In a series of his valedictory speeches before going into retirement from active politics, world-acclaimed statesman and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela used the following simple phrase: It’s in your hands.
By this he simply meant that the future of South Africa was now in the hands of his successors in government and the young generations of South Africans in civilian society who still had a long life to live while he was evidently in his twilight years.
Instead of clinging on to power like most African leaders on this continent do, Mandela served only one term of five years as president of South Africa before handing the reigns to his successor Thabo Mbeki.
Born on 18 July 1918, the visionary statesman would have been 106 years old today.
Upon retirement in 1999 he established the Nelson Mandela Foundation to pursue his political activism in the twilight of his life.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation, among many other causes, stands for the preservation of his memory and legacy, as well as his ideals for advocacy and dialogue in South Africa and the world at large.
After revealing that he served humanity for 67 years of his life, he urged each and every one of us to spend only 67 minutes of our time every year on his birthday in service to our respective communities.
I still remember the first time I saw him.
It was on TV immediately after he was released from Victor Vester prison on Sunday, 11 February 1990 after 27 years in the slammer.
The second time I saw him was at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, a day after he was released, where he addressed well-wishers and supporters in the first of his many “welcome home” rallies.
“Fellow South Africans, comrades and compatriots, I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a servant of the people of South Africa,” he said in his opening salvo on that historic day, and indeed went on to serve South Africa to the best of his abilities.
It is a pity that these days his popularity has waned a bit, blame it all on those who, after his death, rubbished his name by calling him names like “sellout” and “fake.”.
And also blame it all on those who, through their actions and corruption as leaders in government and as public servants of this country, rubbished his name.
And blame it all yet again on racists who up until today still don’t appreciate his vision regarding racial reconciliation.
And for the umpteenth time, blame it all on police and criminals who work together to make this country a haven for illegal activities.
These days honour is bestowed upon rogue elements who claim that they were fighting for the liberation of this country while in fact they were fighting against the liberation of this country, and up until today are working very hard to make sure that South Africa and its democracy and constitution become a failed project.
Such rogue elements defy even the Constitutional Court and make a mockery of the criminal and justice system of this country.
Now judge Mandela whichever way you want to, but he played his part unselfishly and dedicated his life to us.
It’s in your hands to fall for the lies that are spread by rogue elements about him, and it is also in your hands to see his true legacy and strive for a better South Africa.