I write this open letter to you not as someone who holds authority over wisdom, but as a person who have love for the people, particularly the future leaders of this country.
Ms Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, released the Grade 12 results on Monday and let me take this opportunity to congratulate all those who, as a result of their hard work and sleepless nights burning the midnight oil, managed to pass with outstanding results.
To those who did not make it, I advise that they reflect on what might have been the cause of such unfortunate occurrence and further seek advice where necessary.
I decided to write this open letter to you after realising that a number of you are swimming in a pool of confusion, particularly with the direction to take after passing Grade 12, as far as your contribution to this country’s development path is concerned.
South Africa is a different place today from what it was when the generation of our parents grew up.
The era through which our parents led their foolish deeds of their daily acts was such that there were limitation on furthering their studies, many of them were forced to study teaching, nursing or sign up for police services.
This of course was as a result of the colour of their skin, which according to the laws of segregation of the then government system, Africans could not get certain qualifications.
In few instances where they could get such qualifications, they were limited by the financial muscles of their parents who either worked as farm labours or domestic workers.
It is now 20 years since that system which benefited few people at the expense of the many has been brought to its knees.
You are fortunate to be finishing Grade 12 this year with so many opportunities intertwined with financial assistance.
As you are about to embark on a journey to transform your lives pursuing different fields of studies and careers, it is imperative that you are told that a man is not born for himself, but for his people.
In understanding this notion of selflessness, let us all, the class of last year and the young people in general, take note of what former state President Mr Thabo Mbeki said in one of his interviews a few years ago when asked what his message to young people of South Africa is.
He said: “I think our youth should understand the serious reality it faces, that it will inherit the country. It will therefore have the enormously challenging responsibility to answer the question practically of what will it do with this inheritance.
“Accordingly, one of the main tasks it faces even today is to answer the related question honestly, how well prepared is it to discharge its responsibilities in this regard.
“I would therefore say that our youth should take the tasks seriously to prepare and position itself to take over as our new leadership, a critical echelon within the nation in terms of what South Africa will be tomorrow, and even perhaps today.”
When we find ourselves in the busy streets of Johannesburg, calm environment of Alice or welcoming space of Mankweng in pursuit of higher education we must take into cognizance what Mr Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai said in his book My Vision, challenges in the Race for Excellence when he said: “With each day in Africa, a gazelle wakes up knowing he must outrun the fastest lion or perish.
“At the same time, a lion stirs and stretches, knowing he must outrun the fastest gazelle or starve.
“It is no different for the human race. Whether you consider yourself a gazelle or a lion, you simply have to run faster than others to survive.”
Class of 2013, your country needs you.
You are the agents of change, it is you who are in a better position with respect to age and opportunities to find solutions for the scourge of poverty which are inequality and unemployment.
I challenge you all to go out there and get information, experience and learn new creative ideas to transform our society to greater horizons.
Be revolutionaries in your lifetime.
Always remember that we have a duty to be prepared to provide leadership over this country when we are called upon to do so and while we wait for that call, ours is to learn how to outrun others for survival.
Solomon Mtsweni, eMbalenhle.
