SA at 20

SOUTH AFRICA AT 20

It gives me great pleasure and joy to celebrate with South Africa their 20 years of democracy. The Orange Country has suffered much in the two decades journey to where they are today; a sterling example of democracy founded on justice, truth and development. The dream of democratic South Africa is a feat that many believed would never be achieved, but with the resilience and forbearance of the South African people, they proved their detractors wrong, staying together in unity for 20 good years.

What made this miracle possible? South Africa, after the apartheid, had a vision articulated by the leaders of the struggle, spearheaded by late Nelson Mandela. He was the one, who as the first democratically elected president of the country, laid the foundation of equity, unity and justice that the new republic fostered on. It was Madiba who felt the need for forgiveness and reconciliation, in spite of the anguish of apartheid on black people of South Africa; and as the first black leader to rule the newly united nation, he promoted unity of purpose, of patriotism, of development which made the country into a leader in Africa politics. Mandela made South Africa and the nation prospered under him and long after he left the seat of government.

So in 20 years of democracy in South Africa, we should ask, is there really anything to celebrate about the Orange Country? My answer is a BIG YES! South Africa is free and democratic. This means that the people of the country, formerly under siege, now have a chance to determine their national destiny by voting their leaders and those to steer their national ship in the stormy waters of world politics.

It also a joyous occasion because the coming generation of South African children now have a country they can call their own, where they can go to school without a barricade or threat of guns and live normal life like their brothers around the world. We will continue to pay homage to the leaders of thought that fought to wrest South Africa from apartheid, praying that the legacies they left will remain indelible and that the institutions they built will last many centuries to come. I wish the Orange Country many more years to celebrate democracy and development.

Aluta continua.

 Wale Owoeye Esq.

PS: To my friends who love poetry I recommend my latest book to you. Titled MANDELA-IN MEMORIAM, the book is a collection that celebrates the man called Mandela, written to honour his memory for all time…