DURING the famous Rivonia Trial of 1963 and 64 our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela eloquently verbalized his dream for a post-apartheid South Africa.
In it, he made it clear that he was willing to fight, and if necessary, die for the ideal of non-racial South Africa, free of any prejudices. That was his dream.
Standing on the shoulders of hundreds of selfless struggle heroes, he achieved that ideal thirty years later, in 1994.
His example has galvanized many people across the world towards the achievement of their goals.
In the very recent past, we saw a young man from the townships become a global icon on the rugby field. His name: Siya Kolisi
He had a dream as a young, poor sports fanatic and he pursued it to become the captain of the Springbok rugby team that won two World Cups.
Again, he stood on the shoulders of a brilliantly coached team surrounded by players who were willing to die for their country, their team and their captain.
We live in a country where the dreams of Nelson Mandela and his fellow Rivonia trialists have, unfortunately, not been realized.
We are bedridden by load shedding, acute shortages of running water and food as well as a decaying infrastructure.
Despite many empty promises by our elected leaders, they have not achieved a better for all.
Corruption is rife on all levels of government, and we are drowned in a daily diet of quotes on how things will get better and how we just need a bit of patience.
The promises will increase in size, volume and scope as we approach next year’s election.
Well, we have had thirty years of patience and preciously little to show for it. Leaders who speak up against the conduct of political leaders, better described as fattened bulls and cows, are quickly sidelined.
Mr President, let me repeat, we see your multitude of fancy cars pushing us onto the pavements with screaming sirens and blue lights. I ask you: Please put yourself in the position of those having to walk kilometres to work whilst your drivers scatter angry and powerless drivers and pedestrians in all directions.
Given that these non-performing leaders live luxuriously in the lap of comfort we, the people, feel deeply betrayed by their laziness and lack of concern for our well-being.
Given the examples of real leaders such as Madiba, Kolisi and others what is it that we need to do to make our dreams come true and stop the brazen, inexcusable theft of our hard-earned taxes.
We should:
Sharpen the spear of our legislation and prosecution of thugs.
Teach leadership skills from a primary school level.
Shape our schools’ curriculum to promote entrepreneurship.
Vote out useless, populist leaders who survive by spinning half-truths and outright lies.
Start believing in ourselves and develop pride on our flag and our skills.
Write down your dreams and persevere, persevere through obstacles and failures until you achieve what you slaved for.
We must find our voices, verbalize our views and fearlessly speak truth to power.
If we don’t, we will stay stuck in this recipe for disaster and continue to be ruled by disrespectful dummies.
Policies, press releases and announcements of grandiose schemes will not alleviate the dire situation we are in. We, the people, are hungry, homeless and jobless!
We need ordinary people such as the swimmer Tatyana Schoenmaker and Francois Pienaar to stand up and aim for the skies and start, tirelessly, to breathe oxygen into our dreams.
I know, from my own life, that we can overcome diversity.
I know that impossible dreams come.
I know that we can, will, leave a brighter future for our kids than the one we inherited.
I know that the future is not lost, and it lies in your and my collective hopes, hard work and dreams.
Look into yourselves and find that dream, and through blood, sweat and tears we will, all of us, achieve that which we deserve and are worthy of.
For as Bobby Sands once said, “Our revenge will be in the laughter of our children”.
WE ARE OUR FUTURE.
