I first came to know about South Africa and the system of apartheid obtaining there as a child in my fourth grade of primary school in 1986. During this time my class was learning about apartheid. I was given a poem to recite based on Alan Paton’s book ‘Cry the beloved Country’. At the time I was really shocked at how my black brothers and sisters in South Africa were segregated against in a land of their birth. It really shocked me more when I learnt about the plight of black activists like Nelson Mandela that were actually in Prison because of fighting apartheid. This early childhood experience really ignited interest in me to become an ardent follower of political issues in South Africa.
The fact that my country, Zambia, through our President Kenneth Kaunda was actively involved in the liberation struggle for Southern Africa made my interest to grow in understanding the South African situation. Zambia’s national television used to show films about Nelson Mandela and apartheid in South Africa. They also aired various concerts that were held around the world in Africa and Europe to put pressure on the Apartheid government to release Mandela and other political prisoners. Our president mobilised all of us to be actively involved in calling for the release of Mandela. Zambia also provided refuge to several South African freedom fighters including Thabo Mbeki and Oliver Tambo. Through television as well as various literature I become aware of the evils of apartheid and how it infringed on the freedom of movement and association especially for black South Africans. It also prevented our black brothers and sisters’ access to certain employment opportunities and made them suffer humiliation at the hands of the white South Africans. I also become aware about the decisions that had been taken by several countries to isolate South Africa so as to put further pressure on the Apartheid government to abolish this oppressive system.
At secondary school, I studied South African history. This increased my understanding on the arrival and stay of Dutch and British immigrants in South Africa. I also learnt of the early wars that took place between the British and the Boers (as Dutch immigrants were later called) in trying to get control over South Africa as well as other wars that were fought with African tribes especially the Zulu on the East Coast. Through my studies I also became aware about the deals that were made between the British and the Boers resulting into the partitioning of South Africa into British and Boer controlled territories or states and the subsequent independence of South Africa from British control and the setting up of the apartheid system of government by white South Africans. Further, I became aware of the pass system that was introduced to prevent free movement of the blacks. Studying South African history made me appreciate the difficulties that blacks were up against in gaining their freedom. However, there was so much hope in the fact that things would never be like this always. Leaders of the anti-apartheid movement, outlawed by the Apartheid government, still believed in future freedom. One could not but admire their zeal and that of their countrymen and women when they engaged in civil disobedience acts to force the government to give them greater freedom. This won them many sympathisers home and abroad, some of whom were white South Africans.
In senior secondary school I studied literature in English where I was privileged to read Alan Paton’s ‘Cry the beloved Country’. Through this book I learnt about the effects of the apartheid on an ordinary black South African as narrated by Paton as he depicted the life of Khumalo. I was deeply moved by the courage that the blacks had to protest against their oppression through mass mobilisation resulting in boycotts, strike action and street protests. It touched my heart to read and watch films re-enacting the involvement of young and old in the freedom struggle. I remember watching a film called ‘Sarafina’ in which Whoopi Goldberg starred depicting the involvement of school children in the struggle. It was really touching and inspiring to see the young people’s courage in refusing to accept to be taught in Afrikaans when they preferred English and the subsequent courage that they exhibited when they were gunned down in what became known as the ‘Soweto Massacre’.
I followed keenly the release of Nelson Mandela from Robin Island after 27 years. It was with great pride and joy that I watched with many others around the world when he walked to freedom alongside his former wife Winnie Mandela. Mandela’s walk to freedom was a triumphant occasion for those that had suffered alongside him while he was incarcerated. His lack of bitterness against the oppressors was really remarkable and unimaginable. His call for reconciliation rather than retribution was really a profound moment in history given the bloody transitions of power that have accompanied freedom in Africa. The path that Mandela and other African National Congress leaders in South Africa took after gaining independence in 1994 has really been inspirational and contributed to the important status that South Africa as gained as a leading democracy in Africa. I visited the Nelson Mandela Museum in Umutata in 2007 and I could not help but marvel at this man’s life.
Independent South Africa has become a leader in Africa especially in Southern Africa in politics and economics. My current work has allowed me to travel to South Africa several times. I have visited Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban among other cities. I have been impressed by the way that South Africans have risen above the colour differences that separated them during apartheid and become the rainbow nation. They have also taken leadership in hosting African and global tournaments and conferences e.g. the African Cup of nations football tournament in 1996, football World Cup in 2010 and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 17th Conference of Parties (COP) in Durban last year in 2011. I attended the conference and was impressed with the organisation and leadership that South Africa has taken in the fight against climate change.
Recently, the South African Mining Industry has been overshadowed by violent protests and strikes. Maybe this signals the changing times yet again in the history of this nation and the clock continues to tick.....
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