United in our diversity
AMID heightened racial tensions over the land question, the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 held at the FNB Stadium at the weekend reminded us as South Africans how united we can be in our diversity.
The event attracted thousands of South Africans from all walks of life, race, religion and gender orientation.
For a day, South Africa felt like the Rainbow Nation that Nelson Mandela envisaged it to be.
The festival, as was the case with the
World Cup in 2010, reaffirmed our ability to unite across all colour lines and host global spectacles.
The name of Nelson Mandela once again reminded us of our common humanity and destiny. Indeed, we were reminded that we belong together as South Africans, and that the ideal of non-racialism should continue to bind us, which was the wish of the forebears of our democracy.
But after the fanfare, the question remains: are we as a nation united as we were at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100?
Have we, of late, been the South Africa that Nelson Mandela wished for?
Mandela and his comrades fought for South Africa to be a prosperous nation based on equality and compassion for its citizens; a country where people are not judged by the colour of their skins.
We ought to use the aftermath of the Global Citizen Festival to do some introspection.
In our engagement on land reform, have we been the kind of citizens Mandela wanted us to be?
The reality of the matter is that we cannot achieve this unity of purpose by hosting World Cups and other global events.
We need to ask ourselves tough questions regarding racial relations in this country in the wake of this important festival.
Perhaps it is about time we revisited what unites us more than what is dividing us; our dreams and imaginations, our fears as a nation and, certainly, our common destiny.
Surely, as human beings, there is more we have in common than our differences? Granted, there is a past that divides us, but we share the ideal of a prosperous future.
It is at times like this that genuine men and women among us need to rise to the occasion to remind us of our unity in diversity. CHRISTMAS came early for a Kimberley man, Clerence Ntsenkeng, who won a diamond after entering the De Beers Wellness Day race on Saturday.
The wellness day was held to commemorate World Aids Day and to highlight the plight of those living with HIV/Aids as well as to educate entrants about the disease.
De Beers spokesperson, Lesedi Ntuli, said the event comprised 10km and 5km road races and was held at the Galeshewe Stadium.
Ntuli said that Ntsenkeng walked away with his shiny prize after a lucky draw.
“We had registrations for entrants for the race. Ntsenkeng was one of the people who registered and he came up tops following a lucky draw,” said Ntuli.
Ntsenkeng indicated that he was thrilled with his prize. “I am really happy that I won the diamond. I am not sure what I am going to do with it but I certainly am glad that I decided to register to participate in this great initiative,” he said.
Ntuli said the overall winners in the race were awarded cash prizes.
“Prize money for the first position for both men and women was R1 000, second position R500 and third position R250. Other spot prizes included De Beers Group branded caps, water bottles, umbrellas and bags.”
She said that De Beers had promised to continue to support those living with the disease.
“The De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa senior vice-president, Peter Phemelo Moeti, indicated that De Beers was actively contributing to ending the HIV/Aids epidemic by 2030.
He again highlighted that as a business they are committed to supporting the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids 90-90-90 strategy.
“By 2019, we expect that 90 percent of our people, both employees and contractors, will know their status, 90 percent of our people diagnosed with an HIV infection will be enrolled on an antiretroviral treatment plan, and 90 percent of employees adhering to the antiretroviral treatment plan will have viral suppression.”
Ntuli added that a mobile testing clinic on sight also offered free HIV/Aids testings and tuberculosis, high-blood pressure and diabetes screenings on the day.