What is His Legacy

Cover story I Mandela's legacy

Nelson MandelaiHnuTunu.LEGACY

An EXCLUSIVE with his daughterAs, once again, the health of the man the whole world has loved to love waxes and wanes, and asprayers were held, vigils kept, doctors worked, and the whole world hoped that he should live tormuch longer, following yet another hospitalisation in June tor a recurrent lung infection, his family

has maintained a dignified silence. It is therefore with humble gratitude that amid all the mediafrenzy and speculation. New Africans Pusch Commey was honoured to speak exclusively

with Nelson Mandela's eldest daughter, Dr Makaziwe Mandela at her residence.Theydiscuss, among many issues, how the Mandela family will define his legacy.

ELSON MANDELA IS HUGELY CREDITED FORtackling and defeating racism of the worst kind- apartheid - the biggest institutional fraudin the modern world, which was grounded inmyth, group narcissism and a vile belief system.But Mandela squirmed in humility. The defeatof physical racism was a global partnership andhe was lucky to have had principled and astutementors by his side. And best of all the African

traditional value system of inclusivity Ubuntu.He has often been deified, but has rejected sainthood, unless in

his words, "a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying." Like Christ, hewas prepared to die for his people, and paid a heavy price - 27 yearsin prison. Like Christ, he preached forgiveness and reconciliation,even in victory. All this, and much more, is what has for the past 6decades resonated around the world - Mandela's moral consciencein a fractious world. But like all things, there are hangovers. Turn-ing the other cheek is saintly, but on the other hand it emboldensyour bitter adversaries to nail you to the cross; those who see theworld as a power relation in black and white not in colour. Thoseterrible one-dimensional inhabitants of the earth.

And as Madiba or Tata (as he is affectionately known in South

New African July 2013 9

Cover story Mandela's legacy

Africa) fought for his life in June, having been in and out of hospi-tal in the past few months, speculation has been in overdrive andmuch has been made by certain media of a particular narrative, withsensational headlines such as: "The children and grandchildren ofNelson Mandela have begun a mad scramble for the financial benefitsofhis legacy while Tata lay sick in bed. "

Meeting Makaziwe Mandela at her residence to present her witha new book for her father (loo Great African Kings and Queens) -Nelson Mandela's eldest daughter, who is the head of the Mandelahousehold, was asked to comment on such speculation:

"That is media with an agenda. Nothing can be further fromthe truth. It is preposterous. As Ghinua Achebe said, 'If you wantto plunder your neighbour, first hire a good storyteller to spew outfalse narratives about him or her.' There are those who are intent ona 'free-for-air access to his intellectual property for their own com-mercial gain. Any attempt at protecting his name, image, dignityand legacy is countered with mudslinging in the media, witting orunwitting. We have seen purveyors ofhis name, in many instancesfor gain, and have kept a dignified silence as family. But there comesa time when we as family have to take a stand, otherwise we are notMandela. Taking a principled stand is what defined Tata. We haveno respect for crass materialism," she told New African.

when asked why the family remains dignifiedly silent on suchreports, she said: "We appreciated that the world made Mandela. Forafter all what is a soccer match without the supporters, the referee,the linesmen and all those who make it what it is. We are thank-ful. But Mandela and his legacy, is African first. His statue standsin the plush suburb of Sandton and many other places around theworld, with others benefitting from the tourism spin-offs. We haveno qualms. It is an honour. His face appears on the Rand, gold coinsand in so many places with benefits channelled into the unknown.He is everywhere. Someone even opened a Nelson Mandela BottleStore. While most of it is in honour of him, there are also those whosee an opportunity to profit from that association. And they see thefamily as an impediment. We have had value extracted from hisname by all kinds of entrepreneurs without question. But it is timeto take a stand and protect his name, honour, dignity and legacy."

But as the condition of the people Mandela liberated remainsstatic after 20 years, it is a dilemma the "new" South Africa stillgrapples with, as its famous son's advanced age and frequent hospi-talisation brings to the fore the question of how South Africa willmove on from or build on the Mandela legacy. The South Africa oftoday is still in conflict by and large, in terms of race, class, econom-ics, politics, ethnicity, nationality and a myriad other known andunknown factors. But many concur, that as the curtain inevitablycloses, Madiba gave his best performance, and is exiting the stageto a standing ovation. It was not easy and Mandela, as wise beyondmeasure as he was throughout his active life, himself acknowledged:"After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many morehills to climb," he would say.

But how does the daughter and family of one of the world's mostrevered people define his legacy?

"People will remember him for forgiveness and reconciliation,but often forget about the children, the future," Maki, as she isfondly known, told New African.

"Remember, on retirement he set up the Nelson Mandela chil-dren's fund. He committed one third of his salary to that fund.He loves children, and surrounded himself with his children andgrandchildren at home. He tirelessly encouraged captains of in-dustry to build schools. He has stated that education is the mostpowerful weapon you can use to change the world. The NelsonMandela Ghildren's Hospital is nearing completion. Our childrenare our future."

"There are those who see anopportunity to profit fromassociation with the name ofMandela. And they see the familyas an impediment. But it is time totake a stand and protect his name,honour, dignity and legacy."

And how does the Mandela family plan to carry on with hislegacy?

"We, as a family, are on the same page. My background is thatof a social worker until I took my doctorate in anthropology in theUS, to better understand my chosen profession. Despite my foraysinto successful businesses, children have been close to my heart too.As a family, Tata's legacy will be channelled into improving the lotof the African child and to inspiring children of the world. We havebenefitted from education, and that is what has made us. Oh, andalso remember that irrespective of a chequered educational trajec-tory, of uncompleted degrees due to his politics, Tata never gave upon education. When he was much older and in prison he persistedand finished with all the unfinished courses he had embarked onand got his degrees. That inspiration is often forgotten."

On the continental front there have been towering predecessorheroes like Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba (who paid the ul-timate price), Julius Nyerere and Kenneth Kaunda, to mention buta few. What makes Mandela special is perhaps his pragmatism, hisforgiveness and reconciliation project that lifted him to a Ghrist-likefigure. He was militant, persistent and sacrificed everything he helddear for a cause. He had a just cause, firm principles, was persecutedand was, most tellingly, prepared to die for what he believed in.

10 New African July 2013

Clockwise: On his wedding day to Winnie Madiiiizela in 1957: with hiseldest daughter Dr Makaziwe Mandela from his first wife Evelyn: with hislate son Thembekiie: celebrating his 86th birthday with his current wifeGraa Machet and ex-wife Winnie in his rural home town of Qunu

Having given up 27 years of his most productive life in jail, hecame out to lead his people to political liberation and eschewedretribution. He forgave and partnered with his oppressors and al-lowed them to keep their gains. With the future of his country inhis heart, he believed that the future belonged to the next genera-tion, hence he served just one term in office, when most Africanheads of state would bleed their countries to death just to prolongtheir presidency. Then after retiring from public life he dedicatedhimself to children, the next generation. It is that kind of timelessromantic narrative that has captured the Imagination of the world.And he has been well rewarded with adulation and undoubtedly,his shoes are too large to fill. But Dr Maki Mandela has a specialmessage to the world:

"We as a family express our great appreciation to all those whohave supported, loved, and stood steadfastly by Tata during histravails. Special thanks must go to his senior counsel who defendedhim in the famous Rivonia trial in 1963, where he drew a line inthe sand to proclaim to the world a non-racial inclusive society,and was prepared to die for it. These honourable men are SirSydney Kentridge (QC) and the late Bram Fischer (may his soulrest in peace). And to all South Africans, irrespective of race andcreed, who stood by him. Many heroic ones stood by their con-science when their race afiForded them privileges exclusive of theirfellow citizens. Some even paid the ultimate price. We thank hisparty, the ANC, the Nelson Mandela foundation. South Africa, ourAfrican brothers and sisters on our continent, and the world. Tatais an African first. Everyone made great sacrifices to make sure thatwhat was wrong would not triumph. Without the support of theworld he would not be the revered icon that he is today. We cannotthank the world enough."



And indeed what is also often forgotten is that Nelson Man-dela, like his African brothers in the liberation struggle, startedoff as an African Nationalist, an ideological position he held sincejoining the ANC in 1943. From that perspective he stood firmlyin favour of democracy and socialist ideals. He held a convictionthat "inclusivity, accountability and freedom of speech" were thefundamentals of democracy and was driven by a belief in naturaland human rights. Like most libration leaders of those formativeyears in the mid 20th century, he was opposed to capitalism, privateland-ownership and the power of hig money.

The 1955 Freedom Charter, which Mandela had helped cre-ate, called for the nationalisation of banks, gold mines, and land,believing it necessary to ensure equal distribution of wealth. ButNelson Mandela evolved. After attaining the objective of freedomhe said, "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have towork with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner." After all,the African National Congress did not attain a military victory,and his adversaries were an integral part of the social fabric ofSouth Africa.

After all is said and done, the Mandela family, as Maki has ex-plained, know what will define his legacy. But outside the familyview, many may also ask, what has Nelson Mandela's legacy reallybeen? What comes immediately to mind is what is often describedas realpolitik. Despite his socialist beliefs, Mandela nationalisednothing during his presidency, fearing that this would scare awayforeign investors. This decision was in part influenced hy the collapseofthe Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc during the early 1990s, andChina's adoption of free market policies. This dilemma of an appro-priate economic pathway steeped in injustice has had implications.

After his retirement from public office, economic justice hasbecome the theme of the current South Africa, with some radicalblacks including his ex-wife Winnie Mandela, accusing him ofhaving compromised the economic liberation of his people. So thebattle continues on how massive inequalities, drawn along raciallines, can be bridged. This has pitted the white owners ofthe factorsof production and capital, inherited from apartheid, against poorand cheap hlack labour, also an apartheid relic. An educational andskills deficit means the blacks have difficulty in competing, and haveoften vented theit spleen on more entrepreneurial foreign immigrantswithout such deficit. Even when blacks manage to get into univer-sity, a recent report has found that only 15% manage to graduate.

In the mix is the deadly time homh of unemployment, which haspartly contributed to criminality. It officially stands at 25.2%, butothers project it being up to 70%. Then there are those politicallyconnected blacks who have found economic nirvana through whiteanointing, to keep the waters calm. Other blacks who have foundspace in government employment have embarked on a looting spreeof state coffers. Many people often wonder what Nelson Mandelacould have been thinking about in retirement.

The long walkNelson Mandela's long walk hegan in Mvezo Village on 18 July 1918,then a part of South Africa's Cape Province. Given the forenameRolihlahla, a Xhosa term colloquially meaning "troublemaker", inlater years he became known hy his clan name, Madiba, a memberofthe Thembu royal family which ruled the Transkei region. Hisfather, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a local chief and coun-cillor to the monarch. Nelson's mother was Gadla's third wife,Nosekeni Fanny.

He recalled in 1994: "No one in my family had ever attendedschool. On the first day of school my teacher. Miss Mdingane, gaveeach of us an English name. This was the custom among Africansin those days and was undoubtedly due to the British bias of our

Clockwise from right: U February 1990. A jubilant Sowetan holdsup a newspaper announcing Mandela's release, at a mass rally;Mandela meeting young boys at a party hosted by the NelsonMandela Children's Fund in 2006 to celebrate his 88th birthday;Mandela as the ANC president in 1993, with President F. W. deKlerk, after they received Nobel Peace Prizes

education. That day. Miss Mdingane told me that my new namewas Nelson. Why this particular name I have no idea."

In his hometown of Qunu, his mother, a devout Christian, senthim to a local Methodist school when he was seven. She then tookMandela to the "Great Place" palace at Mqhekezweni, where he wasentrusted under the guardianship of Thembu regent. Chief Jongin-taba Dalindyebo. Raised by Jongintaba and his wife Noenglandalongside their son Justice and daughter Nomafu, he developed alove of African history, listening to the tales told by elderly visitorsto the palace, and became influenced hy the anti-imperialist rhetoricof Chief Joyi. The African value of inclusivity and collective deci-sion making was to shape his worldview.

With Jongintaba's hacking, Mandela hegan work on a Bachelorof Arts (BA) degree at the University of Fort Hare. He became in-volved in a Students' Representative Council (SRC) boycott againstthe quality of food, for which he was temporarily suspended from

"He has stated that education is themost powerful weapon you can useto change the world. As a family,Tata's legacy will be channelled intoimproving the lot of the African childand to inspire children of the world."


the university. He left without receiving a degree.Returning to Mqhekezweni in December 1940, Mandela found

that Jongintaba had arranged marriages for him and Justice. Thetwo fled to Johannesburg. Mandela found work as a night watch-man at Crown Mines, but was fired when the induna (headman)discovered he was a runaway. Staying with a cousin in GeorgeGoch Township, Mandela was introduced to the realtor and ANCactivist Walter Sisulu, who secured him a job as an articled clerk atlaw firm Witkin, Sidelsky and Edelman, run by a liberal Jew, LazarSidelsky, who took a keen interest in the education of indigenousAfricans. At night Mandela worked on his BA through a Universityof South Africa correspondence course. His subsequent friendshipswith Gaur Radebe and Jewish communists like Nat Bergman sawhim join the ANC in 1943.

The rest is history. He then began his radical political careerwith illustrious anti-apartheid mentors like Walter Sisulu, JoeSlovo, Ruth First and Oliver Tambo. Having lost confidence in themainstream ANC, they embarked on a path of radical oppositionthat culminated in the formation of the ANC youth league. Aftera period of political resistance, struggle and prosecution duringwhich he was acquitted, the Rivonia trial of 1963 led to his incar-ceration for 27 years.

Before the trial the ANC agreed to send Mandela as a delegateto the February 1962 Pan-African Freedom Movement for East,Central and Southern Africa (PAFMECSA) meeting in AddisAbaba, Ethiopia. Travelling there in secret, Mandela met withEmperor Haile Selassie, and gave his speech after Selassie's at theconference. After the conference, he travelled to Cairo in Egypt,and observed the political reforms of President Gamal AbdelNasser. He then went to Tunisia, where President Habib Bourguibagave him 5,000 for weaponry. He proceeded to Morocco, Mali,Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Senegal, receiving funds fromLiberian President William Tubman and Guiean PresidentAhmed Skou Tour. Leaving Africa for London, England, he metanti-apartheid activists, reporters and prominent leftist politicians.He returned to Ethiopia to begin a six-month course in guerrillawarfare, but completed only two months before being recalled toSouth Africa. Thereafter African countries stood solidly againstthe apartheid state, sacrificing blood and treasure to help liberateSouth Africa.

After his release from jail Mandela personally met with seniorfigures of the apartheid regime, including Hendrik Verwoerd'swidow Betsie Schoombie and his Rivonia trial prosecutor PercyYutar; emphasising personal forgiveness and reconciliation. Heannounced that "courageous people do not fear forgiving, for thesake of peace".

More controversially, Mandela oversaw the formation of a Truthand Reconciliation Commission to investigate crimes committedunder apartheid by both the government and the ANC, appointingDesmond Tutu as its chair. To prevent the creation of martyrs, theCommission granted individual amnesties in exchange for testimonyabout crimes committed during the apartheid era. It held two yearsof hearings detailing rapes, torture, bombings, and assassinations,before issuing its final report in October 1998.

Since 2004, Mandela successfully campaigned for South Africato host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, declaring that there would be"few better gifts for us in the year" marking a decade since the fallof apartheid. Despite maintaining a low-profile during the event,Mandela made a rare public appearance during the closing ceremony,where he received a "rapturous reception".

Since 2011, he has been in and out of hospital, mainly for arespiratory infection, thought to be the result of having contractedtuberculosis during his long imprisonment.



"We, as a family, have had thepleasure of his company and wisdom.We are grateful that God extendedhis life to make this possible."

Family lifeMandela has been married three times, has fathered six children,has 17 grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.

Mandela's first marriage was to Evelyn Ntoko Mase, who wasalso from the Transkei. The couple broke up in 1957 after 13 years,and divorced. Tliey had two sons, Madiba "Thembi" Thembekiie(1946-1969) and Makgatho Mandela (1950-2005), and two daugh-ters, both named Makaziwe Mandela (known as Maki; born 1947and 1953). Their first daughter died aged nine months, and theynamed their second daughter in her honour. Mase died in 2004, andMandela attended her funeral. Makgatho's son, Mandla Mandela,became chief of the Mvezo tribal council in 2007.

Mandela's second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, also camefrom the Transkei area. They met in Johannesburg, where she wasthe city's first black social worker. They had two daughters, Zenani(Zeni), 1958, and Zindziswa (Zindzi) Mandela-Hlongwane, borni960. Later, Winnie would be deeply torn by family discord whichmirrored the country's political strife, while her husband was serv-ing a life sentence. The marriage ended in separation (April 1992)

With President Biii Ciinton, iooking out of the ceii window whereMandeia spent 18 of his 27 years as a poiiticai prisoner on Robbenisiand; and beiow, with Prince Charies in 2002

and divorce (March 1996). Mandela was still in prison when hisdaughter Zenani got married to Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini,elder brother of King Mswati III of Swaziland, in 1973. In July2012, Zenani was appointed ambassador to Argentina, becomingthe first of Mandela's three remaining children to enter publiclife. Mandela remarried on his 80th birthday in 1998, to GraaMachei, widow of Samora Machei, the former Mozambican presi-dent and ANC ally who was killed in an air crash 12 years earlier.

AccoladesWithin South Africa, Mandela is widely considered to be "the fatherof the nation", "the founding father of democracy", "the nationalliberator", "the saviour" and many more accolades.

He has also received several kinds of international acclaim. In1993, he received the joint Nobel Peace Prize with F. W. de Klerk. InNovember 2009, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimedMandela's birthday, 18 July, as "Mandela Day", marking his con-tribution to the anti-apartheid struggle. It called on individuals todonate 67 minutes to doing something for others, commemorat-ing the 67 years that Mandela had been a part of the movement.

He has been awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedomand the Order of Canada, becoming the first living person to bemade an honorary Canadian citizen. He was also the last recipientof the Soviet Union's Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union.

In 1990 he received the Bharat Ratna award from the governmentof India, and in 1992 received Pakistan's Nishan-e-Pakistan. In 1992he was awarded the Atatrk Peace Award by Turkey. He refusedthe award, citing human rights violations committed by Turkey atthe time, but later accepted the award in 1999. Queen Elizabeth IIawarded him the Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order of St. John andthe Order of Merit. The Obamas, inspired by Madiba's example,have described his story as one of "unbreakable will, unwavering in-tegrity, and abiding humility". In a statement celebrating Mandela's94th birthday Barack Obama enthused that "Nelson Mandela hadchanged the arc of history, transforming his country, his continentand the world". Another former US president. Bill Clinton, andhis wife Hillary Clinton, are close friends and regular visitors atMandela's house in Johannesburg and Qunu.

But the larger-than-life global icon that is Mandela has had thisto say: "There is no passion to be found in playing small in set-tling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."

Best of all, he had a dream: "I dream of an Africa that is at peacewith itself." That dream will be fulfilled when the fight for economicfreedom is won. A new hero will arise to continue where all the greatAfrican leaders signed off. And Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, amongthe pantheons of great illustrious Africans, will join his ancestors inpeace, while his dream is realised by the next generation.

When asked to sum up what her memories of her father havebeen like as the family comes to terms with what the future inevi-tably holds, Maki Mandela says:

"For the most part his life has been a dedication to the liberationof South Africa, a commitment to his continent and a stance againstdiscrimination, black or white; 27 years of it was in prison wherevisits were rare. In his latter years, he has spent most of his life withhis family. It was that gap in his narrative that was missing. And hehas largely fulfilled it in his old age. We, as a family, have had thepleasure of his company and wisdom. We are grateful to God thatHe extended his life to make this possible." MA


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What is His Legacy