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Soul of a Nation: A Quest for the Rebirth of South Africa's True Values
There is lament about how and why the ANC have so quickly become preoccupied with material enrichment.
Former exile, business leader and political commentator, Oyama Mabandla, excavates the values that created a steady flow of pioneering South Africans under impossible circumstances, bolstered a liberation ethic and championed a leadership that made individual nobility and excellence aspirational.
These values, in retreat since 94, can still recapture the nation's best trajectory.
Former exile, business leader and political commentator, Oyama Mabandla, excavates the values that created a steady flow of pioneering South Africans under impossible circumstances, bolstered a liberation ethic and championed a leadership that made individual nobility and excellence aspirational.
These values, in retreat since 94, can still recapture the nation's best trajectory.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2024
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April 19, 2024
#SoulOfANation – Oyama Mabandla
#Tafelberg
Born in South Africa, grew up in Mthatha.
Thirteen years old when Soweto erupted on 16 June 1976.
Seventeen years old when fleeing his country of birth for exile in Lesotho.
Eighteen years old when sent to Angola for military training.
Survived raids and blitzes that killed more than thirty comrades in two hours.
This is a very concise history of the author’s youth. The former exile became a lawyer, business executive, and political commentator and, in this book, provides a critical account of forty years of South African history: How it has turned out, why it has not turned out better, and what can and should be done about it.
Part 1, titled “Beginnings”, is autobiographical in nature and narrates the evolution of the author’s consciousness from birth until the latter part of the 1980’s, including his fond memories of the late Chris Hani, his protector, and the reminder of what exile is really like: “Exile is…the unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place, between the self and the true home: its essential sadness can never by surmounted.” (Edward Said)
Part 2, titled “Evolution of the new dispensation”, examines CODESA, the Constitution, participatory democracy, and the hard tasks that confronted the young constitutional democracy, revealing reasons for areas where it has failed, but also acknowledging the progress that was made.
He acknowledges the point of view that the political settlements of the early 1990’s amounted to a sell out and that it was thus not a complete victory but argues that “This is the phenomenon of looking at things from the vantage point of the present rather than in the context of the prevailing objective facts and conditions at the time of the settlement.” (86) and adds that “…most of the people hankering for a bloody revolt have never been in one. They can only romanticise it.” (87)
Responding to the critique that the Constitution is an obstacle to reform, he points out that the Constitution is the world’s leading example of a transformative constitution, in contrast with a preservative constitution, and that the Constitution cannot be blamed for the inability of the State to properly manage systems.
Instead, he reveals the true causes of the failures of the constitutional democracy: the Zuma-Mbeki standoff at Polokwane, state capture, corruption, and the underlying reasons for the July 2021 revolt, stating that state capture must be seen as a silent coup, that poor service delivery is, at least partly, to blame for social instability and unrest, and that this failure, in combination with joblessness, hopelessness, and malaise, inevitably lead to revolt by the populace. Similarly, the notion of Phuma Sengone (get out, so we can get in) and the subsequent attitude of eating, rather than serving, is at the heart of corruption. Although conceding that social grants are essential for survival in many households, he warns that “…we have become a nation of consumers and wards of the state instead of a society infused with the dynamism of entrepreneurship and the dignity of work.” (130) Following this, he states that the absence of at least the most basic conditions of living, causes violent reactions whenever there is a perceived threat to material advancement, resulting in acts born out of instinct, rather than consciousness.
Part 3, titled “The rebirth”, is undoubtedly the most important section, but unfortunately, also the shortest, putting forth possible solutions and improvements on the current situation. The author states, convincingly so, that we have lost our innate belief in our own self-worth and that it should be rekindled. He lists areas where such rekindling should commence, such as the return to spiritual resources, music and the arts, education, and political and economic reform.
A very important point regarding education is raised: It is insufficient to eradicate the disadvantages inherited from the Apartheid regime, the influence and persistent existence of toxic masculinity and patriarchy must also be acknowledged and addressed.
The solutions are neither perfect, nor easy, but the alternative is unthinkable. The book is a valuable tool for the commencement of a CODESA-like imbizo reflecting on the past three decades and identifying ways of improvement. In his acknowledgments the author admits: “This book has been gestating in my inner recesses for a while.” (192) The improvements will require the same.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek NB-Uitgewers/Publishers
#Tafelberg
Born in South Africa, grew up in Mthatha.
Thirteen years old when Soweto erupted on 16 June 1976.
Seventeen years old when fleeing his country of birth for exile in Lesotho.
Eighteen years old when sent to Angola for military training.
Survived raids and blitzes that killed more than thirty comrades in two hours.
This is a very concise history of the author’s youth. The former exile became a lawyer, business executive, and political commentator and, in this book, provides a critical account of forty years of South African history: How it has turned out, why it has not turned out better, and what can and should be done about it.
Part 1, titled “Beginnings”, is autobiographical in nature and narrates the evolution of the author’s consciousness from birth until the latter part of the 1980’s, including his fond memories of the late Chris Hani, his protector, and the reminder of what exile is really like: “Exile is…the unhealable rift forced between a human being and a native place, between the self and the true home: its essential sadness can never by surmounted.” (Edward Said)
Part 2, titled “Evolution of the new dispensation”, examines CODESA, the Constitution, participatory democracy, and the hard tasks that confronted the young constitutional democracy, revealing reasons for areas where it has failed, but also acknowledging the progress that was made.
He acknowledges the point of view that the political settlements of the early 1990’s amounted to a sell out and that it was thus not a complete victory but argues that “This is the phenomenon of looking at things from the vantage point of the present rather than in the context of the prevailing objective facts and conditions at the time of the settlement.” (86) and adds that “…most of the people hankering for a bloody revolt have never been in one. They can only romanticise it.” (87)
Responding to the critique that the Constitution is an obstacle to reform, he points out that the Constitution is the world’s leading example of a transformative constitution, in contrast with a preservative constitution, and that the Constitution cannot be blamed for the inability of the State to properly manage systems.
Instead, he reveals the true causes of the failures of the constitutional democracy: the Zuma-Mbeki standoff at Polokwane, state capture, corruption, and the underlying reasons for the July 2021 revolt, stating that state capture must be seen as a silent coup, that poor service delivery is, at least partly, to blame for social instability and unrest, and that this failure, in combination with joblessness, hopelessness, and malaise, inevitably lead to revolt by the populace. Similarly, the notion of Phuma Sengone (get out, so we can get in) and the subsequent attitude of eating, rather than serving, is at the heart of corruption. Although conceding that social grants are essential for survival in many households, he warns that “…we have become a nation of consumers and wards of the state instead of a society infused with the dynamism of entrepreneurship and the dignity of work.” (130) Following this, he states that the absence of at least the most basic conditions of living, causes violent reactions whenever there is a perceived threat to material advancement, resulting in acts born out of instinct, rather than consciousness.
Part 3, titled “The rebirth”, is undoubtedly the most important section, but unfortunately, also the shortest, putting forth possible solutions and improvements on the current situation. The author states, convincingly so, that we have lost our innate belief in our own self-worth and that it should be rekindled. He lists areas where such rekindling should commence, such as the return to spiritual resources, music and the arts, education, and political and economic reform.
A very important point regarding education is raised: It is insufficient to eradicate the disadvantages inherited from the Apartheid regime, the influence and persistent existence of toxic masculinity and patriarchy must also be acknowledged and addressed.
The solutions are neither perfect, nor easy, but the alternative is unthinkable. The book is a valuable tool for the commencement of a CODESA-like imbizo reflecting on the past three decades and identifying ways of improvement. In his acknowledgments the author admits: “This book has been gestating in my inner recesses for a while.” (192) The improvements will require the same.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #Uitdieperdsebek NB-Uitgewers/Publishers
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