Reflections on Nelson Mandela

Tomorrow I'm making a trip to the Civic Centre to sign the book of condolence in memory of Nelson Mandela.  To be honest, it feels a bit strange - leaving a message that few will read to commemorate a man I never met, from a country I've never set foot in.  And yet, I feel overwhelmingly compelled to.

My parents lived in South Africa in the early '80s at the height of apartheid, at a time when Mandela was regarded as a terrorist and had been in prison for nearly two decades - even the mention of his name was a criminal offence.  The stories of that time in South Africa, its culture and its people filled my childhood and gave me a great love for the country.

However, I don't think that it is merely a fondness for South Africa that has made me feel so saddened by the passing of Tata Madiba.  Nor is it his standing as the leading global politician of the last decades.  It's more than that: the work of Nelson Mandela, for me, represented a glimpse of something greater.

The story of his fight against the apartheid regime and his incredible grace and forgiveness following his release from prison have been well reported in recent days, but something that hasn't had so much attention is his focus on restorative justice.

In 1995, President Mandela established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bring perpetrators and victims of abuse during the apartheid struggle face-to-face, establish the full truth of the story and establish reconciliation.  In appearing before the Commission chaired by Archbishop Tutu, perpetrators were granted amnesty in return for full disclosure of their crimes.  (See, for example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujOL8FS2wv4.)

There have been many criticisms of the TRC from people who would rather have seen retributive justice done, however watching any footage from the Commission quickly shows how powerful and moving an act this was.  Both truth and reconciliation were seen as the necessary ingredients of justice; as the pathway to moving forward.  It makes me ponder how different post-war Europe might have been had we had a truth and reconciliation commission instead of the Nuremberg Trials.

This is why Nelson Mandela was so important to me - truth and reconciliation.  Listening Mandela forgive those who persecuted him, watching old enemies hug as friends, seeing the victim of a heinous crime look its perpetrator in the eye and say, quite genuinely, "I forgive you" seems to me to be a glimpse into the Kingdom of God.

Books of condolence, memorial concerts and televised tributes have their place, but perhaps the best way to remember this remarkable man would be to create more glimpses of the Kingdom - to seek truth and reconciliation, to strive for freedom and equality, and to work to realise his dream of "work, bread, water and salt for all".

"If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are roads that read to that goal.  Two of these roads could be named goodness and forgiveness."  - Madiba.

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika.