From militant freedom fighter to people-loving reconciler. No politician stands for personified reconciliation like Nelson Mandela (1918 to 2013).
27 years as a political prisoner (1963 to 1990). From 1994 to 1999 the first black president of South Africa after the end of white supremacy with no bloodshed. A true statesman who ended the ongoing long civil war and suppression and reconciled the black majority with the white minority.
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Mission Future has visited South Africa several times, including Soweto township and the Mandela House. It is a document of Apartheid (Afrikaans meaning "separateness") and racism. But as well a museum of reconciliation and hope for humanity.
Learn and reflect the wisdom of reconciliation in Nelson Mandela’s own words. You may find in his books, speeches and in nelsonmandela.org.
https://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/speeches
https://atom.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/za-com-speeches
Freedom for all- not only yourself – no hate
“During those long, lonely years (of imprisonment), my hunger for freedom for my own people became the hunger for freedom for all peoples, white or black.
A man who robs another of his freedom is a prisoner of hate.
The oppressed and the oppressor are equally deprived of their humanity.
When I left prison, it was my task to free both the oppressor and the oppressed.
But there is still a long, even more difficult road ahead.
"Because to be free, it is not enough to simply throw off the chains, you have to live in a way that respects and promotes the freedom of others."
(From his autobiography ‘Long Way to Freedom’)
Human and equal rights for all
“We envision a South Africa which will, in all respects, belong to all who live in it, black and white.
Its political life will be governed by a thoroughgoing democratic constitution, based on the principle of "one person, one vote", without any distinction on grounds of race, colour, gender or creed and without any element whatsoever of racial domination and discrimination.
We also want to see entrenched all the necessary provisions ensuring the fullest possible protection and advancement of the fundamental human rights of every South African citizen.”
(Nelson Mandela, speech UN General Assembly, 3 December 1991)
Against war, violence, racism, oppression, repression
“We speak here of the challenge of the dichotomies of war and peace, violence and non-violence, racism and human dignity, oppression and repression and liberty and human rights and poverty.
We stand here today as nothing more than a representative of the millions of our people who dared to rise up against a social system whose very essence is war, violence, racism, oppression, repression and the impoverishment of an entire people.
These countless human beings, both inside and outside our country, had the nobility of spirit to stand in the path of tyranny and injustice, without seeking selfish gain.”
(Nelson Mandela, Acceptance speech of the President of the African National Congress at the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony, Oslo December 10, 1993)
Rewards are peace and happiness
“The reward of which we have spoken will and must also be measured by the happiness and welfare of the mothers and fathers of these children, who must walk the earth without fear of being robbed, killed for political or material profit, or spat upon because they are beggars.
The value of that gift to all who have suffered will and must be measured by the happiness and welfare of all the people of our country.
The value of our shared reward will and must be measured by the joyful peace which will triumph, because the common humanity that bonds both black and white into one human race, will have said to each one of us that we shall all live like the children of paradise.
Thus shall we live, because we will have created a society which recognises that all people are born equal, with each entitled in equal measure to life, liberty, prosperity, human rights and good governance.
This must be a world of democracy and respect for human rights, a world freed from the horrors of poverty, hunger, deprivation and ignorance, relieved of the threat and the scourge of civil wars and external aggression and unburdened of the great tragedy of millions forced to become refugees. “
(Nelson Mandela, Acceptance speech of the President of the African National Congress at the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony, Oslo December 10, 1993)
Reconciliation in a Rainbow Nation
“There are few countries which dedicate a national public holiday to reconciliation. But then there are few nations with our history of enforced division, oppression and sustained conflict. And fewer still, which have undergone such a remarkable transition to reclaim their humanity.
We, the people of South Africa, have made a decisive and irreversible break with the past. We have, in real life, declared our shared allegiance to justice, non-racialism and democracy; our yearning for a peaceful and harmonious nation of equals.
The rainbow has come to be the symbol of our nation. We are turning the variety of our languages and cultures, once used to divide us, into a source of strength and richness.
But we do know that healing the wounds of the past and freeing ourselves of its burden will be a long and demanding task. This Day of Reconciliation celebrates the progress we have made; it reaffirms our commitment; and it measures the challenges.
The Government of National Unity chose this day precisely because the past had made December 16 a living symbol of bitter division. Valour was measured by the number of enemies killed and the quantity of blood that swelled the rivers and flowed in the streets.
Today we no longer vow our mutual destruction but solemnly acknowledge our inter-dependence as free and equal citizens of our common Motherland. Today we re-affirm our solemn constitutional compact to live together on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Reconciliation however, does not mean forgetting or trying to bury the pain of conflict.
Two terrible defects weakened the foundations of the modern South African state that were laid in the great upheaval at the beginning of the century. Firstly, it rested on the treacherous swamps of racism and inequality. The second defect was the suppression of truth.
Now, at the end of the century, South Africans have the real chance to strike out along a glorious path. The democratic foundations of our society have been laid. We must use our collective strengths to carry on building the nation and improving its quality of life.
The Truth and National Reconciliation Commission which will soon begin its work, is one important institution created by our democratic Constitution and Parliament in order to help us manage the more difficult aspects of healing the nation's wounds. Thus we shall free ourselves from the burden of yester-year; not to return there; but to move forward with the confidence of free men and women, committed to attain the best for ourselves and future generations.
Reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of past injustice. It means making a success of our plans for reconstruction and development.
Therefore, on this December 16, National Day of Reconciliation, my appeal to you, fellow citizens, is: Let us join hands and build a truly South African nation.”
(President Nelson Mandela, Message on National Reconciliation Day, 16 December 1995)
Symbols of Reconciliation
Mandela promoted reconciliation with symbols.
At the Rugby World Cup Final in 1995 President Mandela went on to the turf wearing his Springbok jersey of the South African national rugby team. A pure white national team. Liked by many Apartheid-promoters. A symbol of great Afrikaner white power. An English elite white sport as well, not for blacks. 99 percent in the arena were white. In joy the white and the few black people cheered all together “Nelson, Nelson”, promoting one nation and one victory for all. The South African rugby victory of a white team against New Zealand was celebrated even in the black townships. For the first time, and because their popular black president was involved.
He invited the widows of white and black politicians for a Reconciliation Lunch to the president’s residence.
Betsie Verwoerd was invited but was unable to attend. She was the widow of former Prime Minister (1958-1966) H. F. Verwoerd, who had been assassinated by a black in 1966. Verwoerd had been the main architect of apartheid and racial segregation since 1950. Mandela was imprisoned for life for sabotage during his rule. His widow lived in Oranje, a pure white community. President Mandela visited her at her home in 1995 as a gesture of reconciliation.
Mandela invited his white jailer as a VIP guest to his inauguration.
The prosecutors in the Rivonia trails came to lunch when we was president.
“27 years in prison gave Nelson Mandela the authority to say, let us try to forgive”, explained Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The Truth and National Reconciliation Commission
Most important was the innovative creation of The Truth and National ReconciliationCommission (TRC), chaired by archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Dullah Omar, Minister of Justice, stated: “The commission is necessary to come to terms with the past on a morally acceptable basis and to advance reconciliation.” The long conflict had resulted in violence and human rights abuses on the white and the black sides. Both were addressed now.
‘Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act No 38’
In 1995 a creative tool to re-unite the divided nation was estaablshed.
The preamble states:
“To provide for the investigation and the establishment of as complete a picture as possible of the nature, causes and extent of gross violations of human rights committed during the period from 1 March 1960 to the cut-off date contemplated in the Constitution, within or outside the Republic, emanating from the conflicts of the past, and the fate or whereabouts of the victims of such violations; the granting of amnesty to persons who make full disclosure of all the relevant facts relating to acts associated with a political objective committed in the course of the conflicts of the past during the said period; affording victims an opportunity to relate the violations they suffered; the taking of measures aimed at the granting of reparation to, and the rehabilitation and the restoration of the human and civil dignity of, victims of violations of human rights; reporting to the Nation about such violations and victims; the making of recommendations aimed at the prevention of the commission of gross violations of human rights; and for the said purposes to provide for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, comprising a Committee on Human Rights Violations, a Committee on Amnesty and a Committee on Reparation and Rehabilitation.”
This reconciliation law was based on the national interest to unite a divided rainbow nation asdemanded by new Construction from 1993:
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993)
It provides a historic bridge between the past of a deeply divided society characterized by strife, conflict, untold suffering and injustice, and a future founded on the recognition of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence for all South Africans, irrespective of colour, race, class, belief or sex.
It is deemed necessary to establish the truth in relation to past events as well as the motives for and circumstances in which gross violations of human rights have occurred, and to make the findings known in order to prevent a repetition of such acts in future.
The Constitution states that the pursuit of national unity, the well-being of all South African citizens and peace require reconciliation between the people of South Africa and the reconstruction of society.
The Constitution states that there is a need for understanding but not for vengeance, a need for reparation but not for retaliation, a need for ubuntu but not for victimization.
The Constitution states that in order to advance such reconciliation and reconstruction amnesty shall be granted in respect of acts, omissions and offences associated with political objectives committed in the course of the conflicts of the past.”
Register of Reconciliation
An innovative Register of Reconciliation was established to express regret and demonstrate personal commitment to reconciliation.
Mary Burton, the TRC Commissioner who proposed the establishment of the register, explained its purpose:
“The register has been established in response to a deep wish for reconciliation in the hearts of many South Africans - people who did not perhaps commit gross violations of human rights but nevertheless wish to indicate their regret for failures in the past to do all they could have done to prevent such violations; people who want to demonstrate in some symbolic way their commitment to a new kind of future in which human rights abuses will not take place.
'We know that many South Africans are ready and eager to turn away from a past history of division and discrimination. Guilt for wrongdoing needs to be translated into positive commitment to building a better society - the healthiest and most productive form of atonement.”
Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee
“The task of the HRV Committee was to investigate human rights abuses that took place between 1960 and 1994, based on statements made to the TRC. The Committee established the identity of the victims, their fate or present whereabouts, and the nature and extent of the harm they have suffered; and whether the violations were the result of deliberate planning by the state or any other organisation, group or individual. Once victims of gross human rights violations are identified, they are referred to the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee.”
Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Committee
“The enabling act empowered the R&R Committee to provide victim support to ensure that the Truth Commission process restores victims' dignity; and to formulate policy proposals and recommendations on rehabilitation and healing of survivors, their families and communities at large. The envisaged overall function of all recommendations is to ensure non repetition, healing and healthy co-existence. A President's Fund, funded by Parliament and private contributions, has been established to pay urgent interim reparation to victims in terms of the regulations prescribed by the President.”
Amnesty Committee (AC)
“The primary function of the AC is to consider that applications for amnesty were done in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Applicants could apply for amnesty for any act, omission or offence associated with a political objective committed between 1 March 1960 to 6 December 1993. The cut-off date was later extended to 11 May 1994. The final date for the submission of applications was 30 September 1997. Being granted amnesty for an act means that the perpetrator is free from prosecution for that particular act.“
More details in the website https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/
The new concept of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee convinced more than 40 nations to follow and establish own national truth commissions for reconciliation (like Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone or South Korea.)
Tutu captured the underlying philosophy: “Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering – remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning.” Nelson Mandela similarly stressed that the past must be known “in a way which promotes reconciliation and peace.”
