'Making a real difference?'
by Mphatjie Monareng
2009-07-08 14:15
Dear Editor,
Today I listened to Members of Parliament (MPs), including former president Kgalema Motlanthe, talking about our former president, Nelson Mandela, in the context of the planned Mandela Day, as if they were talking about God.
As President Jacob Zuma explained it in his State of the National Address, people around the world would be asked, on Mandela Day (18 July), to spend 67 minutes of their time doing something which made a difference to the world around them.
Whilst I remain grateful for the role Mandela played in the liberation of our country from apartheid, paying the high price of 27 long years' imprisonment, I will not do anything extraordinary on Mandela Day. It will be business as usual for me, and this is why:
1. The thought of people all over the world dedicating 67 minutes of their life doing "something which made a difference to the world around them" sounds too good to be of any real benefit to the poor people of the world, too many of whom are in Africa.
2. My suspicion is that politicians, such as Members of Parliament, will use the day to engage in pretensions acts of caring and doing good for humanity whilst we know, based on their daily conduct (sleeping amidst serious debates, Travelgating, etc), that they care very little about the wellbeing of their fellow citizens.
We need to celebrate the life and sacrifices of Mandela everyday of our lives by doing good for our families, friends and communities. Sitting in Cape Town and talking for the better part of the year and dedicating only 67 minutes of "doing good" verges on negligence and perhaps even illegality.
Sixty-seven minutes of pretentious community service do not sound attractive to me - and I know that millions of other people around South Africa, Africa and the world will not take part in this charade, unfortunately organised under the iconic name of our hero, Nelson Mandela.
Mphatjie Monareng
Get published on MyNews24 by sending your letter, story or column to us.
Send us your news photos
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.