A Living Legacy

Nelson Mandela Museum CEO, Bonke Tyhulu, on Madiba’s legacyand how all of us can play a role in keeping it alive.

“Nelson Mandela was always available to whoever shared a common goal with him. Part of his legacy was that he was completely approachable – which is not always the case with presidents. But he was a different man. He gave us a platform to look at democracy, not as an event but as a process, a process that requires us to find common ground even though we might disagree.

“He continues to be universally reveredand his values are relevant in the worldtoday, now more than ever. Many of ushave tried to reshape ourselves in hisimage. We owe him a lot. If it had notbeen for his willingness to sacrifice, asa nation South Africa may have beenplunged into civil war. But he was willingto sacrifice for the benefit of all.

“This makes him a very special man. Noone would ordinarily sacrifice the nicetiesof this world for others to gain.

“As a museum, we are trying to inspire theworld through his values and legacy.

“As a symbol of reconciliation, we wantto tell the world the story of this personcalled Nelson Mandela who stronglybelieved in negotiation. He believedthat, even if you disagreed, you couldnegotiate your situation. We measureourselves based on his humanity.

“If we talk about his continuing legacy,there is always something to learn from him.His speeches will still be relevant 100 yearsfrom now. He was able to look at the worldfrom different perspectives. In many ways itwas almost like he knew things beforehand,like he had a premonition. For instance, hewould talk about the importance of childrenand look where we are as a country,where our children get victimised. Madibabelieved that the children are our future, buthow can they be the future if so much harmis inflicted on them by their elders?

“The museum is an educational institution. We are also a research institution. We provide a platform for children to learn about Madiba’s values and therefore we are helping them to become responsible citizens. For one to be a responsible citizen, one needs to learn from an early age.

“One of the major problems facing the world nowadays is that we don’t negotiate and we don’t consult; we only inform one another with decisions someone has taken. That, quite frankly, doesn’t help when you negotiate with someone. You must listen.

“Mandela did not believe that anyone was above the law. When he was asked to appear in court, while he was still president, he said, ‘I must go because justice is for all’.

“This is what you expect from a president. Everyone must abide by the laws.

“He gave us a platform to judge the presidents who came after him. He was a champion of the people. Everything he did was to benefit the country; he was a man for everyone – and he had a special bond with children.

“He was a man of standards, a man of peace, a man of morals. For that legacy to remain and be served, you need a structure like a museum. When the public comes to the museum, they are able to understand. But more than that, it’s not just a matter of getting to know Madiba, it’s about taking on that responsibility as South Africans and people of the world.

“His legacy has affected me personally. I am also ready to make a difference. I am ready to change my attitude towards other people – to lead and be led. Madiba was leading but he was also led. We need to maintain that kind of a legacy. It’s about relationships. It’s about building the world for a better future. Without a better future there will be no world.

“For us to have another Madiba we first need to produce the kind of leaders who produced Madiba. To me, Madiba was produced by influences from royalty and those in politics. Everybody played a part in building him into the leader he became. We need to find these leaders in schools, churches and universities. We need to follow his legacy. It is not about remembering what he said. It is about doing what he said.

“We need to change our attitudes. If you are a government employee, it’s about being a public servant and providing service with a smile, because that is what you are trained, and paid, to do.

“When we began to celebrate the Nelson Mandela International Day, there was a focus on doing good to benefit the poor by giving them things.

“Many would give food parcels. But people have begun to realise that the day is not just about giving someone food, because if you give me food today, then you must come again tomorrow. Instead of breaking the cycle of poverty, this is reinforcing dependency. On the other hand, if you provide infrastructure then you are helping someone in a sustainable manner. By investing in education, you are enacting Madiba’s legacy. If you talk roads, talk electricity, talk water, then you are preserving Madiba’s legacy.

“That is what Madiba would have wanted − more than someone just going to cook for the elderly on Mandela Day. What about the other 364 days? If, however, you train someone to cook or provide cooking material then you are helping. If you are building houses, you are helping.

“This year, as we celebrate Madiba’s 100th birthday, we have been working with a number of partners. We have been to Madiba’s home village, where we donated some educational material and furniture to a local primary school. We have been to conferences in Kenya and elsewhere.

“We are doing our part, because it’s about sharing. If we claim Madiba to be a world statesman, then it means he belongs to all of us. What is important is his name. If he belongs to all of us, which he does … we need to come to a conclusion about how to use his name not for political reasons but to build the economy of this country and to unite the people of South Africa.”