25th anniversary of captive Nelson Mandela speech
Posted on February 10th, 2010 by Richard Catto 4,497 views
On February 10 1985, Nelson Mandela asked his daughter, Zindzi, to read this speech to the South African nation at Jabulani Stadium. At the time he was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison. President PW Botha had offered to release Mandela if and only if he renounced violent struggle. Mandela declined to agree to conditions. He demanded to be released without conditions. Five years and one day later, on February 11 1990, Nelson Mandela walked free out of Victor Verster Prison in Paarl and a new era in South African politics began.
What PW Botha refused to do, FW de Klerk did – he released Mandela, unbanned the ANC (and all other banned political parties) and began to dismantle the hated apparatus of Apartheid that had denied civil rights to 80% of South Africans.
Here is a look back into history, courtesy of Zinzi Mandela:
‘I am not prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free’
On 31 January 1985 the State President of South Africa, PW Botha, speaking in parliament, offered Mandela his freedom on condition that he ‘unconditionally rejected violence as a political weapon’.
This was the sixth offer of release reported to have been made to Mandela. Previous offers were conditional on his going to live in the Transkei bantustan. He rejected them all on the grounds that he rejected the bantustans and all who collaborated in their establishment and maintenance.
Mandela’s response to the latest offer was read on his behalf by his daughter Zinzi to a mass meeting in Jabulani Stadium, Soweto, on 10 February, 1985.
This text was published by the ANC in London.
On Friday my mother and our attorney saw my father at Pollsmoor Prison to obtain his answer to Botha’s offer of conditional release. The prison authorities attempted to stop this statement being made but he would have none of this and made it clear that he would make the statement to you, the people.
Strangers like Bethell from England and Professor Dash from the United States have in recent weeks been authorised by Pretoria to see my father without restriction, yet Pretoria cannot allow you, the people, to hear what he has to say directly. He should be here himself to tell you what he thinks of this statement by Botha. He is not allowed to do so. My mother, who also heard his words, is also not allowed to speak to you today.
My father and his comrades at Pollsmoor Prison send their greetings to you, the freedom-loving people of this our tragic land, in the full confidence that you will carry on the struggle for freedom. He and his comrades at Pollsmoor Prison send their very warmest greetings to Bishop Desmond Tutu. Bishop Tutu has made it clear to the world that the Nobel Peace Prize belongs to you who are the people. We salute him.
My father and his comrades at Pollsmoor Prison are grateful to the United Democratic Front who without hesitation made this venue available to them so that they could speak to you today. my father and his comrades wish to make this statement to you, the people, first. They are clear that they are accountable to you and to you alone. And that you should hear their views directly and not through others. My father speaks not only for himself and for his comrades at Pollsmoor Prison, but he hopes he also speaks for all those in jail for their opposition to apartheid, for all those who are banished, for all those who are in exile, for all those who suffer under apartheid, for all those who are opponents of apartheid and for all those who are oppressed and exploited.
Throughout our struggle there have been puppets who have claimed to speak for you. They have made this claim, both here and abroad. They are of no consequence. My father and his colleagues will not be like them. My father says:
I am a member of the African National Congress. I have always been a member of the African National Congress and I will remain a member of the African National Congress until the day I die. Oliver Tambo is much more than a brother to me. He is my greatest friend and comrade for nearly fifty years. If there is any one amongst you who cherishes my freedom, Oliver Tambo cherishes it more, and I know that he would give his life to see me free. There is no difference between his views and mine.
I am surprised at the conditions that the government wants to impose on me. I am not a violent man. My colleagues and I wrote in 1952 to Malan asking for a round table conference to find a solution to the problems of our country, but that was ignored. When Strijdom was in power, we made the same offer. Again it was ignored. When Verwoerd was in power we asked for a national convention for all the people in South Africa to decide on their future. This, too, was in vain.
It was only then, when all other forms of resistance were no longer open to us, that we turned to armed struggle. Let Botha show that he is different to Malan, Strijdom and Verwoerd. Let him renounce violence. Let him say that he will dismantle apartheid. Let him unban the people’s organisation, the African National Congress. Let him free all who have been imprisoned, banished or exiled for their opposition to apartheid. Let him guarantee free political activity so that people may decide who will govern them.
I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom. Too many have died since I went to prison. Too many have suffered for the love of freedom. I owe it to their widows, to their orphans, to their mothers and to their fathers who have grieved and wept for them. Not only I have suffered during these long, lonely, wasted years. I am not less life-loving than you are. But I cannot sell my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell the birthright of the people to be free. I am in prison as the representative of the people and of your organisation, the African National Congress, which was banned.
What freedom am I being offered while the organisation of the people remains banned? What freedom am I being offered when I may be arrested on a pass offence? What freedom am I being offered to live my life as a family with my dear wife who remains in banishment in Brandfort? What freedom am I being offered when I must ask for permission to live in an urban area? What freedom am I being offered when I need a stamp in my pass to seek work? What freedom am I being offered when my very South African citizenship is not respected?
Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Herman Toivo ja Toivo, when freed, never gave any undertaking, nor was he called upon to do so.
I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, the people, are not free.
Your freedom and mine cannot be separated. I will return.
Tags: FW de Klerk, Nelson Mandela, PW Botha, Zindzi Mandela
Filed under South African politics | 1 Comment »
Given a choice between the dolled up llama and Bobby, I’ll take the Dolly
Posted on April 2nd, 2009 by Richard Catto 1,653 views
Who wants Robert Mugabe to be allowed entry into South Africa? Not me!
Unless it is to arrest him and throw him into a deep pit for the rest of his stinking life.
Yet, our government entertains Mugabe, a vicious blood thirsty murdering tyrant, as a friend, and denies entry to the Dalai Lama, a man of peace.
I hope this hurts you in the election, ANC. But I wonder if it matters to many South African voters?
At least Gatsha is doing something about it. I hope the court orders that a visa be issued.
Further reading:
Dalai Lama saga continues
Proof Dalai Lama did apply for visa
How government lied about the Dalai Lama
Tags: Dalai Lama, Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Filed under South African politics | 1 Comment »
Helen Zille tries to destroy confidence in a Zuma led South Africa
Posted on March 17th, 2009 by Richard Catto 4,258 views
Helen Zille is a desperate politician.
Desperate for power, yet with the chance of that happening during her reign as leader of the Democratic Alliance practically zero, she has made some last ditch desperate attempts to increase her chances. Recently the aging politician has had her image professionally made over. She now looks like she’s 60 going on 30. This rather plain woman has never looked this good in her life. At the age of 58, she has finally discovered how to use make up to look fresh and vibrant, and even attractive.
The DA has also finally decided to appeal to the New Internet Age voter and recently scurried to roll out a BuddyPress (a derivative of the popular WordPress blogging platform) powered web site where supporters can volunteer online to the re-election cause of the DA.
The DA has also invited local Cape Town bloggers to hear their drivel and hopefully blog positively about how the DA is going to herald in a new better South Africa, IF ONLY they win the election.
Well we all know that is not going to happen. Even Helen Zille knows that. She knows it with such a certainty that she is willing to use as much of her political influence as possible to attempt to destroy foreign confidence in a South Africa led by Jacob Zuma. This is completely counter-productive.
This is truly revealing. It shows how little patriotism she truly possesses. She is willing to sabotage South Africa if she doesn’t get in.
In an interview she gave to The Telegraph, a British newspaper, she had the following to say:
“This election is about whether South Africa is going to be a successful democracy or a failed state.”
Baloney, Helen. This election is about the very survival of the Democratic Alliance and your personal political career. The last election saw the demise of the New National Party when it became clear that it had lost the support of its electorate. The Democratic Alliance could follow suit this April 22 when South Africa votes in the next general election, although I doubt that will happen. Either way, whether the DA gains or loses ground, they won’t win.
South Africa has weathered the storms of many administrations that were less than perfect. Jacob Zuma is not going to trash South Africa’s economy, but Zille’s bitter statement could hurt us.
A politician that wishes to become known as a statesman strives to work for the good of all, not just for their own petty ambitions. It doesn’t look like Zille will be counted among these great men and women.
Tags: ANC, COPE, DA, Helen Zille, Jacob Zuma, South African politics
Filed under South African politics | 116 Comments »
Dieser ist einer ANC Abwehr Kanon!
Posted on December 13th, 2008 by Richard Catto 1,831 views
Dieser ist einer ANC Abwehr Kanon / This is an ANC defence canon
The ANC has been routed in the Western Cape by the DA and COPE!
In the aftermath of the recent by elections, the DA has now accumulated 94 seats out of 210 in Cape Town, a clear majority, reducing the ANC’s hold to 73 seats.
If you want to lead the Western Cape, ANC, you need to do a whole lot better, but thanks for playing anyway.
Now onwards to total victory in the 2009 elections, DA! Vorwärts! Weiter, weiter!
Tags: ANC, COPE, DA, Helen Zille
Filed under South African politics | 1 Comment »
Robben Island sold to London and Dubai by Transnet
Posted on August 25th, 2008 by Richard Catto 1,537 views
Well almost. They stopped just short of selling Robben Island, which is quite sweet of them, don’t you think?
Such nice guys. Selling off our natural heritage to the highest bidder, but now it turns out that this deal is about as authentic as some shady unscrupulous Parisian trying to sell off the Eiffel Tower to some gullible wealthy American tourist.
Transnet sold the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town in June 2007 to Lexshell (sounds like Lex Luthor of Superman infamy), which is a consortium of an investment arm of the Dubai government, some London geezers and shock! horror! a local BEE group.
Haha.
Nice try, fellows, but no cigar.
You can take our bay and our prime coastal areas from out of our cold dead hands.
Lulu Bam tells us that Alec “Big Ears” Erwin, knows nothing. They just approved the deal. But they, know noooothing.
To battle Lexshell, in steps environmental affairs and tourism minister Marthinus “kortbroek” van Schalkwyk, our caped crusader, to block the transfer of our seas and coastal areas to Lexshell. Van Schalkwyk’s department (the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) asserts that Transnet does not own the sea, seashore and sea bed.
Eina!
The Integrated Coastal Management Bill, drafted by van Schalkwyk declares coastal lines public property and a national heritage. The National Assembly passed it in May this year.
Lawyers for Transnet and Lexshell said, “The potential impact of the bill on this flagship sale would be a matter of considerable national embarrassment and damage the image of the country as a destination for foreign investment.”
O RLY?
May I make a suggestion?
The next time someone tries to sell you Table Mountain, you might wanna check first if they can actually DO THAT.
Just a small hint. Use it, don’t use it.
FURTHER READING
Transnet sold our sea to foreigners
Transnet in hot water over Cape land sale
Tags: Cape Town, Lexshell, Martinus van Schalkwyk, national heritage, Robben Island, Table Mountain, Transnet
Filed under South African politics | 1 Comment »
