Home » Jonathan Jansen’s “Show Me Another Country” Message Goes Totally Viral

Jonathan Jansen’s “Show Me Another Country” Message Goes Totally Viral

In an exquisitely written message on Facebook, Professor Jonathan Jansen has paid tribute to not only the incredibly moving funeral of Ahmed Kathrada, but to the beautiful land in which the funeral took place… our beloved South Africa. The message has been shared by thousands on Facebook and countless more on Twitter. Jansen wrote: “Show me […]

By SAPeople
30-03-17 08:16
in Fab South African Stuff

In an exquisitely written message on Facebook, Professor Jonathan Jansen has paid tribute to not only the incredibly moving funeral of Ahmed Kathrada, but to the beautiful land in which the funeral took place… our beloved South Africa. The message has been shared by thousands on Facebook and countless more on Twitter.

Jansen wrote: “Show me another country where the Anglican Archbishop prays at a Muslim funeral; where a white man chairs the proceedings to remember a leader from a black liberation movement; where a sitting president of a developing country is told to step down in a letter from the deceased stalwart of his own party; where the widow of the black man being buried is a white woman who gave her life to the struggle for freedom; and where Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and other faiths come together in a broad swathe of South African humanity to remember a man who fought for all of us.

“Where on and off the stage no one racial or ethnic or religious group dominated the event.

“For a moment, just a moment, it felt good to hope again…”

Jansen said “in one man’s dignified funeral, a moving reminder of who we are and what we can still be. RIP Uncle Kathy.”

In another message he also paid tribute to former President Kgalema Motlanthe (who received a standing ovation at Kathrada’s funeral on Wednesday when he read excerpts from the public letter Kathrada sent President Zuma last year, calling on him to resign).

Jansen said: “I remember being asked by Uncle Kathy to speak one Friday evening at his Foundation. There as a little man I sat between two giants, Kathrada and Motlanthe. I was swept away not only by their obvious intellect but by their deep humanity; not so much by their political pedigree but their profound humility.”

Renowned columnist Max du Preez commented after today’s events: “The deeply moving #KathradaFuneral must give all South Africans hope and inspiration, despite what could unfold later. What a special moment…”

In another message, after midnight SA time, Jansen addressed Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa saying: “Dear Cyril, What you do or fail to do in the next 48 hours will determine your legacy for the rest of your life; this is it.”