Twenty years ago today, Nelson Mandela was released from prison and four years later became South Africa's president. In assessing how this young democracy has fared since then, it is depressingly evident that the early promise has not been sustained. A great deal was achieved in the 10 years after Mr Mandela's release. The threat of civil war was averted, a model constitution written, there were free and fair elections as well as an honest accounting of the past. Many South Africans benefited greatly from years of economic boom, and a large black middle class was created.
But it is doubtful whether Mr Mandela, now 91 and revered as a great statesmen, would be wholly proud of his successors, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, or of his party. The African National Congress was, in opposition, a military movement with strong ties to communism. In power, it needed to foster transition to multiparty democracy and preside over an inclusive, meritocratic society. It has failed to do so. Economic inequality, corruption and violence are rife and the civil service is dysfunctional. A third of South Africans live in crippling poverty, millions in the same shanty towns that represented the crushing oppression of apartheid. Unemployment is at least 25 per cent. South Africa is managing to overcome the humanitarian disaster of Mr Mbeki's opposition to HIV treatment, but what signal does it send out when Mr Zuma continues to have unprotected sex out of wedlock in spite of the Rainbow Nation's embrace and understanding of his polygamy?
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The World Cup this summer will be a great celebration of South Africa's progress but it could also expose the ANC's failings to the world. The party has fallen short of Madiba's high hopes and until it renews itself, the republic will continue to be held back.
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Published: 8:50PM GMT 10 Feb 2010
Comments 3 | Comment on this article
Twenty years ago today, Nelson Mandela was released from prison and four years later became South Africa's president. In assessing how this young democracy has fared since then, it is depressingly evident that the early promise has not been sustained. A great deal was achieved in the 10 years after Mr Mandela's release. The threat of civil war was averted, a model constitution written, there were free and fair elections as well as an honest accounting of the past. Many South Africans benefited greatly from years of economic boom, and a large black middle class was created.
But it is doubtful whether Mr Mandela, now 91 and revered as a great statesmen, would be wholly proud of his successors, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, or of his party. The African National Congress was, in opposition, a military movement with strong ties to communism. In power, it needed to foster transition to multiparty democracy and preside over an inclusive, meritocratic society. It has failed to do so. Economic inequality, corruption and violence are rife and the civil service is dysfunctional. A third of South Africans live in crippling poverty, millions in the same shanty towns that represented the crushing oppression of apartheid. Unemployment is at least 25 per cent. South Africa is managing to overcome the humanitarian disaster of Mr Mbeki's opposition to HIV treatment, but what signal does it send out when Mr Zuma continues to have unprotected sex out of wedlock in spite of the Rainbow Nation's embrace and understanding of his polygamy?
The World Cup this summer will be a great celebration of South Africa's progress but it could also expose the ANC's failings to the world. The party has fallen short of Madiba's high hopes and until it renews itself, the republic will continue to be held back.
Comments: 3
It was obvious to anyone who knew anything about Africa that this outcome would be inevitable. All the wishing in the world of the bleeding heart liberals will never alter the reality that is Sub Saharan Africa.
Africans are different from Europeans both physically and mentally and therefore culturally - it's not possible to recreate a Western society with Western-style government and rule of law in Africa. Is the Daily Telegraph suggesting that things were better 20 years ago? The "economic inequality, corruption and violence" that you mention were present 20 years ago and it will take a lot longer to eradicate them. Give the blacks a chance to sort out things in their own way!
Of Course everything was better in the old days as Mother Superior Telegraph is always telling us. But is she realy saying things were better in SA 20 years ago? Mind you M. Tatcher was still PM and the Conservatives were still introducing the poll tax and went on to adopt a few EU threaties without care or thought of referenda. Ah the good old days - dont make them like that any more ?
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