Rolihlahla Mandela: pulling the branch of a tree

For: Javier Brandoli (text and photos)

info heading

info content

Living in South Africa Mandela's death is something I dreamed since I came here the first time last year. I remember in the World Cup final, when before the game came out in a golf cart to go around the field, I had the feeling of living a unique moment. "Just to see it and it was worth being here", I commented to my friends Daniel and Alberto.

The character makes me crazy, life, their way to invent a country. One way to live in harmony without it seems more than a miracle. South Africa, South Africa today, it is their invention, their words. He wrote in an article in El Mundo asked me about the future of South Africa "What can be more radical forgiveness?”. A guy who spends 27 years in jail, away from his family, suffering all kinds of torture and when takes over proclaims an idea, that erased the handbook of answers to their opponents, to look forward and forget the scratches.

Mandela is God in this country. His figure is loved and respected by almost all like that of a father. A foolish excesses shadow that darkens the lovers appear in the history books. Mugabe knows that the future events with him glancing nothing is possible. His words resound in the ears of all South Africans: "We will look to the future and live in a society where race is not a determining factor".

Near the Mandela Square, restaurants are depleted in the bottles of champagne between groups and reduced the emerging new class beautiful black South African.

But, Madiba look how his work? I guess with a certain sadness and a sense of pride. Sadness at not having succeeded in erasing the misery in which he lives most of the black population. To see how this strange coalition that is the ANC, his party, has become in many cases a body of corrupt politicians who walk into shiny sporting the best streets of Sandton, Johannesburg. There, near Mandela Square, restaurants are depleted in the bottles of champagne between groups and reduced the emerging new class beautiful black South African. Front, sharing space, that in the table, Whites are still hoarding most of the wealth. Not many miles beyond poverty throng on the slums of Soweto, voting stock of the party in government. Care, there are improvements, many, as essential to be free, but the promised land for the vast majority is still far. South Africa remains a concave mirror in which to observe the time.

Demagogic would say that White is guilty of work and prosper, but more accurate strike which gave the apartheid regime to wipe out the black population at the school gave. Deleted for blacks, eg, mathematics, and made sleep almost impossible to coming to college. 17 years after Mandela invented democracy education levels remain low, negligible, approved giving skin color and thinking that handing out job titles and high-ranking oppression ends. Lack complex cultural background and dust between the former oppressed class.

What about the future? It is pointless for the management of a company is a black-decree that current laws are racist for blacks,, if not prepared for the job. What can you tell if the country's president is a man with no education and amateur to spend millions in his extended family or Featured invite African leaders at the final World Cup to a party that came to an expenditure of more than 100.000 per head (the news was published this week in the press). Among the guests were leaders of far-reaching humanistic characters like Mugabe or Obiang.

When going to the beaches of Cape Town, under a row of luxury villas that climb up the mountain, and notes that the only blacks in the sand put umbrellas or sell water, seems impossible that there has been a bloodbath.

Mandela saddened guess you also see high rates of AIDS in the country. That has a direct responsibility and his Government post. At first it looked the other way and even went on to say that the disease was an invention of the white. ¿Resultado? The contagion spread geometrically as President Mbeki said he was cured with natural medicines and kept the idea of the conspiracy and his successor, Jacob Zuma, priests spoke of showers or circumcisions. Mandela also paid special attention during his tenure, but at least good Madiba got the bug and the Foundation began to raise funds for the fight against AIDS.

These are the few tears that I imagine in the face of Mandela in his hospital bed in Joburg Milpark. The rest of his life is simply an example for all mankind. When going to the beaches of Cape Town, under a row of luxury villas that climb up the mountain, and notes that the only blacks in the sand put umbrellas or sell water, seems impossible that there has been a bloodbath. Then, you go to the beach at Kalk Bay, full of black families eating in the sand, making bonfires and barbecues and notes that there is no white on the horizon. How do they live so close and yet so far? By the impulse of a man, fortunately it appears that this will also, who decided that her dream was possible. And it will if given time to the new generations, which are not marked by the imprint of apartheid, and that one day sit at the same table to eat without knowing that this miracle is due to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Rohlihlahla in Xhosa means "pulling the branch of a tree". Successful is his name.

  • Share

Comments (8)

  • Galician

    |

    Mandela was also very important before leaving jail. He became an icon for people of color and kept people in prison attentive to future changes. Otherwise, I share your analysis.

    Answer

  • Miquel Silvestre

    |

    The ANC is a corrupt party, racists and thieves, and also as sex offenders and murderers to deny the reality of HIV infection and the importance of AIDS. Have encouraged such outrageous practices by default as the rape of babies as a means of healing.

    But, clear, CNA is the, Mandela's party, and so have bull for all. When they run out of excuses, accuse the ANC of racism all. ¿Recuerdas, Xavier, the case of the black athlete androgynous-looking man turned out to be disguised as a woman and the International Olympic Committee stopped competing with the discovery of chromosomal analysis? What was the reaction of the ANC: "The IOC is racist!!" With a pair.

    But, clear, here no one wants to hear Mandela's party is a den of corrupt demagogues. The correction to all. If you are black, good, and if times are bad, blame the system.

    Answer

  • javier Brandoli

    |

    Galician, is it true what they say and published in this magazine a post and a story on Robben Island in which he explained the importance of the figure of Mandela in prison. Later ended up in the shadow government. A hug and thanks for your comment

    Answer

  • javier Brandoli

    |

    Hi Miquel, unfortunately so. The day the ANC will become a party, something that will end up happening, is dismembered between their factions and probablemnte DECNA will end his almighty power. What is happening in Western Cape, with DA, in my opinion is very important. I'll tell you that I think starts to be a lot of black people began to understand that the ANC has become a rich and corrupt nobility. In fact, in Cape Town have lost as township and municipal elections (still have much to change). On AIDS, I think history will judge what the ANC has done in this country.
    A hug friend, what you say is brave and, is my feeling, is the true form of respect and love a place. I've never understood the reason for having an ethical and social ideas sprofundas in your country and change them when you come to another. You mdificarlas and understand the circumstances, but opposite defnender. corruption, steal, Grow, not respecting human rights is wrong with Africa and being black and in the U.S. and be a respectable lawyer Fifth Avenue.

    Answer

  • Carlos L

    |

    Congratulations Javier for this article and for all the reports that you are sending and sharing with us in this magazine. A hug

    Answer

  • Javier Brandoli

    |

    Thank you very much Carlos

    Answer

Write a comment