Mandela’s lasting legacy remembered
Well-known Limpopo businessman, Godard Mugwena, was one of Nelson Mandela's drivers when the late struggle icon and former president visited Venda.
LIMPOPO – He shared that during his visit, Mandela was heartened to know his message of hope endured.
“Mandela is a singular figure in human history and, while we will miss him, we know his spirit lives on and serves as a source of inspiration and strength to us all,” Mugwena told CV.
Mandela once said after his release from prison that people from over the world chose to care about him and worked tirelessly to free him. “Mandela’s life stands as a resolute symbol of hope in the face of oppression and an unparalleled example of the power of reconciliation to heal a nation.”
His message of peace in a time of conflict changed South Africa and inspired the world. “He reconciled the racial groups of this country under difficult times when no one ever expected it. He set an example of a good life in which reconciliation became a legacy that no one in this country will ever emulate. The day that he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they’re guided by their hopes and not by their fears,” Mugwena added.
He said Mandela refused to be corrupted and believed reconstruction and reconciliation are better suited to build our nation.
“We lost a giant, the father of our democratic order, loved by many if not all. Like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example Mandela set. As long as I live, I will do what I can to learn. He was a man who made sure what he had said came to pass, be it ending Apartheid, taking care of kids and the needy or uniting people among others. This is something our current politicians lack. They are poetic about issues we face as a country but never implement solutions. They should learn from Mandela’s activism and his heart for the nation. His commitment to transfer power and reconcile with those who jailed him set an example that all humanity should aspire to, whether in the lives of nations or our own personal lives. The fact that he did it all with grace and good humour and an ability to acknowledge his own imperfections only makes the man that much more remarkable.”
