'Nelson Mandela is only a Western Cult Figure'

[KALKI]

'Nelson Mandela is only a Western Cult Figure'


In 1994 Nelson Mandela became President of a multiracial Government in South Africa after the ANC won the general election. But opinion about Mandela has always been divided.

'Nelson Mandela is only a Western Cult Figure'
OR
'Without Nelson Mandela there would be no multiracial government in South Africa'



Between 1948 and 1998, South Africa underwent many changes for both good and bad. Nelson Mandela was a key figure in these changes but some questions have risen concerning the part that Mandela actually played. What I am trying to establish is the phrase which would accurately describe Mandela and the work that he did for multiracial equality, whether he was 'a Western Cult Figure', or vital to there being a 'multiracial government in South Africa'.

In 1948 apartheid became law, introduced by the National party, whose leader was Dr Daniel Malan. Dr Malan was a hard-line Afrikaner who wanted to keep the race pure, he was voted Prime Minister in 1948 and said that if he hadn't seen white and black children playing together the idea of apartheid would never have occurred to him. Apartheid was a vague policy when it was introduced but over the next few years became a tightly controlled way of life, which didn't only mean racial segregation but also white domination.

In 1949 the 'Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act' came into force meaning that not only blacks and whites couldn't marry but blacks and whites who were already married had to split. The 'Population Registration Act' 1950 meant that each person had to be registered and it created borders between different racial groups. Various other acts were made law over the next few years, including Immorality Amendment Act 1950, Group Areas Act 1950, Natives Act 1952, Native Laws Amendment Act 1952, and the Bantu Education Act 1953.

It was obvious that there would be opposition to the apartheid movement, and there was. The ANC, African National Congress, who were multiracial and didn't use violence; and the PAC, Pan African Congress, who focused on black people and used violence.

The Defiance Campaign was a protest at the unjust apartheid laws that were unjust to everyone except for white people. Peaceful protests were organised where black people would sing and clap in protest at the laws, and deliberate defiance of specific laws were also included in the campaign.

Mandela was the National volunteer-in-chief of the Defiance Campaign. He toured the country addressing crowds and promoting the non-violent campaign. He was imprisoned in June 1952 and over the next four months many volunteers went to jail, but despite this ANC numbers grew from 7000 to 100,000. Mandela soon became President of the Transvaal ANC but before he could take control he was banned from gatherings and forbade to leave Johannesburg and resign from the ANC.

On the 21st March 1960, police opened fire on a peaceful protest in Sharpeville, killing 69 people and injuring hundreds more. Most of those injured or killed were shot in the back showing that they were running away when they were shot. Following the Sharpeville massacre a state of emergency was declared, giving the government power to 'deal' with anyone for any reason; the ANC was banned; the world took notice of the problems in South Africa including the UN Security forces urging South Africa to abandon apartheid and the USA openly condemning South Africa. Defiance increased with more riots and the mass burning of passes. Eventually both ANC and PAC were banned. Mandela wasn't involved in the Sharpeville protest, as it had been organised by the PAC rather than the ANC but he arrived there as soon as he heard, as he knew that it was an important event for the defiance campaign.

Another significant protest was one that took place in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg, in June 1976. In this case, school children were protesting against apartheid and the unfair schooling that they received. 179 children were killed and 1000's injured, again by firing from the police at a peaceful protest. Mandela wasn't at the protest as he was now in jail serving a life sentence for planning guerrilla warfare and organising invasion by foreign armies. The Soweto protest resulted in more killings in Soweto and elsewhere. Steve Biko died in detention, but it was later discovered that he died of brain damage from his head being beaten by police brutality.

Mandela's life in prison was harsh. He was firstly imprisoned in Robben Island Maximum Security Prison. Day after day, Mandela laboured in a lime quarry. Every 6 months the prisoners were allowed to write and receive 1 letter. Eventually, visits from Winnie were allowed, but no mention of prison conditions and events in the outside world were allowed. Mandela was not allowed to keep a diary or read newspapers but somehow scraps of information leaked through. Meanwhile, Winnie was also imprisoned, spending 491 days in detention. In April 1982 Mandela was transported to Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison. He remained here until 1988 when he was hospitalised for tuberculosis. After being treated he was taken to Victor Verster Prison where he was well looked after until his release.

During Mandela's time in prison, there were many changes. W P Botha became president and realising that apartheid was not working, decided that reforms were needed. Businessmen also needed reforms as the economy needed the black labour force. Botha's presidency also led to the downfall of apartheid. Local facilities started to become multiracial and black trade unions were legalised. Much of the petty apartheid law was repealed but the essential pillars remained in force, homeland policy, population registration act and the group areas act. In 1989 President Botha suffered a stroke and was forced to resign, F W de Klerk became president.
The ANC were not only fighting the government, but also Inkartha Freedom Party, the Zulus who were backed by a 'third force', the security forces. The security forces encouraged war between the ANC and Inkartha so that the government was, in effect, "off the hook".

In December 1989 de Klerk and Mandela met and the ban on the ANC was lifted. Bans were also lifted on the PAC and 30 other organisations. Political prisoners who had not committed violent crimes were released. It was decided that the death sentence would be stopped. Mandela was to be released without conditions. He was free for the first time in 27 years.

Mandela and his wife Winnie were divorced in 1992. This proved to be vital to the success of Mandela, as she would surely have dampened his success, as her antics would have lead to the people of South Africa not trusting him. Winnie Mandela is currently on trial for the murder of a black boy.
Nelson Mandela was voted President of South Africa in 1994, and won with an overwhelming majority of 62% of the vote. If 66% of the vote had been won they would have been able to change the constitution immediately, but as it was they were secretly pleased that there were still some whites in the government as they would be able to blame them for anything that went wrong.

The introduction of apartheid in South Africa, in my eyes, was a mistake as it led to revolt and ultimately deaths. Apartheid was not successful in making white the superior race that dominated over all other races. Instead it may have in fact led to the decline of white superiority and towards a racially equal state where black and white are equal. Blacks and other racially discriminated groups protested against the ever growing white domination, but as they were powerless, or had no vote, their opinions counted for little. The 'anti-apartheid' movement grew from strength to strength with increasing numbers of volunteers and resistance to apartheid. Soon enough the resistance was great enough for a state-wide campaign to start.

The Defiance Campaign of the 1950s in effect was the beginning of the end of apartheid. Organised protests were held regularly, but the world took no notice until the tragic massacre of Sharpeville in 1960. A protest organised by the PAC. Another significant protest was the one that took place in Soweto in 1976 where many school children were killed. Mandela was at neither of these protests as the Sharpeville protest was organised by the PAC and he was serving a life sentence in Robbin Island prison. Maybe Mandela was unable to organise such a recognised campaign or ones that he did organise were over looked, as they were not as significant as those were.

I think that Mandela's role in the downfall of apartheid and the road towards racial equality was on of immense significance as his work led to his victory of the presidential position that he now holds. His role in the Defiance Campaign was on eof up-most importance as he was volunteer-in-chief, in effect the leader.

Along with the other committee members he would decide on what action should be taken, therefore playing an essential part in the campaign. Although Mandela was not part of the Sharpeville he recognised the importance of it and arrived there as soon as he had heard of the massacre. Unfortunately Mandela was imprisoned during the Soweto protest and therefore couldn't be there. His prison life showed that he was prepared to give up a great part of his life for his beliefs and he was even know to refuse to leave unless action was taken to end apartheid. Most of the black population as well as many whites trusted Mandela as he was forgiving and didn't hold a grudge against the whites for how they treated he and other black and coloured people. He was also accepted as he was multiracial. Some black protesters had been fighting for black power but Mandela was for multiracial equality.

I think that Mandela is regarded as a 'Western Cult Figure' as he was able to beat us, white people, and the western world is a predominantly white community. But that is not only how he should be regarded as he is a modern day hero. Not only did he give all of his life to fighting against inequality and injustice towards blacks and coloureds but also he fought for multiracial equality, which included whites that had made his life miserable because of the apartheid movement. If it wasn't for Mandela I don't think that apartheid would have ended when it did but further into the future. Mandela and others opened the world's eye to the injustice that apartheid caused.
Mandela once said 'I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be it, it is an ideal for which I am prepared o die'. He said this on February 11th 1990, on his release from prison and, this is how Mandela's attitude was towards every person and towards his beliefs.