SPEECH BY HUMAN SETTLEMENTS MINISTER TOKYO SEXWALE AT THE 4^TH ANNUAL NELSON MANDELA LECTURE AT THE NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY, July 25 2012

Taking Action And Inspiring Change

Today, exactly a week ago on the 18 of July, the entire world led by the United Nations Organization (UNO) had taken a moment to pause in celebration of one of the most iconic leaders, an emblematic figure, a man of the people and a global statesman par excellence whose towering stature spans both the 20^th and the 21^st centuries - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Madiba!

The UNO was founded post World War II primarily to secure world peace. Quite regularly its deliberations are beset with contradictions some of which have been acrimonious, sometimes leading to split voting, sanctions, walk-outs, boycotts and - at the level of its Security Council - the exercise of vetoes by major powers.

However never in its history has there been complete unanimity on the recognition of the birthday of a single living individual to be celebrated each year world-wide as Nelson Mandela Day is, in acclamation of his stellar contribution to mankind's struggle for freedom and international peace.  "Welcoming the international campaign initiated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and related organizations to each year observe 18 July, his birthday, as Mandela Day", the Nelson Mandela International Day UNO Special Resolution 64/13 is summarily captured thus:

"... to recognize Nelson Mandela's values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of poor and under developed communities... and acknowledges his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world."

It is instructive to note that this resolution was not the first to be adopted by the UNO in respect of Madiba. During his long incarceration, a resolution in his name was passed calling for his release and that of all political prisoners. A special personality indeed!

At the same time, Nelson Mandela's organization, the African National Congress, which this year is celebrating its one hundred years of existence, has designated all the months of this year to honour all its presidents since 1912. In this regard, July, his birth month, has been set aside in recognition of Madiba's sterling contribution to our struggle for non racialism, non sexism, a democratic, free and prosperous South Africa. However, Madiba cautions us not to rest on our laurels or to take freedom for granted. In his celebrated biography - The Long Walk to Freedom - he states:

"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended."

Many celebratory lectures on Madiba have been delivered by various persons this month across the country. In today's lecture under the theme "Taking action and inspiring change", we join the many who have made positive remarks in respect of Madiba's unquestionable historical legacy and standing in society.

It is an honour to be invited to deliver this seminal lecture during this month of Mandela in this vital province where the living legend is currently spending his last and most precious days. A province which has also given birth to other political giants of the South African democratic landscape such as reverend Rubusana,  Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, Raymond Mhlaba, Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Winnie Mandela, Steve Tshwete, Thabo Mbeki, Chris Hani and last but not least, the giant of all giants - the indefatigable OR Tambo. 

What we should have done today we will do tomorrow, to lay wreaths on the sacred graves of comrades Raymond Mhlaba, Ndobe and Govan Mbeki, Zizi. These and many other leaders throughout the country constitute a vital core of the leadership-collective within which Nelson Mandela is located; for Madiba, although having spent close to three decades in prison on Robben Island, is not an island, a leader by himself isolated from others, but a true leader amongst other leaders. uMholi wa baHoli, iNkokeli yeZinkokeli, Moetapele wa Baetapele ...

How does Madiba relate to ordinary people, not just leaders, who are the true makers of history. Let's take from the words of the ANC President, Jacob Zuma, when he recently delivered the Mandela lecture at a church in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. Sadly, the atmosphere there was marred and the church was surrounded by barbed-wire and heavy security presence in sharp contracts to hundred years ago when the ANC was founded in a church without a cordon-sanitaire.

"The manner in which Madiba carried himself...teaches us that the most effective revolutionary ideas are magnetic, not coercive. He attracted people like a magnet through persuasion."

This summarizes the hallmark of true leadership. A leader becomes a centre of attraction and a rallying point of his people. Through his unwavering dedication, and his love of the people, Madiba the magnet, as evidenced by the UNO Resolutions attracts the entire world to the example of his leadership.

Borrowing from the scriptures, the renowned prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi, a venerated religious figure of the 13^th Century, sums-up Madiba's magnetism thus:

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy."

The opposite to the magnetism of Mandela is the down fall of many people whose style and content of leadership is essentially that of sowing disunity. Such political leaders, contrary to being magnets that attract people, are destructive and can best be described as political grenades. Put such leaders amongst people, they always split them. Not so with Madiba and the leadership-collective of his celebrated generation, all of whom were driven by a sense of constant willingness and readiness to serve the people, not for divisive, monetary, corruptive, selfish, sectarian and factional interests.

What can we learn from the example of Mandela's method?

This lecture on Madiba, like the lectures celebrating the lives and times of the leaders of the ANC in its hundred-year history, should be less about looking backward and reciting and recycling history. The essence of the lesson of history as best applied by Marxists in their philosophy of historical materialism is less to do with quoting historical episodes, and more about decoding such occurrences, to understand their meanings. In the case of Madiba, it is about the interpretation of his leadership method.    

It is totally pointless today to recite the name Mandela, inserting him in very sentence that we speak, seeking his autographs and photographs when little or no heed is taken of his teachings, when one has not understood the quality of his message of unity and non-racialism within the ranks of his movement and most importantly, amongst the citizens of the country he so loves.

In this context, a few poignant questions beg for answers:

• How do we measure up to his principles of non-racialism, non-sexism, a democratic, free and prosperous South Africa for all its citizens?
• Are we steadfastly emulating his ethical conduct against wanton corruption, maladministration and nepotism in the face of abject poverty which the day-to-day life experience of millions of our fellow citizens?
• Do we live according to his moral compass which encompasses the virtues of honesty, integrity and moral conduct which is beyond public reproach?
• To what extent have we embraced his values of selflessness, sense of justice and courageousness, particularly in the face of unbridled abuse of power by those we have elected into positions of trust, who have conveniently forgotten that they are servants and not masters of the people?

Throughout much of his political life, Madiba was not driven by bravado, which equals blind courage, but by the courage of his convictions.

Via Qunu from Mvezo and from the early days at Fort Hare University before his expulsion, he had demonstrated good leadership skills which did not go unnoticed to many senior leaders of his political organization and community. True to his name, Rolihlahla, he was restless and never took things for granted.

He was no yes-man, but in order to understand, the causality of events and their outcomes, his searching mind was always examining, experimenting, interrogating and ready to listen and to reflect. Yet seldom, his sharp tongue led him to commit bad mistakes and errors of judgment which he has subsequently publicly acknowledged in several interviews and in his writings.

Quite often, his ear was pulled, and in his own words he "was put on the carpet" by amongst others, comrades JB Marks, Braam Fischer and Moses Kotane, Malome. The approach of these outstanding leaders, some of whom were members of the Communist Party which Madiba and others had locked horns with, was to constructively criticize Madiba's wayward young generation while simultaneously helping to shore them up as future leaders who indeed they turned out to be.

In this regard, our young people of today, the economic freedom fighters, have got to draw a leaf from the lessons of this historical experience. The moral of the lesson is: Commit your own new mistakes in the quest for charting the way forward into the future that can only be yours.

At the same time, you are duty-bound not to repeat the same mistakes of the generation of Mandela which they have long since corrected. That way, society in its wisdom, has no choice and is also duty-bound to embrace, build and shore you up to be better future leaders of our Republic.  

In the journey of his leadership, one of the most critical acts of the courage of his conviction, his true mettle, was demonstrated when, following the banning of the ANC, Madiba without any prevarication stepped forward to accept political instructions that put his life on the line. This was the order to take up the position as the First Commander of the ANC army, uMkhonto weSizwe/Lerumo la Sechaba/Spear of the Nation (MK), in defence of the ideals of freedom against racial domination - black or white - for a democratic and free society.

Later, during the Rivonia Trial following the capture of the High Command of MK, he quoted the following ominous words from the manifesto of MK:

"The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight. That time has come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice, but to hit back by all means in our power in defense of our people, our future and our freedom."

When faced with the possibility of being hanged, he stated:

"... But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I'm prepared to die."

Whilst in prison, his stature both in South Africa and internationally, continued to grow phenomenally, thanks to the selfless leadership of OR Tambo who together with the entire ANC leadership in exile, mobilized the international community around the name of Nelson Mandela.

Inside prison, Madiba together with the Rivonia and other leaders of the ANC, under the nose of our captors, virtually turned vice into virtue, a prison into a political school which through uMrabulo political education produced many graduates. Madiba's leadership-collective literally ‘unbanned' the ANC on Robben Island, whilst it remained outlawed in the country. This is the essence of the spirit of no surrender even behind enemy lines.

However, the most extraordinary, unprecedented and highly innovative leadership skill, was the small step he took, with giant consequences. At the same time as the enemy was trying to dislodge him from the rest of his prison comrades with a view to compromise him, he realized their weakness in that they had lost their key international supporters, the economy was a shambles, international sanctions were beginning to bite, the armed struggle was being intensified, the country was rendered ungovernable and apartheid unworkable making South Africans of all hues and races to be no longer prepared to be ruled in the same old way.

He analysed all this and showed them the futility of their suicidal intransigence bolstered by their only remaining fig leaf of crumbling military superiority. This was as a consequence of their humiliating defeat at the bloody battle of Quito Cuanavale in Angola which also led to the decolonisation of Namibia.

Madiba through sheer force of argument, was able to convince them - PW Botha and later FW de Klerk - that having kept him and other leaders for almost three decades behind prison bars gained them nothing as the situation had worsened for them; that they had ran out of options and had no alternatives but to end their own illegitimate, white minority and discredited apartheid rule. He skillfully guided them to commence discussions with the OR led ANC leadership.

Effectively what Madiba achieved, and this is unprecedented on the part of a prisoner in the history recorded human conflict, was to assist the enemy to give up by putting a white flag in the enemy's hand and convincing him to raise it without the shame of defeat. Herein lay the seeds and Madiba-induced groundwork for the CODESA negotiations, which culminated in the democratization of South Africa with Mandela at its helm as our first democratic president.

With all this backdrop, the question arises: What is the interpretation, particularly during challenging times, of the essence of the leadership style and content of Madiba, which is gradually but surely emerging as part of Mandela-ism?

• Leadership can never be provided when the road is bright and clear, but only where there is no road and when there are risks and dangers. 
• Leadership is not about walking and hiding behind the masses, pushing them forward like canon fodder for self preservation. This I call tailism.
• Leadership is not about hiding inside the crowd amongst the people, where one has got no clear vision of the road ahead. Such leaders, whenever they have to give direction, seek refuge behind the platitude: "the people say", instead of stating their own view for fear of being contradicted. This is populism.
• Leadership is not about the over-enthusiasm and recklessness of moving too far ahead of the people, where they cannot see, hear, let alone understand you. This makes such a leader to be out of touch, in cloud cuckoo land like the biblical Moses who was for too long too far away from the flock. This I call futurism.
• Mandela-ism teaches us that during trying times, leadership is about leading from the front, where one is sufficiently ahead of the people in order to be the first to see threats and opportunities, while at the same time being sufficiently closer to the people in order to stay in touch. The challenge in this regard is the constant management of this critical distance between the leadership and the people. This statement is a truism.

A wise leader, having identified threats or opportunities should anticipate that in the report-back interaction with the people, one is likely to be met with mainly three possible scenarios: those who will agree with your assessment, those opposed to it and those who are undecided. A leader should expect to be booed before being wooed, to be jeered before being cheered. Therein lies the strength and effectiveness of a leader.

The task is to consolidate those who see the leader's point of view, to take time to explain to the undecided and to pay particular attention to persuade those who are opposed to the leader's view, instead of adopting the myopic knee-jerk reaction of regarding them as enemies. This  reaction may inadvertently lump such people together with one's real dyed-in-the wool adversaries. This is foolhardy because more often than not, opposition to one's views is as a result of lack of understanding.

As I stated last week on Madiba's birthday at the colloquium jointly organized by the Mandela Museum in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory, our responsibility is to ensure that the name of Nelson Mandela and his great legacy live forever and remain rooted in the hearts and minds of the peoples of the world.  

This should be done through emulating, embracing and continuing with the dissemination of information across our country and to all the four corners of the world in respect of the following but not exhaustible attributes of this distinguished leader amongst leaders:

• The struggle of his life
• The example of his leadership
• The guiding light of his principles
• The energy of his youth
• The robustness of his discourse
• The defiance of his campaigns
• The commitment to socio-economic justice
• The charter of his freedoms
• The tribulations of his trials
• The soldier of his people
• The courage of his convictions
• The lessons from his imprisonment
• The triumph of his release
• The skill of his negotiations
• The father of our democracy
• The unifier of the nation
• The magnanimity of his presidency
• The magnet of society
• The champion of reconciliation
• The spirit of his philanthropy 
• In a word, the footsteps of his freedom marathon.

May his name like name like many of icons live forever!

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