power of reconciliation

Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa

http://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/unit.php?id=65-24E-4

Post-apartheid South Africa faced mammoth tasks: to consolidate democracy, to lessen the harsh legacies of a century of segregation and apartheid, and to improve the day-to-day lives of the people. Enormous strides have been taken in these directions with the final burying of apartheid and major political, social, and economic transformations. The country is respected across the world, where before it was a pariah. It has become a major leader of the African voice in world forums. The Constitution has proved to be a success, and the Constitutional Court has won wide acclaim. Despite these substantial gains, the country still faces deep economic inequalities and acute problems such as high rates of unemployment, homelessness, and violent crime; slow progress on land reform; a dysfunctional education system; a burgeoning health crisis mainly due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and a growing concern about corruption.


Significant progress has been made to heal the divisions of the past. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission advanced the process of reconciliation and contributed to general social peace and stability. The resilience of multi-party politics was tested in three successful, democratic national elections, in 1999, 2004, and 2009 that were regarded as free and fair by international observers and demonstrated administrative efficiency. The African National Congress (ANC) continued to win significant majorities in the national Parliament under Presidents under Presidents Nelson Mandela (1994-1999), Thabo Mbeki (1999-present), and Jacob Zuma (2009-present.)

Introduction

After the hard time of the apartheid, South Africa started to shine again insofar as Nelson Mandela was elected in 1994. It was a turning point for the country which changed radically. South Africa was no more separated and people where all on an equal footing with each other. 

Indeed, post apartheid South Africa is often described as “the rainbow nation” because of its high level of diversity, we can say that it was a mosaic of culture and its diversity was its biggest pride.

In order to insist on the aspect of the rainbow nation and to contrast it with the dark period of the apartheid, I’ve chosen an extract from a research from Michigan state university South Africa, titled Building democracy after apartheid. 

It deals with the impact of the “truth and reconciliation commission”

I will add a textile by William Makhubele, it illustrates the extract. Many of his designs represent contemporary issues, here it's a political one. It was published in 1998 and it represents the fourth anniversary of April 1994.

II. Explanation

First and foremost, we clearly notice that this excerpt point out the positive aspect of the commission. This great change mainly appeared thanks to this truth and reconciliation commission. It’s a commission tasked with discovering and revealing past wrongdoing by a government, in the hope of resolving conflict left over from the past.

Its aim was to bring out the truth from the apartheid era and help heal the country.

The country benefit from it in different areas:

After the advent of the multiracial democracy, initiated by Nelson Mandela, and the establishment of the truth and reconciliation commission the country started to bounce back.

 →First of all, there have been profound transformations in the social and cultural sphere since the end of the apartheid. A new social life and new relationship emerged. Minds were changed. They were not censorship anymore and the education has been racially integrated. Besides, the segregation started to disappear little by little. South Africa has developed a more pluralistic state with well-established opposition parties and a free and independent press. 

→Last but not least, the economy rose again. The government encourages black economic empowerment.

→At the same time, the government has successfully improve the development of vital services in isolated and rural areas, such as electricity, health care and water. The government has extended the reach of critical services

Concerning the textile, it stresses the solidarity and the diversity of this new rising country by using colours. We can notice people with different origins on an equal footing with each other. The president seems to be receptive and thoughtful, there is no superiority anymore. The most striking is that we see happiness on people's faces, the spirit of the textile is joyful and it emits a positive message of peace and unity. Mandela appears to be the hero in South Africa's history. He is the saviour of his country and everyone adores him.

Nevertheless, this commission is not a cure, the country still has weakness. One of the most important challenges for South Africa is coping with the devastating effects of the HIV that exploded during the first decade of freedom.

In addition to this, we can mention the little appreciable distribution of the national wealth and the unequal distribution of the lands.

III. Relation with the form of power:

These documents embody the power of life, and more particularly the power of reconciliation and solidarity. Even more insofar as it's a huge contrast with a segregated world. This commission generated a lot of positive evolution in several area and it helped the country to rise again. Which just goes to say that the power of life almost always takes over the power of death.

IV. Contrast with the document studied in class:

I would like to point out that these documents are positive, contrary to those about gun murder. This is not a criticism or a denunciation, such as the cartoon or the poster. On the contrary, it highlights the benefits of this revolutionary change.

Conclusion :

In a short, South Africa has established little by little a constitutional democracy. It has maintained peace, and fostered unity and reconciliation in a divided society. It main goal was to build a brighter future in the shadow of apartheid apocalyptic legacy. Even if it's a complex task fraught with challenges, the power of democracy, solidarity and reconciliation provide enormous promise and pre-empt the ruthless era of the apartheid.