Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 18-07-2018
As the world celebrates Mandela Centenary Day, a Stellenbosch professor has told Radio Islam that late former President Nelson Mandela did not fail South Africans, but rather they failed him.
Celebrations for the centenary have already begun and will continue to take place throughout the year under the theme “Be the legacy”.
On Tuesday former US President Barack Obama delivered the 16th Annual Mandela Lecture which focused on “Renewing the Mandela Legacy and Promoting Active Citizenship in a Changing World”.
Professor Jonathan Jansen says angry youth and political parties must resist latter day vilification of Nelson Mandela as the late former statesman was not a “sell out”.
Jansen says Mandela was an open book on non-racialism and reconciliation.
“The truth is you had to be there are the time to understand why it was necessary for Nelson Mandela and his fellow leaders to negotiate a peaceful settlement, otherwise we would’ve had a bloodbath and this country would’ve gone down in flames.”
Jansen says he doesn’t think Mandela failed South Africans, but rather South African’s failed him and asks whether people have been faithful to Madiba’s legacy.
“We did not build on his legacy, we did not take forward the provisions in the constitution, for example land reform and the provisions for quality education, that’s up to us.”
Jansen says South Africa had a great leader in Nelson Mandela who represented the country and laid the foundation for democracy and society as acknowledged by many world leaders.
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