Oh Madiba, we need you here now!

The King-Emperor of Reconciliation- December 18, 2013

The year was 1 !" The #ate was 2$ %&ne" 't was the R&gby (orl# )&p final at Ellis *ar+, %ohannesb&rg, ,o&th -frica, between two so&thern hemispheric r&gby power ho&ses. The -ll /lac+s of 0ew 1ealan# an# the ,pringbo+s of ,o&th -frica" This was the 2new3 ,o&th -frica, christene# the Rainbow 0ation by -rch /ishop T&t&" The nation that ha# emerge# o&t of the horrors of white -fri+aner #ominate# aparthei#" R&gby, e4en then in ,o&th -frica, still was the white -fri+aner man3s sport" ,o&th -frica ha# been rea#mitte# to the 'nternational R&gby /oar# in 1 2, after the en# of aparthei#, after being e5pelle# for #iscrimination against people of colo&r, i"e" the policy of aparthei#" The blac+s an# colo&re# ,o&th -fricans roote# for ,o&th -frica3s opponents" The 4ast ma6ority of spectators at Ellis *ar+ on that fatef&l #ay were -fri+aner whites" 20elson3 Roli-hlahla 7an#ela, pop&larly +nown by the name of his clan 8 27a#iba3 8 free# from Robben 'slan# 6ail from solitary confinement in 1 0, after 29-an#-a-half years an# electe# *resi#ent of ,o&th -frica in 1 3, arri4e# at the ,ta#i&m wearing a green ,pringbo+s cap an# the 0o" : ,pringbo+ green 6ersey of their s+ipper ;rancois *ienaar, a brilliant tactician, play ma+er, team lea#er"

7an#ela e5horte# all ,o&th -fricans to s&pport 2o&r boys,3 the ,pringbo+s" The crow# er&pte# in cheers" The ,pringbo+s won 1!-12, ,o&th -frica3s %oel ,trans+y, scoring a #rop goal in e5tra time, to win the match for the home team" *resi#ent 7an#ela wearing the ,pringbo+s green 0o" : 6ersey an# cap strolle# o&t on to the t&rf to han# the (illiam (ebb Ellis trophy to ;rancois *ienaar" The sta#i&m was #elirio&s, er&pting with chants of 27an#ela, 7an#ela3 by the white -fri+aner crow#" 't was a masterf&l an# e5treme step in reconciliation" (hich only 7a#iba, the King Emperor of Reconciliation, co&l# ha4e carrie# thro&gh" King Emperor of Reconciliation 7a#iba can be #escribe# as the King Emperor of Reconciliation" ,olely for the reason that history has shown him to ha4e ha# enormo&s political sagacity an# an almost saintly capacity for magnanimity, forgi4eness an# reconciliation" <e ha# a granite #etermination" 0o personal bitterness or hostility to those who 6aile# him" /y nat&re he was a compromiser an# a conciliator" <e appreciate# the h&manity of the oppresse# an# the oppressor, li+e the Dalit a&thor of the 'n#ian constit&tion -mbe#+ar" <is greatest achie4ement was to see the nee# for reconciliation, to foreswear retrib&tion, an# then to act as mi#wife to a new #emocratic ,o&th -frican Rainbow 0ation, b&ilt on the r&le of law, separation of powers, an in#epen#ent 6&#iciary, an in#epen#ent me#ia an# chec+s an# balances on political power" 7a#iba wor+e# to con4ince the white -fri+aner that they wo&l# still be safe witho&t aparthei#" <e +ille# aparthei# thro&gh pers&asion an# reconciliation" Despite 29-an#a-half long years in solitary confinement on Robben 'slan# prison, he was able to show his white enemies, thro&gh both his temperament an# con#&ct, both in an# after 6ail, a sense of forgi4eness, &nprece#ente# in h&man history, which ga4e him &nparallele# moral a&thority among ,o&th -frican blac+s, colo&re#s an# whites ali+e" 0ot only them 8 among the citi=ens of the worl#, too" This was something only 7a#iba co&l# an# wo&l# #o" <is e5ample gi4es millions of &s hope" <e #ie# on ! December 2013 at %ohannesb&rg" -t his memorial ser4ice, o4er 100 c&rrent an# former national lea#ers 6oine# tho&san#s of ,o&th -fricans in remembering the statesman legacy" ,eminal fig&re of this epoch 7a#iba can be #escribe# as one of the seminal fig&res of this epoch" <is first name was Rolihlahla, which is his nati4e >hosa tribal lang&age means 2tro&blema+er3" <is family name 7an#ela an# his clan name 7a#iba, which later became the pet name for

him among his people, showe# that he was a member of the family of a *aramo&nt )hief of the Themb& people" <e was a #escen#ant of 0g&bengc&+a, one of the Themb& +ings, from whom he too+ the tra#itional clan name, 7a#iba" <is father was )hief )o&ncillor to the *aramo&nt )hief in r&ral Trans+ei, the homelan# of the >hosas in Eastern )ape *ro4ince" <e was born on 18 %&ly 1 18, imb&e# with an o4erbearing sense of tribal pri#e an# the responsibility of lea#ership" - /ritish teacher at the local 7etho#ist school ha# #iffic&lty in getting his tong&e aro&n# Rolihlahla an# rechristene# him after one of his /ritish 0a4al heroes -#miral <oratio 0elson" (hen 7a#iba3s father #ie# when he was 12, he went to li4e with the *aramo&nt )hief" <e watche# the )hief #ispensing tribal 6&stice mellowe# with e?&ity@ this ga4e him an early interest in the law" The *aramo&nt )hief li+e# to resol4e #isp&tes thro&gh consens&s@ he sai# the lea#er sho&l# be li+e a shepher#, #irecting his floc+ by s+ilf&l pers&asion" 't was a lesson in the art of politics which 7a#iba ne4er forgot" -fter atten#ing the prestigio&s <eal#town )ollege, 7a#iba went on to the only blac+ Ani4ersity in ,o&th -frica at ;ort <are" <ere he met his lifelong frien# an# comra#e in arms in the -frican 0ational )ongress B-0)C Dli4er Tembo" They got in4ol4e# in blac+ political empowerment programs an# were e5pelle#" 7a#iba has two lessons for these worthies 8 the first, he is the worl#3s most inspiring e5ample of magnanimity, fortit&#e an# #ignity in the face of &nmitigate# oppression, followe# by a process of principle# an# systemic, transparent, reconciliation #e4oi# of retrib&tion, to win o4er the tr&st, hearts an# min#s of the oppressor an# the oppresse#" 7a#iba was a man #e4oi# of pre6&#ice, with an infinite capacity of patience, h&mo&r an# forgi4eness, a symbol for tolerance an# 6&stice aro&n# the worl# 8 the li+es of which has ne4er been seen before in this epoch, tr&ly &nprece#ente#" ,econ#, the little short of mirac&lo&s way he engineere# an# o4ersaw ,o&th -frica3s transformation from an e5ample of e5treme oppression an# 4iolation of h&man rights, to a Rainbow 0ation, in which people whate4er their race, whate4er lang&age they spea+, will be treate# with #ignity an# respect" This is why we nee# 7a#iba, in spirit, with &s here an# now, in ,ri Ean+aF

7a#iba mo4e# to %ohannesb&rg where he met with blac+ acti4ist (alter ,is&l&, another icon in the battle against aparthei#, who arrange# for him to be article# at the office of liberal -ttorney Ea=er ,+i#els+y" 7a#iba, ,is&l& an# Tembo got in4ol4e# in -0) acti4ities in %ohannesb&rg" /y 1 $8 when the go4erning -fri+aner 0ationalist *arty formalise# the #iscriminatory policy of aparthei#, 7a#iba an# fellow -0) members, infl&ence# by 7ahatma Gan#hi3s anti /ritish H&it 'n#ia ,atyagraha3s in contemporary 'n#ia, oppose# aparthei# with #irect action boycotts an# stri+es" /y 1 !0, at age 32, 7a#iba was *resi#ent of the -0) Io&th (ing" *olitics became an obsession an# he ne4er got thro&gh his final e5ams, #espite three attemptsJ Iears later, while in prison, he manage# to pass" 'n 1 !2, 7a#iba, ,is&l& an# 21 others were arreste# &n#er the ,&ppression of )omm&nism -ct an# fo&n# g&ilty of the offence of 2,tat&tory )omm&nism3" 7a#iba was gi4en a s&spen#e# sentence an# banne# from atten#ing meetings an# meeting or tal+ing to more than one person at a time" 7a#iba ne4er 6oine# the )omm&nist *arty, b&t ma#e common ca&se with them opposing aparthei#" 'n 1 !3 Dli4er Tembo an# 7a#iba, set &p the first-e4er law practice at %ohannesb&rg" 'n 1 !: *olice arreste# 7a#iba an# 1!: of the -0)" The tall an# imposing 7a#iba, with his legal elo?&ence an# strong personality an# commitment, was fast becoming a comman#ing fig&re among the -0)3s ca#res" -fter a si5-year treason trial, in 1 :1, 7a#iba, who #efen#e# himself, an# the others were ac?&itte#" 7a#iba ha# gone into co&rt wearing the tra#itional >hosa leopar# s+in Kaross cloa+, to symbolise a blac+ -frican going into an -fri+aner white man3s co&rt ho&se" 'n 1 :0, the infamo&s ,harpe4ille massacre too+ place" - non-4iolent blac+ crow# who were #emonstrating against the new *ass Eaws, which re?&ire# blac+s an# colo&re#s ha# to carry a *ass to mo4e into areas which were not #esignate# blac+ areas, were fire# &pon by the *olice an# : people were +ille#" The -0) was banne# thereafter" 7a#iba went &n#ergro&n#" The -0) switche# from non-4iolence to 4iolence" 7a#iba resol4e# to lea# an arme# str&ggle an# became the first comman#er of Am+honto we ,i=we 8 the ,pear of the 0ation, as the -0)3s new g&errilla army was +nown" 7a#iba came ro&n# rel&ctantly to g&errilla warfare beca&se he felt that the repression by the Go4ernment left no other way" KThe attac+s of the wil# beast cannot be a4erte# with only bare han#s,F 7a#iba famo&sly sai#" ,abotage was its aim@ there was no plan to +ill anyone" Targeting Go4ernment instit&tions li+e power plants an# comm&nication facilities" 7a#iba left ,o&th -frica co4ertly, b&t was arreste# when he ret&rne#, after a year in

hi#ing" 7a#iba was #&bbe# the /lac+ *impernel #&e the way he +ept e4a#ing capt&reJ Trie# for incitement to stri+e an# illegally lea4ing the co&ntry, he was committe# to fi4e years imprisonment" %ail time (hile 7a#iba was in 6ail, the ,o&th -frican *olice con#&cte# a rai# on an -0) clan#estine base calle# Ri4onia farm, where they fo&n# sabotage plans" ,&bse?&ently, base# on the incriminating e4i#ence fo&n# at Ri4onia, 7a#iba, ,is&l& an# others were charge# with 4iolent re4ol&tion" -t the en# of the trial, 7a#iba ma#e a historic fo&r-ho&r speech" <e concl&#e# with his now-famo&s #eclaration on #emocracy. K't is an i#eal which ' hope to li4e for an# to achie4e" /&t if nee#s be, it is an i#eal for which ' am prepare# to #ie"F The acc&se# were fo&n# g&ilty" 7a#iba was sentence# to life imprisonment an# 6aile# on the #esolate Robben 'slan#" 7a#iba spent a total of 29-an#-a-half years in three ,o&th -frican prisons" 'n one way, the prisons became li+e a &ni4ersity for 7a#iba" <e finally sat an# passe# his law #egree final" <e engage# in constant #ebate with other prisoners an# sharpene# an# fine-t&ne# his political 6&#gment" <e came to realise that non-4iolence was the way to procee#" 7a#iba, in 6ail, #e4elope# an inner strength an# an o&ter a&thority, which he e4en e5erte# o4er his white 6ailors, by learning -fri+aans" 7a#iba later wrote. K't was an -0) policy to try to e#&cate all people, e4en o&r enemies" (e belie4e# that all men, e4en prison ser4ice war#ers, were capable of change, an# we #i# o&r &tmost to try an# change them"F 7a#iba thro&gh intelligence, charm an# pers&asion, gra#&ally ass&me# lea#ership o4er his 6aile# comra#es an# e4en the 6ailors" <e was &nfailingly co&rteo&s to them" 7a#iba, later when *resi#ent of ,o&th -frica, e4en in4ite# the 6ailors to his birth#ay party" Dne 6ailor, )hristo /ran#, a 6ailor both on Robben 'slan# an# *ollsmoor *rison, #eclare# at the party. K' respecte# him as the lea#er of the ,o&th -frican people" -n# later he became my lea#er" -n# ' was 4ery pro&# that one of my prisoners became my lea#er now"F 7a#iba, as *resi#ent Dbama p&t it, in is f&neral oration, Kfree# not only the prisoners b&t also the 6ailorsJF En# to aparthei# -s time passe#, worl#wi#e, opposition to aparthei# b&ilt &p e5ponentially" 'nternational sanctions impose# on the ,o&th -frican regime began to h&rt the economy" E4en white ,o&th -fricans began to realise that aparthei# co&l# not be s&staine#" The ,o&th -frican b&siness comm&nity too saw the system crashing before their 4ery eyes" 7a#iba was the anti-aparthei# campaigners3 icon" /y the time 7a#iba reache# his

90th birth#ay in 1 88, he ha# become a heroic symbol of opposition to aparthei#" The ,o&th -frican Go4ernment co&l# rea# the writing on the wall" 7a#iba ha# a series of e5ploratory meetings from 1 8! with Kobie )oet=ee, the 7inister of %&stice an# 0eil /arnar#, the <ea# of 'ntelligence" 7a#iba later 6&stifie# this. KThere are times a lea#er m&st mo4e ahea# of his floc+"F This pa4e# the way for *resi#ent *i+ /otha Bnic+name# the )roco#ile for his &nsha+eable aparthei# policiesC to s&rprise the worl# by in4iting 7a#iba to tea, in 1 8 " They #isc&sse# a possible form&la for en#ing aparthei# an# the beginning of a transition to #emocratic ma6ority r&le" 7a#iba, when release# from 6ail e4en 4isite# the wi#ow of <en#ric+ Lerwoer#, the architect of aparthei#, an# ha# tea with her, at her whites-only gate# comm&nity" /oer g&errilla, -fri+aner free#om fighter against the /ritish colonials, Daniel Theron, was hono&re# by 7a#iba as *resi#ent" Real progress, howe4er, began when /otha was s&ccee#e# by ;"(" #e Kler+" 'n 1 8 , the fall of the /erlin (all ga4e an impet&s" (ithin three months all banne# political parties were legalise# an# 7a#iba release# from 6ail" 'n a complicate# way, the years in 6ail ha# prepare# 7a#iba well for this moment" /eing incarcerate#, he was protecte# from the ab&se of power an# corr&ption which r&ine# so many other contemporary -frican lea#ers" <e was personally &nbowe# by the oppression an# in#ignities heape# &pon blac+s an# colo&re#s by the white regime" <e ha# hone# his s+ills the years of enforce# st&#y, #ebate an# reflection" 7a#iba was not the wea+ ol# man people ha# e5pecte#" <e was spry an# 4igoro&s from his long years of enforce# physical an# intellect&al #iscipline" <e was a master at many #i4erse mo#ern s+ills, comm&nicating by tele4ision an# han#ling the yo&nger generation of aggressi4e militant blac+s" -t 91, 7a#iba re4eale# a mental fle5ibility, a 4ision, a wise #emeano&r, a conciliatory an# far-sighte# approach, which assiste# him with great s+ill to negotiate the tight rope between maintaining the s&pport of the ol#er -0) members, hol#ing the yo&ng blac+ militants in line an# winning the tr&st of the -fri+aners" 7a#iba showe# his infinite resol&teness, when a white far right wing *ole assassinate# )hris <ani, 7a#iba3s ra#ical lie&tenant" 7a#iba a##resse# the nation that night appealing for calm. KTonight ' am reaching o&t to e4ery single ,o&th -frican, blac+ an# white, from the 4ery #epths of my being"F <is wor#s hel# the peace" Rainbow 0ation 7a#iba bro&ght 1&l& King 1welethini an# political lea#er /&th&le=i into tal+s to ens&re the 1&l&s were within the Rainbow 0ation" <e won o4er De Kler+ an# the -fri+aner

politicians" 't was magnificent o&treach to ens&re reconciliation an# s&pport" 'n 1 3 the worl# recognise# this when 7a#iba an# #e Kler+ were 6ointly awar#e# the 0obel *eace *ri=e" 'n the elections of 1 $, the -0) won :2M of the 4ote" 7a#iba became *resi#ent an# <ea# of ,tate of the Rep&blic of ,o&th -frica" Dn 10 7ay that year, a Go4ernment of national &nity was forme# with De Kler+ as first Dep&ty *resi#ent an# Thabo 7be+i of the -0) as secon#" 'n his ina&g&ral a##ress, 7a#iba famo&sly sai#. K0e4er again shall it be that this bea&tif&l lan# will again e5perience the oppression of one by another"F 7a#iba got to wor+ ?&ic+ly" -rch /ishop T&t& was appointe# )hair of a gro&n#brea+ing Tr&th an# Reconciliation )ommission to in4estigate h&man rights 4iolations &n#er aparthei# 8 this was master stro+e in confronting the horrors of the past, in a way which mo4e# the nation forwar#, blac+, colo&re# an# white together" The commission was a platform for 4ictims an# perpetrators of aparthei# 4iolence to relate their respecti4e e5periences" 't was an e5ercise inten#e# to enable them to #eal with the past an#, i#eally, b&ry the hatchet" T&t& #escribe# 7a#iba th&s. K<e was ama=ing in his selflessness, altr&ism for others 8 recognising 6&st as a 7ahatma Gan#hi or a Dalai Eama that a tr&e lea#er e5ists not for self aggran#isement b&t for the sa+e of those he or she is lea#ing"F -n international icon 7a#iba was an international icon, a hero all o4er -frica@ 9!,000 fans greete# him in a Eon#on sta#i&m, he swept #own /roa#way, in a motorca#e festoone# with more tic+ertape than e4er fl&ttere# in a 0ew Ior+ street before" 'n 1 8 , 7a#iba on completing his term as *resi#ent, stoo# #own an# retire# from acti4e politics" Thabo 7be+i s&ccee#e# him" <istory will regar# 7a#iba not only as ,o&th -frica3s greatest statesman, b&t one of the most inspirational people of this epoch" Dn 7a#iba3s 0th birth#ay, a##ressing a rally in *retoria, he sai#. KTo#ay we are challenge# to en# aparthei# an# all its atten#ant s&ffering"F 'n his f&neral oration, *resi#ent /ara+ Dbama sai#. 7a#iba was Ka man who too+ history in his han#s, an# bent the arc of the moral &ni4erse towar# 6&sticeF" Dbama also sai#. K' am one of the co&ntless millions who #rew inspiration from 0elson 7an#ela3s life" 7y 4ery first political actionN was a protest against aparthei#" The #ay he was release# from prison ga4e m a sense of what h&man beings can #o when they3re g&i#e# by their hopes an# not their fears" <e no longer belongs to &s@ he belongs to the ages" (e will not li+ely see the li+es of 0elson 7an#ela e4er again" ,o it falls to &s, best we can, to carry forwar# the e5ample he set"F 'n the final passage of 7a#iba3s a&tobiography beg&n in prison an# p&blishe# #&ring

his *resi#ency, 7a#iba wrote his 4irt&al epitaph. K' ha4e trie# not to falter@ ' ha4e ma#e missteps along the wayN /&t ' can rest only for a moment, for with free#om comes responsibilities, an# ' #are not linger, for my long wal+ is not en#e#"F Two lessons 7a#iba3s life en#e# on ! December 2013 at ! years" /&t in sprit, by his e5ample, thro&gh his e5hortations, his magnificent steps for reconciliation, he will li4e on in spirit, fore4er" -frica an# the worl# has an# has ha# too many corr&pt big men@ 7a#iba was an or#inary man, who set &p in#epen#ent #emocratic 2big3 instit&tions for ,o&th -frica" -t a time when we ,ri Ean+ans are yearning for s&stainable an# systemic process of reconciliation to heal the wo&n#s of 30 years of conflict, 7a#iba gi4es &s a magnificent e5ample" 't is hope# that the tho&san#s , big an# small, great lea#ers an# followers, s&pporters an# opponents, the powerf&l an# the wea+, who atten#e# 7a#iba3s f&neral or watche# it on TL, wo&l# #raw some lessons from an iconic life" 7a#iba has two lessons for these worthies 8 the first, he is the worl#3s most inspiring e5ample of magnanimity, fortit&#e an# #ignity in the face of &nmitigate# oppression, followe# by a process of principle# an# systemic, transparent, reconciliation #e4oi# of retrib&tion, to win o4er the tr&st, hearts an# min#s of the oppressor an# the oppresse#" 7a#iba was a man #e4oi# of pre6&#ice, with an infinite capacity of patience, h&mo&r an# forgi4eness, a symbol for tolerance an# 6&stice aro&n# the worl# 8 the li+es of which has ne4er been seen before in this epoch, tr&ly &nprece#ente#" ,econ#, the little short of mirac&lo&s way he engineere# an# o4ersaw ,o&th -frica3s transformation from an e5ample of e5treme oppression an# 4iolation of h&man rights, to a Rainbow 0ation, in which people whate4er their race, whate4er lang&age they spea+, will be treate# with #ignity an# respect" This is why we nee# 7a#iba, in spirit, with &s here an# now, in ,ri Ean+a" (e nee# a systemic process of committe#, retrib&tion free, transparent, reconciliation p&t in place, now" Tomorrow will be too late" BThe writer is a lawyer, who has o4er 30 years of e5perience as a )ED in both ,tate an# pri4ate sectors" <e retire# from the office of ,ecretary, 7inistry of ;inance an# c&rrently is the 7anaging Director of the ,ri Ean+a /&siness De4elopment )entre"C