South Africa on precipice – Kathrada

Nelson Mandela broke ranks when necessary, struggle veteran and Rivonia triallist Ahmed Kathrada has said.

In an opinion piece yesterday, a day after the third anniversary of Madiba’s death, Kathrada reflects on the former president’s leadership lessons and its relevance in today’s political climate.

“South Africa currently finds itself on a precipice,” Kathrada writes.

“It can either fall headlong into a political quagmire, characterised by heightened socioeconomic turmoil; or it can back away from the cliff, look at the leadership examples of its predecessors and find safer, common sense ways to ‘cross the gorge’.”

He pointed to Mandela’s speech in 2000 at the International Aids Conference, which “was credited as being a watershed moment that turned the tide against our government’s opposition to antiretroviral treatment”.

“It takes a special type of leader to admit to his faults, and admitting to not doing enough to combat the epidemic during his time as president is exactly what Mandela did.

“But it takes a remarkable individual to break ranks, stare down dominant views and face being unpopular amongst one’s own.

“It is safe to say that his views were anything but popular amongst some within the ANC’s national executive committee at the time.”

Mandela “was unafraid to tell comrades when he thought differently”.

Kathrada is heartened that some South Africans heeded the call to support initiatives like the Save SA campaign and its motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma. Some ANC veterans, some Umkhonto we Sizwe cadres and some members from the ANC NEC have begun to take positions that may not be popular.

At Save SA’s launch of the motion, drumbeats could be heard around Constitution Hill, Kathrada says. “It is these drumbeats that I think Madiba would have wanted to hear.

“As we remember Mandela in death, it is precisely these rumblings that must roll on …

“Like Mandela, I believe that their breaking of ranks in the interest of the betterment of this country is a step that in years to come, will be appreciated.”

‘It takes a remarkable individual to break ranks, stare down dominant views, and face being unpopular ’ Ahmed Kathrada, Struggle veteran