South Africans feel inferior, but tourists report we have a lot to be proud of, writes Leslie Sedibe.
South Africa is one of the warmest and friendliest nations on the globe and the country’s beauty is incomparable – so said dozens of foreign delegates who attended the 35th Annual Crime Stoppers International Conference in Cape Town.
The conference, hosted by Crime Line and the SAPS, saw more than 600 delegates from all over the world converge on African soil for the first time, to discuss efforts to fight crime globally.
It was heartening to hear one of the board members of Crime Stoppers International testify to the friendliness and warmth of the South Africans he encountered during his stay in the Mother City.
From fellow conference delegates and conference staff members to shop assistants and even strangers in the street, South Africa has been called one of the friendliest nations worldwide.
As conference chairman Yusuf Abramjee welcomed and eventually bade farewell to the foreign visitors, I marvelled that South Africa had once again pulled off a world-class event.
Abramjee was lauded by Crime Stoppers International for making history by hosting the biggest annual conference. It was probably the best too.
Top speakers included Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega, government ministers, local policing experts and an array of international crime fighters and cops.
If one thing is evident, it is that South Africa is definitely not the only country in the world with a crime problem. If that were true, there’d be no need for an annual international conference.
The local organising committee of the conference deserves our applause and we thank the members for flying the South African flag so high – and for again showing the world that we, as a country, are still quite capable of exceeding its expectations.
This, in turn, has evoked a renewed sense of responsibility in me, as chief executive of Proudly South African, to remind fellow citizens that it’s time we rise above our challenges and leverage off our strengths.
Indeed, we complain daily and bring attention to the challenges we face as a nation. We can never turn a blind eye to these.
Yet, I feel a need to emphasise that in as much as we have a need to confront our demons, we also need to count our blessings and leverage our strengths.
Let’s get over ourselves and realise there’s no shame in recognising – even celebrating – our successes and strengths. It’s okay to complain and, likewise, it’s okay to blow our own trumpet every now and then. There’s absolutely no shame in that and I feel strongly that, as South Africans, we need to stop beating ourselves up and thinking we can’t measure up to the rest of the world.
This conference was the latest example of South Africa’s ability to measure up – and to set the bar at a new height.
It’s a travesty that so many South Africans still believe the lie that we are a second-class country that produces second-class products and events. This is utter rubbish.
It’s time every South African stood up and recognised the truth: South Africa is a first-class nation with first-class people who produce world-class events, services and products. We are all that and I, for one, am not ashamed to say so.
We must stop the culture of shying away from our own successes and achievements over the past 20 years and recognise that we can, we do and we will continue to shine as the Rainbow Nation that was once the darling of the world.
South Africa is our home and its people are our brothers and sisters. Let’s stand together and continue to fight the good fight.
This includes acknowledging each other, encouraging each other, loving our country and taking pride in what we deliver as a nation.
If foreign guests recognise our country’s value, splendour, achievements and potential, why can’t we?
* Advocate Leslie Sedibe is the chief executive of Proudly South African.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
The Star