The day Nelson Mandela was freed, was a huge event here on our shores as it heralded a new era of significant changes in the lives of many people deprived of basic human rights based on the colour of their skin!
How did that affect my life?
I will explain what it was like before.
Growing up, I could never understand why my Dad could not travel alone in the car with our domestic worker, someone always had to accompany them when he took her home. They both could be arrested because of the Immorality Act!
The first time I went with them, I remember the shock when I saw where she lived; I simply could not understand why this dear little woman, had to live under such abhorrent conditions.
Seeing signage 'Whites only' or 'Europeans only' for public benches and toilets, beaches, and even the trains had a separate section where people of colour were crammed in, while whites or Europeans sat in comfort.
I was only about six at the time, but seeing all these things made such an impact on me that I clearly remember thinking that the worst thing under the sun must be to be born black!
My parents taught us to treat everyone with respect, and Truitjie came with us on holiday a couple of times, even though she was afraid that the mermaids with their long tails would grab her, and pull her into the sea.
Those were the dark days of Apartheid, so when it was announced that Nelson Mandela was going to be freed in 1999, we believed that there finally was hope for our country, as poverty and unemployment as well as depriving people of their basic rights, leads to crime.
After Madiba was freed, life carried on much as usual for my family and me, but we saw many changes in the lives of people who were previously segregated.
We now have neighbours from all creeds and races living side by side, and most of our lives have been made richer by learning how different cultures celebrate, and mourn, and we enjoy each other's cuisines; South Africans do believe in the phrase 'sharing is caring'.
So when we visit each other, the leftovers are always packed into containers, for 'padkos,' direct translation 'road trip snacks'.
If only...if only...Madiba was not incarcerated for such a long time, I do believe his ideals could have been fulfilled. Sadly his legacy has been tarnished by leaders whose greed and hunger for power is destroying our beautiful country.
Photo by Ashim D’Silva on Unsplash
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world.
The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement
Let freedom reign. God bless Africa."
Extract of a speech by the late Nelson Mandela - if only he still walked among us!
A terror attack happening on the other side of the world was to become a reminder ever after of a life-changing event right here at home.
Everyone in the office had left for home, and a work buddy and I were getting ready to leave when the music on the radio was interrupted by news of the attack on the twin towers at the World Trade Centre.
We looked at each other with our mouths agape, was this for real?
It was my Dad's birthday, and when I got home, he said this is one date he will never forget.
Sadly, he never saw that date again, as he passed away unexpectedly four days before his 73rd birthday.
We held his memorial service on 11 September 2002, with the church packed to the brim, as Dad was loved by young and old, and from all creeds and colours.
The minister asked for a minute's silence for the victims of that tragic event, and I believe Dad was nodding his head from his new home, saying yes, I remember!
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