Why Mandela Day cannot be a time of celebration amid ongoing challenges

General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s report card of the 6th of July to the nation was not a statistical release of crime but one which discusses what the drivers of crime and how that plunges South Africa into what would be a failed state.

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This came 12 days before a globally acclaimed date on the global calendar which is Nelson Mandela Day - a euphoria in which South Africa could legitimately bask, but for reasons of neglect to memorialize we are unable to even if momentarily retire in this memorable vista.

Eleven years ago, I was privileged yet again to count the South African population. But this privilege was met with protestations by some communities in the country. Amongst the three that I had to spend time on was one by the residents of Silvertown, in Kwa-Sakhele in Ggeberha (Port Elizabeth).

In the Twelfth Night Malvolio having been tricked into thinking Olivia thinks deeply about matters of the heart towards him fell for the line on greatness that Maria had laid as a trap for him. It read “some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

On the morning of 22nd of October 2011, I was privileged to go and count President Nelson Mandela at his home in Qunu during Census 2011. This rare privilege was possibly the last for Madiba to be publicly seen in relatively good health.

What made the meeting profound was the extreme pain Madiba suffered by reading about the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya.

Newspapers strewn across his table showed the bloodied and lifeless pictures of Gaddafi’s body.

My subsequent appearance in Silvertown, which was five days after meeting Madiba was met with major demands. The citizens of this township of corrugated iron dwelling structures, refused to be counted unless their councillor reports back and I was tasked with the responsibility of bringing the councillor to Silvertown from Gqeberha.