A Nation in Mourning

For the past year, South Africa has been holding its breath, not wanting to let go of their hero. Every time Nelson Mandela entered the hospital, thousands would gather around his home in Soweto to pray for his health. Critics around the world questioned the motives behind the lengths that South African doctors took to keep the 95 year old man alive. It was a struggle, both for him and for his people, but on December 5^th 2013 this nation said goodbye to the greatest humanitarian of our time.

Being here in South Africa at the time of Mr. Mandela’s death has been somewhat surreal. The reactions from the people of this country, as well as people around the world were not what I expected. It was easy to see the amount of love that this country had for Mandela. From the moment our plane touched down in July 2012 we were surrounded by reminders of the changes made possible by this one man. Every bank note shows his face, and his iconic smile adorns poster and buildings throughout the country. He has been a true hero for this country and the world. His sacrifices united a nation previously filled with so much hatred and violence. It is easy to see his influence within the country, but it goes so much further than just South Africa. Nelson Mandela showed the world what a message of love and tolerance could accomplish. His forgiveness for those who had wronged him showed inhumane strength, making him an iconic figure around the world. 

However, when you look around this country, you really only see his influence within the larger areas. It is in cities and townships that people speak Mr. Mandela’s name in awe. His face only appears on posters and monuments in specific areas and those areas don’t include where I currently am. The extremely rural areas have a different history than the rest of South Africa. Apartheid didn’t hurt the villagers the way it did in the townships. White people didn’t care what was happening to people in the middle of nowhere, so when apartheid ended, nothing really changed.  Rural areas still don’t have running water, consistent electricity, functioning schools, or local governments that show any interest in their progress. People here still have had little influence from the outside world, so when Nelson Mandela passed, little was done. As a foreigner, who had heard the horrors of apartheid only told from the side of people within the cities and townships, I was expecting my village to be devastated when the news hit. People throughout the country flocked to Mr. Mandela’s home and to the different capital building to show their love for the former president, and to support each other in their sorrow. However, in the village life went on. We said a short prayer at school, but everyone went about their business as usual. At first I was shocked. I expected crying and wailing (which is a very normal expression of grief in this country) but there was none of that. People in the villages didn’t have the luxury of being able to take time from their day, and to be honest I don’t think Mandela’s passing touched them the same way as it did the rest of the world. Nothing has changed for the men and women who have spent their whole life in the rural areas. It is not that they don’t respect of love Mandela, but his influence did little to touch their difficult lives.

Nelson Mandela unquestionably did amazing things for this country and the world. He was a hero for millions how had no voice until he stood up for them. He gave peace to a nation in turmoil, but many people forget that things in South Africa are still far from perfect. This beautiful country has come such a long way in the 20 years since the end of apartheid, but it still has such a long struggle ahead.