Dear Editor,
For all his time free and leading the fight against evil apartheid, and most of his time in incarceration, Nelson Mandela was labelled a "terrorist" by Western governments. That they refused to impose sanctions on what they now call the "evil" that Mandela fought vehemently told on which side of the struggle they stood.
No one can take anything from the greatness of Mandela's spirit and resolve for freedom and justice. But it is my humble and respectful view that his release from prison was not the last step in the long journey for equality for South Africans.
The evidence is clear. More than 85 per cent of the arable land and wealth in South Africa are owned and controlled by less than eight per cent of the population -- the descendents of the architects of apartheid. Life for many in Soweto and other slums still reeks of deprivation and wretchedness. In short, the shift of political power to blacks has not loosened the grip that the minority whites have on the lifeline of South Africa's wealth and economy. In essence, political independence did not disturb the racially slanted economic system. So great was the price for peace.
But this situation is not far removed from that which confronted Zimbabwe even 10 years after independence. Mugabe, "freedom fighter turned President", became a "despot" to the West when he attempted to redistribute land to landless Zimbabweans, with debilitating economic sanctions against ordinary Zimbabweans for continuing to re-elect him to office. Notwithstanding that, it was Britain and the US that broke their treaty obligation to pay white landowners for lands taken for re-distribution.
South Africa's "long journey" to full freedom and justice will not end until economic and social inequality are addressed. The struggle continues, so long as so few own and control the wealth and resources of the country, at the exclusion of so many. The emergence of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party, led by the commander-in-chief, Julius Malama, who was recently expelled from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for his refusal to accept the status quo, is not to be ignored. His mission is as clear, as his words are poignant:
"You are not ashamed for having stolen our land. You want us to come to you and kneel before you to ask for the land of our ancestors. We are not going to do that."
It is not far-fetched to envisioned that South Africa may have to take the route that Mugabe took in Zimbabwe to address the vexed issue of landownership. If and when that happens, it will be interesting to see how the world, especially Britain and the US, will respond.
Aluta continua.
Delford G Morgan
Attorney-at-law
pepe.morgan@yahoo.com
South Africa's journey to freedom not over
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For all his time free and leading the fight against evil apartheid, and most of his time in incarceration, Nelson Mandela was labelled a "terrorist" by Western governments. That they refused to impose sanctions on what they now call the "evil" that Mandela fought vehemently told on which side of the struggle they stood.
No one can take anything from the greatness of Mandela's spirit and resolve for freedom and justice. But it is my humble and respectful view that his release from prison was not the last step in the long journey for equality for South Africans.
The evidence is clear. More than 85 per cent of the arable land and wealth in South Africa are owned and controlled by less than eight per cent of the population -- the descendents of the architects of apartheid. Life for many in Soweto and other slums still reeks of deprivation and wretchedness. In short, the shift of political power to blacks has not loosened the grip that the minority whites have on the lifeline of South Africa's wealth and economy. In essence, political independence did not disturb the racially slanted economic system. So great was the price for peace.
But this situation is not far removed from that which confronted Zimbabwe even 10 years after independence. Mugabe, "freedom fighter turned President", became a "despot" to the West when he attempted to redistribute land to landless Zimbabweans, with debilitating economic sanctions against ordinary Zimbabweans for continuing to re-elect him to office. Notwithstanding that, it was Britain and the US that broke their treaty obligation to pay white landowners for lands taken for re-distribution.
South Africa's "long journey" to full freedom and justice will not end until economic and social inequality are addressed. The struggle continues, so long as so few own and control the wealth and resources of the country, at the exclusion of so many. The emergence of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party, led by the commander-in-chief, Julius Malama, who was recently expelled from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for his refusal to accept the status quo, is not to be ignored. His mission is as clear, as his words are poignant:
"You are not ashamed for having stolen our land. You want us to come to you and kneel before you to ask for the land of our ancestors. We are not going to do that."
It is not far-fetched to envisioned that South Africa may have to take the route that Mugabe took in Zimbabwe to address the vexed issue of landownership. If and when that happens, it will be interesting to see how the world, especially Britain and the US, will respond.
Aluta continua.
Delford G Morgan
Attorney-at-law
pepe.morgan@yahoo.com
South Africa's journey to freedom not over
-->