Delroy Chuck IN 1994, Nelson Mandela was elected the first President of a new, free, democratic and non-racial South Africa. A new dawn began for a country hitherto torn apart by apartheid, ostracised by civilised countries and scorned by right thinking citizens of the free world. Today, South Africa still struggles to overcome its bitter past, to maintain peace and harmony and to secure a better future for its citizens but it is doing so, unlike Zimbabwe, with a quiet efficiency that no one would have anticipated when it joined the ranks of free and democratic countries, less than ten years ago.
During the past week, Rhodes Scholars from around the world gathered in Cape Town to celebrate the centenary of the scholarship, founded by Cecil John Rhodes, the Prime Minister of South Africa at the end of the 19th century. It was an opportunity for the Rhodes Trustees and the beneficiaries of the estate of Cecil John Rhodes, to pay homage to his vision but, also, to apologise for his many wrongs, his exploitation and oppression and the injustice and suffering he inflicted. Still, in spite of Rhodes' plundering of the South African landscape and his imperialist mission, he is revered as one of the fathers of Southern Africa. He opened the hinterland, started companies such as De Beers the diamond merchants and left a legacy that continues to benefit South Africa even today.
To redress and repair some of the imbalances and injustices of the past, the Rhodes Trustees have joined with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to form the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, dedicated to the upliftment and education of South African young people, especially from the disadvantaged communities. The Rhodes Trustees and Rhodes Scholars have set a target to raise 20 million pounds over the next 10 years to assist the Foundation in carrying out its work. For the beneficiaries of Rhodes' estate, it was a fitting tribute and an opportunity to assist a country, from which the founder made most of his wealth.
Rhodes Scholars attending the centenary were privileged to hear Nelson Mandela addressing one of the many functions, paying tribute to Cecil John Rhodes and those who made a difference in building a new South Africa. In particular, he paid much respect to F.W. DeKlerk who released him from jail and from whom he took over as a freely elected President. Mandela is truly an icon, a statesman in a world of self-serving politicians, a patriot who has demonstrated to the world that the power of forgiveness is more powerful and beneficial than the bitterness and wrangle over the misdeeds of the past. Mandela has made it possible for the closing of the circle from apartheid to a non-racial society, from the imperialist exploiter Rhodes to a kinder and gentler quality of political leadership, and for South Africa to overcome its past and to stand proudly on the world stage.
In spite of its many problems, especially the crime and violence in the inner cities and the disaster of HIV-AIDS, South Africa is forging ahead and building its economy to compete with the rest of the world. Tourism is seen as one of the main engines of growth and the money and infrastructure are provided to make tourism succeed. In his message to the ICC Cricket World Cup, printed in the South Africa Airways Magazine, President Thabo Mbeki noted: "For us in South Africa, tourism is part of a long walk to economic freedom, as we proudly share the natural beauty and our human and cultural diversity with international visitors."
For Jamaicans travelling around South Africa, they will miss the potholes, as the main and residential roads are of first world pristine quality. In Cape Town, with only 1.3 kilometres of waterfront, tourism is booming, as visitors enjoy the attractive waterfront development and take the opportunity to visit Robben Island, where Mandela served most of his 27 years as a political prisoner. Cape Town is a true reminder of the tourism capital Kingston could have been, if Jamaica had really believed and invested in tourism.
To be sure, South Africa faces some daunting challenges. In a country of forty million people, the white population of just four million continue to dominate the mining, farming, manufacturing and business sectors. The living conditions and opportunities in the townships, where most of the black population live, are simply dismal. Yet, one gets the distinct feeling that South Africans understand that it is education and economic development, and not political ideology, that will lift all its citizens into the mainstream and allow them to enjoy a decent quality of life.
White South Africans, I believe, know that they cannot continue to enjoy the privileges and luxuries of a first world lifestyle, while so many others, beside and around them, struggle and endure third world economic conditions. How South Africa bridges the gap between the rich and poor, the privileged and disadvantaged, the living conditions of the whites and blacks, represents its most serious challenge.
Interestingly, whereas in Jamaica, we educate and encourage our people to migrate, South Africans of all races are encouraged to remain and to return in developing the New South Africa. They appreciate that its people, educated and motivated, skilled and trained, the best and the brightest, are definitely needed for its development and for building of a better society - it is a lesson we need in Jamaica to learn.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at delchuck@hotmail.com.
