MANDELA DAY DEBATE

MANDELA DAY DEBATE – Tuesday 29 July 2014

Cheryllyn Dudley MP ACDP

On Mandela Day - having spent time early in the morning with children and caretakers at a crèche - I posted pictures on Face book with the caption: “In loving memory of a man who, like all others was not perfect but, has a special place in my grateful heart.”  

Because critics had expressed concern that Mandela Day amounts to worship of Mandela – I added that: “For me it is another opportunity to thank God for what he did through an ordinary man like MADIBA”.

In reading “Good Morning Mr Mandela” by Zelda La Grange, I was reminded of an interview in June 2013 where Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said: “Nelson Mandela is too much of a saint. He has been too good to white people at the expense of black people” - some agreed others protested!  For me - there is no doubt that he treated white people above and beyond what we collectively deserve – but this must not be to the detriment of black people – I hope, I pray, and I work – with everything in me to make sure this great generosity will be for the greater good of us all.

In “Conversations with Myself” Madiba is quoted as saying...”People feel I see too much good in people...it is a criticism I have to put up with because whether it is so or not, it is something which I think is profitable you tend to attract integrity and honour if that is how you regard those with whom you work.’  In another conversation Madiba said our duty “is to work with human beings, not angels once you know that this man has got this virtue and this weakness - you work with (him) and you try and help him to overcome that weakness.  I don’t want to be frightened that a person has made mistakes and he has got human frailties. I can’t allow myself to be influenced by that...”

One of the first things Madiba did on becoming President was to establish the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund which he said “is the embodiment of our belief that children need to live in an environment where they can flourish." The ACDP couldn’t agree more and would have loved to see this extended to include the environment for unborn children in their mother’s womb.

On the occasion of former President Mandela’s 90th birthday in 2008, I had the privilege of speaking on behalf of the ACDP in the National Assembly debate. I expressed our appreciation and said “who would have guessed the phenomenal importance of the birth of this tiny little boy on the 18 July 1918 in Umtata, Transkei?  Not only the impact that this baby was to have on South Africa, but on the nations of the world...only God knew exactly what he had in mind. Leading the way of reconciliation and reconstruction in a society which had been separated by over a century of racial segregation took great vision, great courage and great faith” – if Nelson Mandela's mother had wanted, and had the option of terminating this pregnancy prematurely - as so many mothers do today - it would not only have taken his life but also his legacy - abortion on demand deprives Africa - and South Africa - of who knows what potential.

Madiba never did become the champion of pre-born babies despite the ACDP calling on him to do so - but it does not take away from the champion he was in other ways!

Many favourite stories come to mind but time does not allow so I will end with something I think would bring a smile to Madiba’s eyes – congratulations SA Sevens Rugby Team on winning gold at the Commonwealth games!