South Africa is not perfect, far from it.
Almost daily we are bombarded with the newest corruption scandal that we tend to now hardly break a step due to its common occurrence. What about the next wave of violent farm and mining strikes that seem to never end, or the next accusation of police brutality, the Limpopo textbook saga, the failed health system in the Eastern Cape, Marikana, the never ending scandals surrounding Zuma’s arms deal involvement and Nkandla?
Let’s not forgot the utter tolerance of our northern neighbours, Zimbabwe’s, constant floating of human rights while we sit and turn a blind eye? Unemployment is sky rocketing, BEE is not working and faction’s still think there’s a revolution to fight?
Our problem’s don’t end there.
One would be forgiven for thinking we on a downward spiral.
But we forgot from whence we come.
It’s seldom a documentary can affect people so much these day’s but then again maybe it’s our reluctance or maybe fear as a society as a whole to talk openly about the past. This film needs to be seen by all of us, we as a country need perspective.
Miracle Rising: South Africa aired on DSTV’s History’s channel this last Sunday. While the content is not new, this is a film that hits to the core. It’s basic message is evident in the title. What has become South Africa today is nothing short of a miracle.
Back in 1990 – 1994 I was a nine year old boy. What did I know? Watching the scene’s unfold in this documentary of Nelson Mandela being released, the toughness of the negotiations that took place at CODESA, the storming of CODESA by AWB’s militant arm, the IFP’s and others violent unrest in the hills of Natal, right wing bombs and more bomb’s going off, the invasion of Bophuthatswana again by the AWB and the subsequent execution of three members of the same organisation, Boipatong, the violent lead up and trials and uncertainty to the first elections and the assignation of Chris Hani.
If this was not cause for mass civil unrest and war....I don’t know what is.
But we as a nation pulled through and the joyous scene’s at the end when so much hope and togetherness spread like wildfire. People believed in the change. I’m am not ashamed to say I cried.
I am thankful to those that saw the bigger picture.
I am thankful to those men and woman who fought for a peaceful solution when violence seemed to be the only mean’s to an end.
I am thankful that this country managed to pull itself out from the fire.
Settling for second best is not an option and yes we are not perfect, far from it, but we have come so far which is simply a miracle.
Let’s not forgot and waste this chance.
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