Inspiring us all

AT THE DAWN of our democracy there were three broad groups within the ANC; the Islanders, the Exiles and the Insiders, based on where they had fought the Struggle.

Mandela represented the Islanders. Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma came from the ranks of the Exiles. And now, under Ramaphosa, it is the time of the Insiders.

This year the State of the Nation address was rushed, but Ramaphosa broke with recent tradition when he used a different route to that of his predecessor to enter Parliament to deliver the address. The pomp and ceremony was toned down, but adequate.

When the EFF rose from their seats to applaud Ramaphosa as he entered the National Assembly, there were signs of a new beginning in Parliament.

It was sealed when the EFF sat through the entire speech without raising a point of order, and even applauded at some points. Unlike the chaos witnessed over the last few years, dignity was restored to the joint sitting that marks the opening of Parliament.

South Africa’s fifth democratically elected president initially seemed somewhat overwhelmed as he began his maiden State of the Nation address. He had reason to be. The run-up to him delivering the address had been ugly, and at times brutal.

But when Ramaphosa spoke, he said all the right things, promising a year of renewal, a year of hope. The president is no messiah, but his message was like manna from heaven. It was more than a breath of fresh air, and it is exactly what the nation needed.

As he delivered the Sona, the president grew in confidence and ended on a master stroke, quoting jazz icon and great South African artist Hugh Masekela’s song “Thuma Mina” when he said: “I wanna lend a hand… Send me”.

By the time he had finished, he had left a nation inspired. Now it is up to all of us to give effect to that inspiration.

Let’s roll up our sleeves, get to work and help the president in the tough task that lies ahead.

South Africans calling themselves true patriots will have no difficulty saying: “I wanna lend a hand… Send me”.