kameraad mhambi

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Politics web has become a real quality political read as far as matters of South African politics go. Yesterday they published a very interesting and heartfelt letter from ANC military veteran Thula Bopela.

“Dear Mr. President,

I turned to you when information reached me before the 1994 elections that civil war was planned and would occur as soon as the ANC won the elections. You turned to President Mandela, and it is my belief that in a small way, we contributed towards averting the disaster that threatened our country. I thank you for that.

I turn to you again at this moment in our history because another disaster is looming. Yes, the people of South Africa have given the ANC an overwhelming mandate to rule. Some of us may view this victory as a blank cheque to reward ourselves with positions and wealth. Personally, I see this resounding victory as a huge bill that we have to pay to the people of South Africa, the poorest of the poor. We have to settle this bill Nxamalala. If we do not settle this bill, the disaster will happen.

I will not presume to coach the President of South Africa how to do his job. I know, however, that you are a President that even ordinary members of the ANC may voice their concerns to, knowing that their concerns will not be ignored. For the first time since we returned to our country, old soldiers like us feel free to write to our President and state what concerns us deeply.

You did not join the liberation movement because your father was already in the movement. You were not born into the political aristocracy; I was not either. We each went into the liberation movement because we felt inside ourselves that a nation was oppressed and exploited, and had to be freed. We, together with all the freedom-loving people of this country, made the necessary sacrifices and inputs, and achieved political freedom in 1994. Political freedom, vital as we all know it is, will not pay the bill that ANC owes the nation.”

Read the whole Thula Bopela letter.

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