The Big Read: Madiba legacy in 67 names

21 July 2016 - 10:38 By Jonathan Jansen

For my 67 Minutes on Mandela Day I praise 67 people who shaped my life. Each person represents Madiba's values.I begin with my mother, Sarah Jansen (1), who taught me the value of hard work. Without her steely determination and sense of purpose, I would not be here today. And thank you for that smack to the face at the age of five for not greeting a complete stranger as he passed before us.I hold up my mentor Professor Chabani Manganyi (2), a professor of clinical psychology; you told me that I should replace anger about the lack of transformation with deep thinking that leads to a disciplined activism.I cannot forget Paul Galant (3), my Latin teacher. If you did not interrupt my soccer game in junior high school to tell me I had "potential", I do not think my horizons would have shifted.Professor Thamsanqa Kambule (4), it was during turbulent times that I visited Pace College in Soweto; I had never before seen a principal lead with such quiet grace and discipline.My students: Sinoxolo Gcilitshana (5), a man with unbelievable academic ambition who established the first in-house residential library in 114 years at the university; and Ofentse Morake [6] who rewrote an examination in which she got in the 80s to ensure she achieved in the 90s.There were the activists who embodied Mandela's fearlessness such as Trevor Manuel (7), Saki Macozoma (8), Joey Marks (9), David Ndaba* (10, his name in exile), Phyllis Naidoo (11) and Phila Ndwandwe (12).Principled leaders have shaped my career and choices: Thuli Madonsela (13), the Public Protector; Reuel Khoza (14) the banker; Neville Alexander (15) the activist intellectual; and Ghaleb Cachalia (16) whose political choices were not constrained by his illustrious family history.No place is more difficult to lead and to make a living in than the non-governmental sector. People who give away their money and themselves strongly influenced my leadership approach, such as Lorenzo Davids (17) of Community Chest; Eric Atmore (18) from the Centre for Early Childhood Development; Denzil Smith (19) and his leadership laboratory (20); and Nangamso Koza's (21) Inqubela Foundation. These stalwarts will never be rich but they enrich the lives of countless others.Most of all my leadership has been influenced by those who cross borders, who forge friendships and intimacies across racial and gender and class lines in the face of social reprisal: Mpho Tutu (22); my students Tania Calitz (23), Foster Lubbe (24) Karis Topkin (25) and Sibusiso Tshabalala (26). These are the non-angry South Africans who believe the pursuit of justice among entangled people cannot be achieved through segregated lives.These are the principals I know who live and lead with unbelievable commitment: Mark Potterton (27, Holy Family); Greg van Schalkwyk (28, Science Academy); Felix Mshololo (29, Menzi); Marguerita Lopes (30, IR Griffith); Cedric Lidzhade (31, Mbilwi); Phaldiela Cooper (32, Centre of Science and Technology); Ashra Norton (33, Leadership College); and Shumi Shongowe (34, Phumlani).And there are those who, in overcoming disability, capture Mandela's spirit of perseverance. I know of few greater than Nicky Abdinor (35, motivational speaker); Lesego Shuping (36, wheelchair rugby); Lucas Sithole (37, wheelchair tennis); Louzanne Coetzee (38, blind Olympian athlete); and Sheri Brynard (39, Down Syndrome leader).There are people whose very words of courage carry Madiba's authority in their writings: Max du Preez (40), Ferial Haffajee (41), Justice Malala (42), Ryland Fisher (43), Sam Sole (44), Judith February (45), Rhoda Kadalie (46), Poppy Louw (47), Jan-Jan Joubert (48), Ruda Landman (49), John Robbie (50), Redi Tlhabi (51) and Mondli Makhanya (52).Yet far from the spotlight of public attention, these Mandela-type change agents work quietly to restore our schools every single day: Muavia Gallie (53), Johan Volsteedt (54), Corvell Cranfield (55), Louise van Rhyn (56).If reconciliation is Madiba's greatest legacy, these are the public bridge-builders today: Pumla Gobodo Madikizela (57, scholar); Olga Macingwane (58, bomb victim); Stan Henkeman (59, leader); Tali Nates (60, speaker); Ginn Fourie (61, mother of victim); and Rudi Buys (62, youth leader).The spirit of Mandela is captured in the lives of those who achieve great things on a world stage and yet remain the most humble of citizens, like Wayde van Niekerk (63, 400m world champion); Rolene Strauss (64, Miss World); Pretty Yende (65, opera); Samson Diamond (66, violin).And one served him, then and now: Zelda la Grange (67).No, Mandela is not dead. His life and legacy continues through the work and example of these 67 amazing South Africans...

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