Many of us would know that Tata Mandela was a profound, well-educated leader. He loved education so much that he would always seek out ways to be able to study. It is no secret that those times were some of the difficult times which one could try to get an education and make a success of their lives, compared to an era in South Africa on which we are leaving in. In today’s modern economy, technology based live, everything is at the tip of our lives. We, the people, young and old have a vast variety of tools which we can use to build the kind of life we want to live.
The struggles we face today as young people are very different from the struggles that were faced during the apartheid era when coming to education. In 1976 the youth fought against the introduction of Bantu Education, and the introduction of the Afrikaans language alongside English which was made compulsory as a medium of instruction in schools in 1974. We need to choose a struggle, work together in order to win against the struggle, if there are many struggles, chose one or branch out in order to defeat them.
There is a lot that still needs to be changed within our education system, starting from crèche to university level, but sitting around, complaining with a negative attitude will not take us anywhere, will not win us any struggle. #FreeEducation #FeesMustFall in our life time made headlines, the universities leadership’s and students took to the struggle to the streets, to get their voices heard, and they got to sit around tables with Minister’s to elaborate further on this issue. Let’s stand up, ask for assistance where it is needed, put our pride aside and attain education.
The government has given us opportunities, private companies also do their bit to help young people get an education, the only catch is, you must be willing, ready and able to take up the challenge, and you must also stand out from the crowd. It is tough out there but also doubles if you put your mind, energy, and time into it. Tata Mandela faced many challenges and trails to attain his education, he never had it easy, but he fought on to make it a reality, and what made it easy was the fact that he loved education, he loved been educated. In 1937 he went to Healdtown in Fort Beaufort, at the Fort Hare University Nelson Mandela became involved in the Student Representative Council. Following a boycott, he was told to leave.
Rather than follow through on his guardians wish for an arranged marriage Tata Mandela took off to Johannesburg. He completed his Bachelor of Arts studies there through the University of South Africa through correspondence.
Tata Mandela then went on to study law at the University of Witwatersrand. Tata Mandela’s university life was interrupted by his involvement in the ANC. He and friend Oliver Tambo opened the first black legal practice in South Africa, giving affordable and often free advice to black people who could otherwise not afford it. Tata Mandela continued his legal education while he was in prison too.
When he was put into Robben Island prison Tata Mandela often gave legal advice to both prisoners and prison staff. His love and belief in education was appreciated, and Robben Island became known as the ‘Nelson Mandela University’. It was a cruel and tough life in prison, but Tata Mandela somehow managed to turn it into a place of learning.”
Tata Mandela saw education as part of the key to winning the struggle against apartheid, while at the same time he had spoken out that education had nothing to do with a person being ‘able’ to vote or think.
It is through a positive mindset that we can make it in life. Doesn’t matter what kind of a background you come from, as long as you have a positive mind towards education, you can pull through, just as
Tata Mandela pulled through. On this Mandela Month, take a moment and review your life. Are you happy with the way it is? If not, what can you do to make a success of it? If you don’t know where to start, seek help, no man is an island; no one can do it alone. Be More Madiba!
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Tata Nelson
Rolihlahla Mandela.
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