achievement to simply earn a living
This is despite being warned by
As we celebrate the centenary
and create wealth, he chose to
some in the legal profession that
of their birth, let us use the oppor-
fight for the greater good of the
his involvement in politics would
tunity to reflect on their lives and
majority. His commitment was to
damage the credibility of his law
sacrifices and learn from them.
make a positive impact on the
firm. But he stood firm nonetheless
We call on all South Africans to
lives of the people of this country
and paid a steep price for his defi-
use the celebration of the cen-
as he believed that “what counts
ance. His involvement in politics
tenary of the birth of our icons to
in life is not the mere fact that we
and the sacrifices he made led to
do their part to take forward their
have lived. It is what difference we
him being arrested, banned from
legacy.
have made to the lives of others
addressing people and severely
that will determine the signifi-
restricted from travelling.
cance of the life we lead”. It is against this background that
Madiba’s courage inspired
In the spirit of #ThumaMina we should go to our communities to help address some of the
many people both in the coun-
problems that our people face as
he refused to live a lifestyle that
try and around the world to be
Madiba and Ma Sisulu did many
was not enjoyed by the majority
active in politics. He has shown
years ago.
people in this country but used
us that it takes courage of one
his legal skills to fight for the equal
man to start a movement that will
work together we can overcome
treatment of black people. He
change our country for the better
all the challenges we face which
also believed that law alone was
and create a society where all
includes stopping violence
not enough to solve all the prob-
may live in peace and harmony.
against women and children.
Our history shows that if we
lems of the country at the time.
The year 2018 also marks the
Our actions can go a long way
This is why he got involved in
centenary of the birth of another
towards taking the legacy of our
politics and led the defiance
stalwart Albertina Nontsikelelo
icons forward and for the next
campaigns against pass laws.
Sisulu.
generation to learn from us.
Public Sector Manager • October 2018
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