Former President Nelson Mandela has expressed "horror" at the reported torture of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of American and British "invading forces" and urged all South Africans to continue setting an example for the rest of the world.
Addressing a special sitting of parliament on Monday, Mandela launched a spirited attack on "two leading nations of the free world" - an apparent reference to the United States and Britain - for leading the war against Iraq, saying he was horrified at reports of "terrible abuses" against Iraqi prisoners.
In a historic speech meant to celebrate 10 years of a democratic parliament, Mandela bid a sad, yet joyous farewell to the legislature and spelt out his wishes for the country in the second decade of democracy.
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It was important to remember South Africa's past, Mandela said, "not as a means to keep us shackled to it in a negative manner, but as a joyous reminder of how far we have come and how much we have achieved."
| 'In a cynical world we are an inspiration to many' |
"The memory of a history of division and hate, injustice and suffering, inhumanity of person against person should inspire us to celebrate our own demonstration of the capacity of human beings to progress, to go forward, to improve, to do better."
Reflecting on his oft-repeated belief that "there are good men and women to be found in all groups and sectors of society", Mandela called on South Africans to take heart from their own experiences despite the cynicism and despair in other parts of the world.
"My wish is that South Africans never give up on the belief in goodness, that they cherish that faith in human beings as a cornerstone of our democracy."
Human dignity was the first value mentioned in the founding principles of South Africa's constitution, Mandela said. It was this value that was central to the country's successful transition from apartheid to democracy.
"We accord persons dignity by assuming that they are good, that they share the human qualities we ascribe to ourselves.
| 'It was very flattering to invite an old man' |
Historical enemies succeeded in negotiating a peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy exactly because we were prepared to accept the inherent capacity for goodness in the other.
"We watch as two of the leading democracies, two leading nations of the free world, get involved in a war that the United Nations did not sanction; we look on with horror as reports surface of terrible abuses against the dignity of human beings held captive by invading forces in their own country."
"We see how the powerful countries, all of them so-called democracies, manipulate multilateral bodies to the great disadvantage and suffering of the poorer developing nations," Mandela said.
"Let's refrain from chauvinistic breast-beating; but let's not underrate what we have achieved in establishing a stable and progressive democracy where we take freedoms seriously; in building national unity in spite of decades of apartheid and centuries of colonial rule; in creating a culture in which we increasingly respect the dignity of all.
"In a cynical world we are an inspiration to many."
Mandela warned that poverty, unemployment, preventable ill-health, and other forms of social deprivation continued to blot South Africa's landscape.
"Our democracy must bring its material fruits to all, particularly the poor, marginalised and vulnerable," he said.
Later he told the Cape Times: "It was very flattering to invite an old man who has lost office, power and the respect of everybody, to address parliament - I was happy about it."
Former president FW de Klerk said in his address that South Africans could look back with pride at the accomplishments of the past 10 years. However, while much had been done to improve the lives of millions of people, there was "a great deal" still to be done.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Cape Times on May 11, 2004
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