kindness that black women continue to raise white children, often at the unavoidable expense of their own. The tolerance and accommodation for and of whiteness is what black people do and will continue to do. The tolerance and accommodation that we show the 2 white people at a township funeral by conducting the proceedings in English/Afrikaans. The courage of Nelson Mandela was etched on the defiant faces of children who faced the brutal might of apartheid forces. The women and men of the unrelenting defiance campaign. The church and civic leaders who took to the streets to claim their humanity. Their struggles created the legend that is Mandela which in turn sustained their struggle.
Nelson Mandela like everyone and everything, is not just one thing. He is many things, some contradictory, some beautiful, some ugly. He is as much the Nelson Mandela of the Magoo's bomber as he is of St George's cathedral peaceful demonstrators. He is the Mandela of the self-defence units and of the mourners at a mass funeral in Boipatong, Soweto, Ulundi. But history is written by the victors; or is that rewritten? This is the Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela that I pause to pay tribute, respect and gratitude to. As Jacob Zuma said in that BBC interview: "there are no more Mandelas".
Just Iike with his release from prison, the first democratic elections, the victory of the springboks, the victory of Bafana-Bafana, the hosting of the soccer World Cup - the euphoria of unity, of the rainbow nation and of nonracial South Africa, will pass. We will go back to the two in one South Africa, back to life as we have come to know and expect it. We will return to the crazy normal that is our South Africa. We will move on to the politics of electioneering and finger pointing, of lies and empty promises, threats and fear-mongering.
Until then, I pause to pay respect to Madiba. To celebrate his life and to wish his family and loved ones well and condolences. Hamba kahle qabane, the spear has fallen, broken, lost.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment