WHAT MAKES MANDELA TICK?
This type of public adulation of a politician by sporting heroes is unheard of and merits some analysis of what has lead up to Mandela's status. To describe him as an icon does not help - there are so many of those around. The secret of Mandela's magic is that he has combined so many roles into one being. He has done what no public figure has ever done before. He has combined the roles of activist, politician and empathetic, honest and non-judgemental human being into one. More than that he has not seperated these roles. They have all been present all of the time. His actions have been congruent with his words. In an era where tired cynicism greets almost anything politicians do or say Mandela stands out like a towering beacon.
Mandela never ever ducked an issue or a position because of expediency. He never was a Communist but he refused to disavow those Communists who were on his side in the fight for the rights of Africans. His political position would have been more powerful if he just abandoned the "fellow travelers" but he refused to do so just for expediency and just "use" them.
Mandela's philosophy has been to seek social justice from the word go. In so doing he was always deferential and understanding of his detractors' views. He has maintained that the hardest challenge in life was to change oneself. If one believes that you should love your enemy as well as your neighbor this value is personified in Mandela.
MANDELA AS FREEDOM FIGHTER
South Arica in those early years in the 60's, when "apartheid" was being institutionalized, was a tough arena to be fighting for equality. He was a disenfranchised black in a sea of white bigotry.The ANC had experienced five decades of trying to impact the South African scene with attempts at peaceful change - all of which were met with more and more restrictive legislation, police brutality and finally a banning order. Eventually he elected to go underground and perpetrate sabotage not involving risk of life. Sooner or later with the massive security apparatus in place one or other informer would have to lead to his arrest. (This is something, one believes that Mandela must have anticipated as happening sooner or later). But before that transpired he captured the imagination of South Africa and world. He was called the "Black Pimpernel". While originally he was the great orator persuading the masses now he was now underground organizing and trying to shake the white electorate's complacency with some sense of reality.
The West were at the height of the Cold War and Mandela and his causes were linked with Communism so only lip service was payed to his and the disenfranschised Africans plight. In fact most South African Opposition was being crushed under "The Suppression of Communism Act". Mandela was being tarred with the brush that the Communists were supporting him and he was furthering their aims. He countered that the government sought to lable all of it's opponents as communists.
RIVONIA SABOTAGE TRIAL 1963 - 1964:
This landmark trial where Mandela and 7 others were sentenced to life imprisonment was a turning point in the history of South Africa. Mandela had already endured a Treason Trial lasting 5 years where he was acquited with a 130 others and was at the time serving a 5 year sentence for leaving the country without a permit and inciting a strike. The Government had tightened up it's legislation. It did not have to prove Treason for the death penalty they just had to prove sabotage. No one had to die. You were subject to the death penalty even if there was no intent to kill or harm you just had to have blown up a building or an electric pylon or have planned to do so. The Government pursued the death penalty, with a vengeance, for the Rivonia trial on the basis of sabotage. The facts were never going to be in dispute at the Rivonia trial it was just going to be the sentence.
MANDELA'S STATEMENT FROM THE DOCK.
Mandela's statement from the dock has to go down in history. He has been described as South Africa's Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Lincoln rolled into one. The speech was the clearest and most eloquent exposition of the South African situation at the time, the reason for his actions, for which he took responsibility for, and his hope for a just and equitable solution to the South African situation. Most significantly there was a lack of rancor and anger. There was no resorting to name calling such as imperialists or fascists or insulting the court. There was empathy at the possibility of the Court not understanding how he may have come to his decision and how the African frustration could lead to violence. At no stage did he allude to the visciousness and vindictiveness of the prosecution and their pleading for the death sentence. What is really amazing is that the Mandela statement is as valid today as it was then. Other than a couple of policy issues he was as true to his word in 1995 as he was in 1964. It was a well reasoned argument which showed his razor sharp mind, his intellect and his grasp of history.
He outlined the African influences in his life and how they had made him hope that he might have the opportunity to make his own humble contribution to their freedom struggle. He, piecemeal, pulled apart the argument that the new radical sabotage group that he had formed was at the direction of international communism or that it was the ANC's policy to accept violence. The only concession obtained from the ANC was that they would not discipline any member who also joined Mandela's small group for enjoining violence. For 50 years the ANC'c policy was against violence and it was the government that had used violence. The ANC as an organization would not change.
He delved into the history of those oppressed that felt they had to, as a last resort, use violence. He alluded to the Anglo Boer war that was the attempt current members of the Government were involved in their fight for freedom. The latter had left scars in the South African community. He spoke of the Israeli underground resistance against the British. He gave his reason as to why he resorted to sabotage was in the hope that it would bring economic disruption and bring the country to it's senses.
He stated that the ANC had never advocated a revolutionary change in the economic structure in South Africa, nor ever condemned the capitalist society. He admired the British and American systems of demorcacy that the Communist abored. However theoretical differences amongst those fighting against oppression was a luxury he could not afford.
He went through the disparities and inequalities in education, labor opportunity and voting rights that the Africans endured. This created poverty and a lack of human dignity.
"All we want is equal rights, because without them our disabilities will be permanent. I know this sounds revolutionary to the whites in this country because the majority of voters will be Africans. This makes the white man fear democracy. This fear cannot be allowed to stand in the way of the only solution that will grant freedom and harmony for all. The ANC has spent a half a century fighting racialism and when it triumphs it will not change that policy".
"I have dedicated my life to the struggle and I have fought against white and black domination. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die"
MANDELA IN PRISON
The Government hoped that by putting prisoners of different factions of African resistance together on the Robben Island prison they would sow dissension. They had not counted on Mandela's skills in involving all in constructive debate and discussion. What Mandela did on Robben Island was ultimately to ensure that the friction between rival opposition groups would be minimal on his release. The education of political prisoners from all walks of life and of differing ideologies at "Mandela University" became legend.
Meanwhile Mandela's persona was used as an international rallying point for "the cause". He became larger than life and slowly but surely anti- apartheid groups through out the world formed. His presence in prison was in and out of the news for nearly 3 decades. Whether it was Helen Suzman, that tireless lone white parliamentarian, visiting him annually or some or other rally protesting for his release he never ever was out of the public eye for any length of time.
JAY H ELL was fortunate to have a discussion with one of his warders in the early 80's. The warder had been recruited from the former Rhodesia as a result of his "skills" at dealing with high profile political prisoners. At that stage overtures were already being made to Mandela about a release. These included going to the Transkei, where his nephew George Mantanzima, a Government puppet, was in charge. The warder said there was a calmness and serenity about Mandela - he was not about to compromise on history. He was ready to talk with the authorities and they knew where he was.
Mandela was transferred from Robben Island in 1982 to the Cape Mainland to Pollsmoor prison. There was speculation as to the reason for the move. The most plausible explanation was given by the then Nationalist Government Minister of Justice, Kobie Coetzee, was they needed to have negotiations with Mandela.
MANDELA THE HUMAN BEING
Robben Island was a painful personal exile for Mandela. He was estranged from his family. His letters to his wife and his daughters reflect the pain and angst at not being there as a father and a husband. He counsels understanding and care but is helpless on the day to day issues. He recognizes the hell Winnie is going through and the constant harassment she s subjected too by the Government.
His anger is not taken out on those ordinary souls that are his jailers. He shows incredible empathy with ordinary functionaries who are just "doing a job". Empathy that he would follow through on being released.
1985 "CONDITIONAL PARDON"
In 1985 President Botha offered Mandela a conditional pardon. If he would renounce violence he would be released. At this stage Mandela still could not be officially quoted as he was banned under the "Suppression of Communism Act". His daughter Zinzi read his reply. He maintained that only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter contracts. There was also no way he would accept release while other political prisoners remained incarcerated.
VICTOR VERSTER PRISON.
In December 1988 the Nationalist Government moved Mandela to a warder's home in the Victor Verster prison in the beautiful Paarl valley. He had a home, a cook and a swimming pool. Negotiations about the future of South Africa were obviously beginning in earnest. Simultaneously wide ranging discussions were taking place in London with exile ANC groups. Private groups including those lead by former Progressive Party leader Van Zyl Slabbert and businessmen were also now a regular feature in negotiations. One disturbing feature about his stay at Verster was reports that his wife Winnie was running out of control with a gang of thugs in Soweto again causing great pain at his helplessness.
FREE AT LAST
In 1990 he was released amidst national and international coverage. All details that needed to be hammered out had been concluded. He was the last of the political prisoners to be released. A mass meeting was to be held in Cape Town and they were running late. The crowd at the Grand Parade were getting restive. Winnie counseled going directly to Johannesburg - an action that would have created havoc and riots in Cape Town as the assembled would have concluded that it was because of the Government. Nelson respectfully listened to everyone's point of view and then stated that they he had made a commitment and he would stand by it.
PRESIDENCY AND BEFORE
Mandela was still officially the Vice President of the ANC and in spite of his de facto leadership he always respectfully deferred to Oliver Tamboo the now nominal President. Thus until the situation officially changed he showed deference to his life long partner and friend.
There was extensive black on black violence between Chief Buthelezi's Zulus and the Xhosa ANC tribe to which Mandela belonged. Mandela and Mandela only was able to get a truce engineered as Buthelezi conceded.
The South African Defense Force, was under a far from willing partner to the "New South Africa", General Viljoen. Again Mandela, with the aid of, it is said of former Prime Minister Botha, cajoled and reassured this opponent, who was the darling of the far right to be onsides.
There was to be no revenge - no Nuremberg trials. Rather the country would be healed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Here perpetrators of apartheid's excesses could confess to their crimes and if they were "sincere" would get amnesty. Not for one moment did he harp on De Klerk's past role in the apartheid government. He just moved forward.
The Judiciary who had applied apartheid law was left untouched. He accepted their bona fides and commitment to the rule of law.
Robben Island would become a Museum and the guides were to be former political prisoners as well as former prison wardens.
There is a myth that not much was done in Mandela's Presidency but the list of legislation was impressive and sweeping.
He needed to prove the skeptics wrong. He had to find a balance between effecting change and not frightening off foreign investment and white skills in South Africa. Of course this would evoke criticism from both camps but he was steadfast. As he had said 30 years ago he would not tolerate white or black domination.
When Mandela wrote his autobiography Long Walk To Freedom he did not imply that gaining universal franchise was the end of the struggle. It was only the beginning of the end. He was not about to allow this hard fought victory to end in South Africa becoming yet another African basket case. There was a still a long long walk.
MANDELA AND SPORT
Mandela was aware of the great bond sports could create. He was also aware how obsessed the country was on Rugby Football. It was a religion among the Afrikaners. In 1995 South Africa were hosts to the World Cup and he became personally involved with the South African team. The film Invictus chronicles his involvement and joy at seeing the Rainbow Nation celebrate. A few steps had already been taken in the Long Walk.
His interest in the success of South Africans of all colors in all arenas continued until such time as his health failed. Charlize Theron after winning her Oscar also saluted Mandela and they celebrated effusively and publically.
RETIREMENT
After retirement he worked enthusiastically on projects including his Foundation and his number one Project Aids. Again his non judgemental and non confrontative philosophy was in evidence on the issue of Aids. Mbecki his successor, for whatever reasons had displayed a total disregard to this devastating pandemic. All Mandela needed to have done was to criticize him and there is no way Mbecki could have withstood the pressure and would have to have delivered the resources needed to combat this scourge. However, Mandela elected rather to lead an international campaign to educate and provide the resources needed to prevent and treat this modern day epidemic. He partnered with President Clinton, Bono and the rest to set up an infrastructure to meet the problem. President George Bush also delivered. So again he responded to a crises by acting rather then by attack. This in a situation where he had been personally involved. His eldest son had died of Aids at the age of 54.
On a personal level his connection with all has lead to many a tale. Just to illustrate the esteem he was held in at all levels of society and his warm empathetic response to "generosity" the tale of a former warder's action will suffice.
Mandela's memorabilia fetch large sums of money. This has hindered the ability of his library to obtain many crucial pieces. (The prosecutor in the Rivonia trial is reported to have sold his notes and presumably exhibits for millions of dollars). One of Mandela's prison diaries were "missing". A former warder, who had it in his possession, felt compelled to hand it back to the Mandela organization. Mandela in a public ceremony thanked him, saying that they were just two old men who have joint needs and values. He praised him for his generosity returning an artifact that would have afforded him millions.
AT THE END OF THE DAY
It is doubtful that a nation owes as much to any one person as South Africans owe to Madiba as he is affectionately called. Not only did he avoid a bloodbath he created a mileu whereby the transition to a nonracial society has been seamless. The world also owes this empathetic and principled statesman a debt of gratitude for his example and leadership.
The battle in South Africa is still not won. There are those that regard Mandela as a sell out and are hell bent to go on the Mugabe path. They do not understand that the path to freedom is a long long walk. The politicians that have followed him are the same old same old. So one can just pray that his influence will linger on long enough to prevent violence and irrationality.
The more Mandela's contribution is recognized the less likely this is to happen. So perhaps the Royal and Ancient Golf Club will incorporate a tribute to his greatness in their championship - even if a South African doesn't win.
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