If the is one thing that Nelson Mandela was good at, it is bringing people together. I personally have been one of those who always avoid giving Tata too much praise and publicity as I have always felt like we as the society neglect the fact that most of the struggle work was team work and that all the other comrades deserve the credit and the lime light as well.

To cut all the politics short: in a South Africa that is currently divided under the new leadership, I would love to see more initiatives like the 67 minutes that bring people together.

The 67 minutes initiative is not a sustainable one yes we all agree. Everyday should be a Mandela day. But I am grateful for Mandela day as it creates a platform even for individuals who are not often involved in the community to do something.

What I would love see more is young people celebrating the lives of Steve Biko and the likes of Chris Hani. To me as a young black South African the death of those Hero’s speaks the loudest.

Their values what they believed in and lived for, how their entire lives were dedicated at fighting inequality. It is so embarrassing to see current leadership that do not even live by Tata’s values brag and talk confidently about the 67 minutes.

In fact it is a joke and a shame. It looks like we have completely lost the vision as a country.

Nelson Mandela once said Education is the only tool we can use to change the world. We need to fight against this spirit of lazy individuals that are not learned but want to hold big executive positions that negatively impact the country.

Being involved in the struggle should not be a default ticket to being a minister.

The skill that is required in the battlefield is not necessarily the same skill required to head up a country. May the 67 minutes be an opportunity for us to rethink our values and check are we still doing the right things.

{author is South African}

{article was first published byNews24}