SA Needs Leaders like Mandela and Urgent Redistribution of Wealth, says Ramaphosa

Reflecting on the third anniversary of the death of Nelson Mandela, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said we need to question whether we have the same calibre of leaders today, and emphasised that there is an urgent need to redistribute wealth. He was speaking at a Nelson Mandela Foundation event.

Ramaphosa said:

“Despite the progress of the last two decades, we must acknowledge that we have not transformed our economy to serve the interests of the majority.”

“The unity that we must work to build must be founded on the principles of non-racialism and non-sexism. It requires that we grapple directly with the attitudes, practices, institutions and material circumstances that perpetuate racism and sexism.”

He pointed out that, “for as long as the natural state of the black South African is poor and the natural state of the white South African is privileged, we will never succeed in building a non-racial society.

“For as long as the economic and social conditions of women are inferior to those of men, we will never succeed in building a non-sexist society.

“There is an urgent need – if we are to be a united nation – to redistribute the wealth of our country.

“A united South Africa requires the restoration of the land to those who work it. It requires meaningful transfer of ownership and control over the country’s natural resources, over the means of production, to the people as a whole.”

He emphasised the need for open communication, saying the most significant advances have been through dialogue.

“This is a moment when we, as leaders, need to listen and be in conversation with our people. This is the time to listen.

“This is not the time to display a sense of arrogance. This is not the time to ignore our people.”

Ramaphosa said Mandela “embodied so much of what we seek in a leader. Although he was one of the most famous figures of the 20th century, he was humble to a fault, never arrogant and devoid of any sense of entitlement.

“He listened to those he disagreed with. The more he disagreed with someone, the more intently he listened. He was always a unifier, never a divider.

“Now more than ever, we need leaders of his quality and integrity, leaders who are committed to serve only the interests of the people.

“We have to ask ourselves uncomfortable questions such as: Does South Africa today have such leaders?. Does our movement have such leaders? Are we living up to the example that Madiba, (Oliver) Tambo, (Walter) Sisulu and (Albert) Luthuli set? Most importantly, are we living up to the expectations of our people?”

Sello Hatang, CEO of the foundation, said: “We are not living the reality of Madiba’s dream.”

Watch Cyril Ramaphosa’s Nelson Mandela commemoration address:

Source:MediaClubSouthAfrica