Mandela and South African Youths: Grooming Leaders of Tomorrow

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the leadership qualities of Nelson “Rolihlahla” Mandela in order to find out how his style of leadership can act as a source of inspiration for the South African youths. Mandela has received many accolades in South Africa, Africa and from the western world for applying “humanistic” principles in his leadership style, and for laying the foundation of democracy in post-independent South Africa. He is described as “an inspirer”, “a philanthropist”, “a man of great integrity”, and a “tactical genius” (Inspire 2014: 4). Works that emphasise the magnanimity of Mandela, however, also point at generosity as a one of his weaknesses. This article will acknowledge that Mandela ‒ like any great leader ‒ possessed his own weaknesses and yet that would not deter him from laying a firm foundation for future leadership among South African youths that, if taken seriously, can profoundly influence their ways of thinking and acting.

Opsomming

Die doel van hierdie artikel is om die leierskapskwaliteite van Nelson “Rolihlahla” Mandela te ondersoek ten einde vas te stel hoe sy leierskapstyl as ’n bron van inspirasie vir die jeug van Suid-Afrika kan dien. Mandela het baie eerbetone in Suid-Afrika, Afrika en die Westerse wêreld ontvang vir sy “humanistiese” beginsels wat hy in sy leierskapstyl toegepas het en omdat hy die grondbeginsels van demokrasie in Suid-Afrika ná apartheid gelê het. Hy word beskryf as “’n inspireerder”, “’n filantroop”, “’n man van integriteit” en ’n “taktiese genie” (Inspire 2014: 4). Literatuur wat klem lê op Mandela se groothartigheid, wys egter ook daarop dat sy vrygewigheid een van sy swakhede was. Hierdie artikel gee toe dat Mandela ‒ soos enige groot leier ‒ swakhede gehad het, maar dat dit hom nie daarvan weerhou het om ’n stewige grondslag vir toekomstige leierskap by die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug te vestig nie, en as dit ernstig opgeneem word, ’n sterk invloed op hulle manier van dink en doen hê.