We need another Mandela

THE LETTER from Roslyn Bristow (“Confront racists”, Weekend Argus Saturday, October 10) about white man who behaved abominably towards guards in a hospital car park describes the behaviour of an individual who, I would guess, behaves abominably in any society.

In other words, a white fellow with a most unpleasant personality who just manages to keep his abominable behaviour under control, but with difficulty. There aren’t many who are so bad. Non- whites are, unfortunately, likely to associate his misbehaviour with all whites, whether true or not, and I am sure that is what the ANC would like people to believe, despite the number of occasions when we are told that South Africa is for all its citizens, black, white and so on.

Often in comments to online articles in the media I read, the individuals commenting demonstrate an attitude of hoping to reintroduce the black version of apartheid against whites.

And this is where the ANC demonstrates by far its worst failure, namely to uphold the generous moral attitude that the late Nelson Mandela adopted.

And what is the greatest pity is that he was really too old when he took over power to have time to ensure what he wanted to happen for South Africa would be permanently implanted in the minds of the ANC leaders who would take over power after he retired from active politics. He missed out with the years he was imprisoned on Robben Island.

The impression I get is that Mandela is held in far higher regard in Western countries than in his own country.

What honours are added to his memory here are largely a sham – it seems that many black South Africans don’t care. When, and from where, will the next Mandela arise? He or she will necessarily need to be a political figure. I don’t see anyone on the horizon.