When Nelson Mandela walked out of prison twenty years ago he not only freed himself, he also took crucial steps forward in the journey that would eventually allow the whole nation to walk free.
When Nelson Mandela walked out of prison twenty years ago he not only freed himself, he also took crucial steps forward in the journey that would eventually allow the whole nation to walk free.
On that day, which now seems so long ago, many South Africans were curious and elated to finally see the man whose very name they had not been able to mention without fear of reprisal.
There was also a sizeable part of the population who had a bitter feeling that they had been terribly betrayed.
However, people from both camps shared an underlying sense of foreboding as they sensed that the war to
eliminate apartheid had not yet ended. A major battle had been won, but the war would surely continue and no one was sure how the remainder would pan out.
Would it lead to a worst case scenario ending in a drawn out civil war or, more optimistically, would long-standing enemies suddenly make friends and march forward together?
There were times in those early days after the unbanning of the ANC when this country teetered on the brink of civil war, and only a miracle could have saved us.
Right wingers crashed a military vehicle into the conference centre where Codesa negotiations were taking place; crazy murderers shot Chris Hani; Ciskei strongman Oupa Gqozo’s troops opened fire on an ANC march and the IFP appeared to be objecting to everything and everybody.
In those darkest days before the morning of democratic elections, this country needed a miracle more than ever. We were lucky enough to have at our disposal the very miracle that we needed. Nelson Mandela had insisted on his freedom before negotiations could begin.
He said, “Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.” The National Party finally relented and freed the world’s most revered prisoner.
Had he not walked free, it is doubtful that we would be enjoying the relative peace and stability that now reigns in this country.
How lucky we were to have the miracle called Nelson Mandela to guide the people of South Africa through those tense and dangerous days before our democracy was born.
