A tribute to Madiba
He was our father. A man that commanded our respect and trust. He was all things to all men and nobody’s fool. He was always a controversial figure- who was able to unite our country in a time when we needed such a man.
I was fortunate enough to meet him twice. In the first instance at the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival to South Africa. I met him with my frien...d Klaas Proesmans. It was at this meeting that I was able to shake his hand and introduce myself. He shook my hand with such strength and happiness. I then met him again in the Jewish synagogue in Killarney with my father. Again I shook his hand and I gave him a book of poetry I had written called Love 22. In it I described South Africa as the rainbow nation. I believe he read my book. The third time I saw him was from a distance at the finals of the Africa cup where he came onto the football pitch at the FNB stadium to the music “ KALEGATA” - by Mandoza. And the fourth time I saw him was on the 27th April , 1994 at his inauguration speech in Pretoria… it was there that he said…” never never again shall this country be ruled by the scourge of apartheid.
In all my four encounters with Nelson Mandela I can say this… I have never met a man with such commanding presence. Even before he entered the space you could feel he was there. My daughter , Anastasia was born on Freedom Day - 27th April. I believe that somehow I am linked to South Africa’s destiny…as I was very much part of the freedom struggle of Apartheid South Africa. I also was present at the Rugby World cup in 1995 - but I was outside the stadium… I could have gone in…but I didn’t.
Over the following years I have seen how the ANC has reneged on its promises and squandered its grace…. And that is why today I have started this movement called “ AFRICA UNITE! … I believe that Madiba in the end became a tourist attraction and the old man was not allowed to die in peace… nevertheless, he is gone now. His heart must have been broken by how the nation has been abused by his successors. It is now time to honor his passing and celebrate his life… and take courage from his example. In my own struggle I always had his photo on my wall… he gave me strength when I too was suffering for my beliefs and ideals. I suffered for 3 and a half years in a prison cell… until I was exonerated. Nelson Mandela may not have been perfect… but neither are any of us. I have met many great men and women - Jimmy Carter,The Dalai Lama and many Aung Sang sui chi. But never have I met such a person as Mandela. His example to all of us is not just about forgiveness… it is about reconciliation. It is about seeing the good in people without judging…it is about releasing the bitterness and anger …and embracing the positiveness. I have used his example in my peace work in the middle east and through my own great struggle with the injustice of the world system. He taught me that we are never alone… we are light beings that continue to shine because we have goodness in us… goodness that can always begin again. And for that I would like to thank him for being with us…and thank God for the opportunity to connect with him and with the spirit of humankind.
He was our father. A man that commanded our respect and trust. He was all things to all men and nobody’s fool. He was always a controversial figure- who was able to unite our country in a time when we needed such a man.
I was fortunate enough to meet him twice. In the first instance at the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival to South Africa. I met him with my frien...d Klaas Proesmans. It was at this meeting that I was able to shake his hand and introduce myself. He shook my hand with such strength and happiness. I then met him again in the Jewish synagogue in Killarney with my father. Again I shook his hand and I gave him a book of poetry I had written called Love 22. In it I described South Africa as the rainbow nation. I believe he read my book. The third time I saw him was from a distance at the finals of the Africa cup where he came onto the football pitch at the FNB stadium to the music “ KALEGATA” - by Mandoza. And the fourth time I saw him was on the 27th April , 1994 at his inauguration speech in Pretoria… it was there that he said…” never never again shall this country be ruled by the scourge of apartheid.
In all my four encounters with Nelson Mandela I can say this… I have never met a man with such commanding presence. Even before he entered the space you could feel he was there. My daughter , Anastasia was born on Freedom Day - 27th April. I believe that somehow I am linked to South Africa’s destiny…as I was very much part of the freedom struggle of Apartheid South Africa. I also was present at the Rugby World cup in 1995 - but I was outside the stadium… I could have gone in…but I didn’t.
Over the following years I have seen how the ANC has reneged on its promises and squandered its grace…. And that is why today I have started this movement called “ AFRICA UNITE! … I believe that Madiba in the end became a tourist attraction and the old man was not allowed to die in peace… nevertheless, he is gone now. His heart must have been broken by how the nation has been abused by his successors. It is now time to honor his passing and celebrate his life… and take courage from his example. In my own struggle I always had his photo on my wall… he gave me strength when I too was suffering for my beliefs and ideals. I suffered for 3 and a half years in a prison cell… until I was exonerated. Nelson Mandela may not have been perfect… but neither are any of us. I have met many great men and women - Jimmy Carter,The Dalai Lama and many Aung Sang sui chi. But never have I met such a person as Mandela. His example to all of us is not just about forgiveness… it is about reconciliation. It is about seeing the good in people without judging…it is about releasing the bitterness and anger …and embracing the positiveness. I have used his example in my peace work in the middle east and through my own great struggle with the injustice of the world system. He taught me that we are never alone… we are light beings that continue to shine because we have goodness in us… goodness that can always begin again. And for that I would like to thank him for being with us…and thank God for the opportunity to connect with him and with the spirit of humankind.
ROBIN
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