What would Nelson Mandela say in 2024?

Written by Prof. Anthony Pillay 

As we commemorate Nelson Mandela Day and celebrate his life, we cannot help wondering what he would say about the state of the nation that he and others fought so hard to free; or what he would say about global affairs. We are reminded of his quest for justice, human rights and equality, his love of children, and his outspokenness on injustice worldwide. As a global statesman he made it his duty to argue for the rights of all, and the oppression of none. We can, therefore, assume that he would be disappointed at the continuing inequity, poverty, violence and corruption that engulf our country three decades after his inauguration as South Africa’s first democratically elected President. The maladministration, increasing unemployment, poverty and the multiple social ills that befall our communities would be troubling to him, as they should be to all of us.

There is also reason to believe that our former President would be incredibly saddened by the levels of oppression, violence and atrocity being meted out against marginalised groups across the globe. With war and violence spreading through numerous countries, these are disturbing times, and we long for a Mandela to rescue us – but Psychology has taught us and those we serve, that we have to learn self-reliance. We need to put up our hands, take responsibility, and do the job, as difficult as it may be. As we were advised by our former leader, “It always seems impossible until it’s done”.

Following our freedom as a nation, President Mandela made a point of reminding us that “…our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”. With the current war on Gaza in its 10th month, and more than 35 000 Palestinians killed, he would have been really troubled at the continuing violence and oppression. That women and children accounted for more than half of those killings would have been deeply disturbing. Wars elsewhere in the world are also wreaking havoc on civilians, with death, destruction and displacement of communities proliferating on a daily basis. The recent missile attack on Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital would have struck a nerve for our former President given his devotion to the well-being of children, which was embodied in his sentiment that “The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children”. On his home continent, the plight of civilians in several countries with armed conflict will, no doubt, have been a worry. The conflicts in Sudan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali, and elsewhere, would distress the great man, as it should the rest of us.

All things considered, it is likely that Mandela would lament the state of our country, the poverty, inequality and governance, as well as the wars, oppression and killing of innocent civilians, including women and children, and the many social ills prevailing elsewhere in the world. However, among his parting words, he said to us, “It is in your hands” – so we need to step up and continue the struggle work that he and many others did. This time, we have to conquer the enemies of corruption, inequality, poverty, greed, and oppression, among other national and global evils.

The Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) joins the global community in celebrating Nelson Mandela International Day and honouring the life of our great leader.

For all that you did for us, and for all that you taught us, we salute you, Mr President!