Nelson Mandela’s Place in South African Society: Some Critical Reflection on His Legacy

Abstract

Modern South Africa has replaced the iron rule of the apartheid system with a constitutional democracy. This context of oppression and exploitation had a bearing on the kind of leaders produced by society. Conflict and exploitation formed part of the oppressive machinery in the country. At the end of the Second World War, South Africa experienced an unprecedented urbanisation which was followed by repressive laws. On the one hand, this led to the radicalisation of black politics in the country. The silencing of political voices after the Sharpeville massacre saw scores and scores of activists either in jail, under house arrest or in exile. Development in South Africa suffered a great blow with talented men and women who had to endure suffering in jail or exile. In other words, the cream of society was banished and South Africa as a society suffered materially and intellectually during this period. Nelson Mandela is one example of a leader from the oppressed section of society who was removed from society for over three decades. South African development would have reached a different level had the minority whites not reacted differently to urbanisation as a global phenomenon. The names of Luthuli, Tambo, Mandela and others continue to be invoked whenever the ruling party experiences challenges regarding leadership. Although these leaders cannot rule from their graves, it is their profound contribution to the development of the society that speaks about the legacy which is central to this study.

Opsomming

Hedendaagse Suid-Afrika het die ysterbewind van die apartheidstelsel vervang met ʼn grondwetlike demokrasie. Hierdie konteks van onderdrukking en uitbuiting het ʼn uitwerking gehad op die soort leiers wat die samelewing opgelewer het. Konflik en uitbuiting was deel van die onderdrukkingsmiddele in die land. Aan die einde van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het Suid-Afrika ongekende verstedeliking ervaar, gevolg deur onderdrukkende wette. Aan die een kant het dit tot die radikalisering van swart politiek in die land gelei. Politieke stemme is stilgemaak ná die  Sharpeville-massamoord, en talle aktiviste is tronkstraf opgelê, onder huisarres geplaas of verban. Ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika het ʼn lelike knou gekry as gevolg daarvan dat talentvolle mans en vrouens lyding in die tronk of in ballingskap moes verduur. Met ander woorde, die room van die samelewing is verban en Suid-Afrika as ʼn samelewing het in hierdie tyd materieel en intellektueel skade gely. Nelson Mandela is maar een voorbeeld van ʼn leier uit die onderdrukte deel van die samelewing, wat vir langer as drie dekades uit die samelewing verwyder is. Die ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika sou ʼn ander vlak bereik het as die wit meerderheid nie anders reageer het op verstedeliking as ʼn wêreldwye verskynsel nie. Name soos Luthuli, Tambo, Mandela en ander word steeds opgeroep wanneer die regerende party uitdagings ten opsigte van leierskap ervaar. Al kan hierdie leiers nie vanuit hul grafte heers nie, is dit hul noemenswaardige bydrae tot die ontwikkeling van die samelewing wat getuig van die nalatenskap wat die kern van hierdie studie is.