The media frenzy that goes with Mandela Day has become something of a worry.
This capital-driven idea is just another way to make the poor forget about their plight and numb them. All this smacks of hypocrisy of the highest order.
While the poor were busy dedicating their precious 67 minutes "to bring a better life for all", big corporates and capitalist governments the world over were busy raking in millions.
The 67 minutes fiasco should rather be used to attend to the needs of the poor by way of promoting economic empowerment and social wellbeing initiatives in our poor communities.
In this case, our useless government officials and local councillors should be the ones endorsing economic opportunities that seek to address poverty, unemployment, mis-education and crime.
Painting schools and cleaning fields are the least on the list of priorities for the poor communities of Nkandla, Kliptown, Tzaneen and many others across the country.
Let us also not forget that the struggle was not about personal glory, but collectivism and a need to truly liberate the nation.
Hero-worshipping one individual obliterates the contribution of a nation.
