Fikile Mbalula’s Just Cause
By Vusi Moloi © 2008
The former President of the African National Congress Youth League, the intrepid Mr. Fikile Mbalula has responded strongly against the Nelson Mandela Foundation for their part in reacting negatively to the appearance of the living legend and elder statesman Mr. Nelson Mandela at a recent ANC rally at Idutywa, the home of the late ANC stalwart Dr. Govan Mbeki and birthplace of his son and South Africa’s former President Mr. Thabo Mbeki.
The legendary Mr. Mandela, former President of South Africa and the ANC appeared at an ANC’s political gathering where he addressed a jubilant crowd together with the unconquerable Mr. Jacob Zuma who is likely to become the President of the Republic of South Africa if the ANC wins the forthcoming general elections scheduled for April 22 of this year. The powerful downpour of rain was not able to dampen the spirits of those who attended to hear both Mr. Zuma and Mr. Mandela speak.
The legendary elder statesman who spoke mainly in IsiXhosa had this to say at the gathering “Nxamalala has already spoken. Mine is simply to greet you. Despite the rain, you have all come here in numbers to show your commitment to the ANC. May you live forever. Long live the ANC!”. To refer to Mr. Zuma as Nxamalala is a greatest honour because Nxamalala is the sacred isiduko of the unconquerable Msholozi. Moreover, it’s interest arousing to hear the 90 old elder statesman recite with eloquence and meticulous detail the African lineage.
Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela also addressed the crowd “They have all been asking themselves on which side is the Mandela family. We would like to confirm that the Mandela family is in the ANC and will die members of the ANC.” This was in oblique reference to COPE a new political party comprised mostly by the followers of Mr. Thabo Mbeki who pose an impressive threat to the two thirds majority of the ruling ANC. Incredibly, the Foundation also took a swipe at Mandla for his part in his grandfather’s surprise appearance.
Nelson Mandela & grandson Chief Mandla Mandela endorse ANC at ANC rally in Dutywa, Eastern Cape 15 Feb 2009 - from elections2009 of Youtube
The Indian-controlled Nelson Mandela Foundation has somehow developed a view that they own Mr. Nelson Mandela and every aspect of his life. Mr. Mandela travelled on a private jet to his ANC’s organization rally and never communicated with the Foundation as was the case in the past. The foundation, apparently learnt about Mr. Mandela’s travel later in the day and became incensed by it. On the one hand, I can understand the frustration on the part of the Foundation with respect to not being informed. After all they exist to promote the legacy of Mr. Mandela. On the other hand, has the Foundation wondered why that happened?
I recall Fikile during my days at Botshabelo as well as Mangaung in the former Orange Free State province. He has always been a loyal cadre of the African National Congress in the great struggle for permanent liberation. Together with other cadres like Zingile Dingane, Brian Nakedi, the venerable Reverend Ivan Abrams and many others we worked hard to wrestle our people from the arresting claws of racial oppression.
The intrepid Fikile Mbalula addressing a crowd. Video from dobermaniluvsa of Youtube.
The reaction of the Nelson Mandela Foundation does not come as a surprise. In my book A Goodbye To My Little Troubles I pay tribute to a great mother Angelina Kalaka of Soweto. This mother, who nurtured me at a young age, used to host Mr. Mandela at her home as a result of her husband Ntate Kalaka who was a personal friend of Mr. Mandela. I lived only a few houses away from the Kalakas although I was not yet born during this time when Mr. Mandela frequented this family. For some of you who don’t know, Ntate Kalaka is the son of the founder of the Seventh Day Adventist’s Emmanuel Mission of Lesotho.
I had planned to meet Mme Kalaka during the month of October of 2007. Unfortunately Mrs. Kalaka passed away before I arrived in South Africa. I immediately contacted the Nelson Mandela Foundation to notify Mr. Mandela of the death in the family of his friends and also to get a message of condolences read during a funeral. After giving all the details, all I got was a regret from the Foundation that they were not able to comply with the request. I don’t fault Thoko Mavuso who communicated with me but her superiors are the ones who failed to honour this important request. I was dismayed by this cold response from the Foundation.
The unconquerable ANC President Mr. Jacob Zuma together with Fikile Mbalula had a just cause in rebuking the Foundation for overreaching themselves by acting as if they owned Mr. Mandela. Hopefully the lessons learnt from this harsh experience is that the officials of the Foundation will consider themselves greatly honoured to be working to promote and preserve the sacred legacy of Nelson Mandela. The Foundation must remember that Mr. Mandela belongs to the people and it should act as a people-centric custodian of this sacred trust rather than overreaching itself as an exclusive gatekeeper.
About the Author
A former South African Television Journalist, Vusi Moloi is a published author of a contextual poetry book, A Goodbye To My Little Troubles, and maintains a blog, "Zulumathabo" on the Internet. In addition to writing, Mr. Moloi also works as a software engineer.
The former President of the African National Congress Youth League, the intrepid Mr. Fikile Mbalula has responded strongly against the Nelson Mandela Foundation for their part in reacting negatively to the appearance of the living legend and elder statesman Mr. Nelson Mandela at a recent ANC rally at Idutywa, the home of the late ANC stalwart Dr. Govan Mbeki and birthplace of his son and South Africa’s former President Mr. Thabo Mbeki.
The legendary Mr. Mandela, former President of South Africa and the ANC appeared at an ANC’s political gathering where he addressed a jubilant crowd together with the unconquerable Mr. Jacob Zuma who is likely to become the President of the Republic of South Africa if the ANC wins the forthcoming general elections scheduled for April 22 of this year. The powerful downpour of rain was not able to dampen the spirits of those who attended to hear both Mr. Zuma and Mr. Mandela speak.
The legendary elder statesman who spoke mainly in IsiXhosa had this to say at the gathering “Nxamalala has already spoken. Mine is simply to greet you. Despite the rain, you have all come here in numbers to show your commitment to the ANC. May you live forever. Long live the ANC!”. To refer to Mr. Zuma as Nxamalala is a greatest honour because Nxamalala is the sacred isiduko of the unconquerable Msholozi. Moreover, it’s interest arousing to hear the 90 old elder statesman recite with eloquence and meticulous detail the African lineage.
Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela also addressed the crowd “They have all been asking themselves on which side is the Mandela family. We would like to confirm that the Mandela family is in the ANC and will die members of the ANC.” This was in oblique reference to COPE a new political party comprised mostly by the followers of Mr. Thabo Mbeki who pose an impressive threat to the two thirds majority of the ruling ANC. Incredibly, the Foundation also took a swipe at Mandla for his part in his grandfather’s surprise appearance.
Nelson Mandela & grandson Chief Mandla Mandela endorse ANC at ANC rally in Dutywa, Eastern Cape 15 Feb 2009 - from elections2009 of Youtube
The Indian-controlled Nelson Mandela Foundation has somehow developed a view that they own Mr. Nelson Mandela and every aspect of his life. Mr. Mandela travelled on a private jet to his ANC’s organization rally and never communicated with the Foundation as was the case in the past. The foundation, apparently learnt about Mr. Mandela’s travel later in the day and became incensed by it. On the one hand, I can understand the frustration on the part of the Foundation with respect to not being informed. After all they exist to promote the legacy of Mr. Mandela. On the other hand, has the Foundation wondered why that happened?
I recall Fikile during my days at Botshabelo as well as Mangaung in the former Orange Free State province. He has always been a loyal cadre of the African National Congress in the great struggle for permanent liberation. Together with other cadres like Zingile Dingane, Brian Nakedi, the venerable Reverend Ivan Abrams and many others we worked hard to wrestle our people from the arresting claws of racial oppression.
The intrepid Fikile Mbalula addressing a crowd. Video from dobermaniluvsa of Youtube.
The reaction of the Nelson Mandela Foundation does not come as a surprise. In my book A Goodbye To My Little Troubles I pay tribute to a great mother Angelina Kalaka of Soweto. This mother, who nurtured me at a young age, used to host Mr. Mandela at her home as a result of her husband Ntate Kalaka who was a personal friend of Mr. Mandela. I lived only a few houses away from the Kalakas although I was not yet born during this time when Mr. Mandela frequented this family. For some of you who don’t know, Ntate Kalaka is the son of the founder of the Seventh Day Adventist’s Emmanuel Mission of Lesotho.
I had planned to meet Mme Kalaka during the month of October of 2007. Unfortunately Mrs. Kalaka passed away before I arrived in South Africa. I immediately contacted the Nelson Mandela Foundation to notify Mr. Mandela of the death in the family of his friends and also to get a message of condolences read during a funeral. After giving all the details, all I got was a regret from the Foundation that they were not able to comply with the request. I don’t fault Thoko Mavuso who communicated with me but her superiors are the ones who failed to honour this important request. I was dismayed by this cold response from the Foundation.
The unconquerable ANC President Mr. Jacob Zuma together with Fikile Mbalula had a just cause in rebuking the Foundation for overreaching themselves by acting as if they owned Mr. Mandela. Hopefully the lessons learnt from this harsh experience is that the officials of the Foundation will consider themselves greatly honoured to be working to promote and preserve the sacred legacy of Nelson Mandela. The Foundation must remember that Mr. Mandela belongs to the people and it should act as a people-centric custodian of this sacred trust rather than overreaching itself as an exclusive gatekeeper.
About the Author
A former South African Television Journalist, Vusi Moloi is a published author of a contextual poetry book, A Goodbye To My Little Troubles, and maintains a blog, "Zulumathabo" on the Internet. In addition to writing, Mr. Moloi also works as a software engineer.
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