Khotso Mokoena Ends SA's Olympic Medal Drought

Long Jumper Khotso Mokoena has ended SA's Olympic drought by winning silver in Beijing.

He put in a worthy performance that very nearly earned him the gold. Well done Khotso!

In the last week of the Olympics, perhaps our strongest remaining medal hopefuls are Siphiso Nhlapo - BMX cyclist (final scheduled for Thursday, 21st) and Mbulaeni Mulaudzi in the 800m (the final is scheduled for Saturday, 23rd).

Beijing Olympics is the Pride of China

I can't say that I've watched every Olympic Opening Ceremony in recent times, but I have to say the 2008 bash put together by host nation China and aired around the world last Friday was epic and unlike any I've ever seen staged.

The Chinese didn't merely use the opportunity to showcase their rich culture and heritage, they put on an entertaining extravaganza that pulled out all the artistic stops. Using thousands of performers (a commentator speculated that more than 10,000 volunteers had performed in the opening ceremony), the show was a convincing demonstration of Chinese ingenuity that is probably testament to the nation's much talked about economic muscle.

And if that wasn't enough there were symbolic themes throughout that communicated China's diversity, national spirit and contribution to the world. Yes, we know it's only half the story - the half that is meant to evoke pride and praise - but you cannot expect the controversial leadership to host a ceremony that shows anything but the best of China.

One of those symbolic moments was the announcement that the little boy accompanying the flagbearer of the Chinese Olympic team, was a hero of the recent earthquake tragedy - he saved two people in the disaster. Brilliant touch!

So, the Games have begun. Good luck to all - of course a special bolt of inspiration for team South Africa. Personally, I have my hopes pinned on Natalie du Toit (what an awesome athlete) and 800m specialist Mbulaeni Malaudzi (currently ranked no.3 in the world).

Celebrating the Father of our Nation

Liberian President is a Woman of Conscience and Action

Pic: NMF

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf delivered the Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture this past Saturday.

And given that of late, I have been uninspired and even pained by our own leaders, Pres Johnson-Sirleaf's address was medicine for my soul.

She gave a perspective on Africa's economies and spoke eloquently of Mandela's leadership legacy. She also used the opportunity to emphasise the need for African co-operation and courageous leadership in uplifting the lives of African citizens and ending corruption.

Reporting on the achievements of her own country since her election, Pres Johnson-Sirleaf boasted of the significance of women's leadership in her government - a point that was loudly applauded by the audience.

I found her address, which follows on those of previous occasions by Bill Clinton, Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Wangari Maathai, Pres Thabo Mbeki and Kofi Annan, gracious yet frank. She reiterated the message of the African Renaissance, highlighting the importance of citizen empowerment. Still, Johnson-Sirleaf acknowledged the reality that "the African Renaissance could come for some and not for others", reminding the audience of the plight of many on the continent, including the people of Dafur, Somalia and Zimbabwe.

On Zimbabwe, she was commendably clear:

"As I stand before you today, I would be remiss if I did not express my solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe, as they search for solutions to the crisis in their country."

"I recognize my limitations to express views on Zimbabwe. After all Liberia is in West Africa. Liberia is a country of only 3.4-million people. We are thousands of miles away from the realities of Southern African politics. Liberia did not suffer under British colonial rule; nor do we have the same challenges with land distribution that has created so much internal turmoil.
But I am, I hope, part of the New Africa; an Africa rooted in many of the values demonstrated by you, President Mandela. In that Africa, all Africans have responsibility for our collective future. It is therefore my and our responsibility to speak out against injustice anywhere."

It was a memorable address and is worth reading - go to:

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/news/article/the_sixth_annual_lecture_address/

Sweet and Glorious Victory

The last time Spain were champions of Europe was in 1964. Their Euro2008 victory was no doubt glorious, particularly since it was hard fought, well played and comes as a good omen with 2010 just around the corner.

As I watched Spain's victory, I wondered when will we be champions of Africa again?

Let's hope we won't have to wait 40 years.

Once a hero, always a hero?

Robert Mugabe, once a liberation hero of the people of Zimbabwe and the African continent, has fallen. It seems at last Africa's leaders are prepared to admit publicly that Mugabe has lost the plot and has got to go - for the sake of the people of Zimbabwe and to preserve stability in the region.

It's been a long time coming, but Mugabe's arrogance and tyranny have finally burnt a hole in the hero-mantle that seemed to protect him from the criticism of his African brothers.

In South Africa we have already begun to see some of our heroes turn into arrogant, self-enriching, empowerment junkies, whilst others have settled for political prostitution, and still others have sought to fulfil their ambitions of wealth by lining their pockets with corrupt gains.

Those who continue to be heroes of South Africa and its people are few and far between.

Dishonest, irresponsible leadership and vacuous political rhetoric seem to be the order of the day. I don't believe South Africans will tolerate such opportunism, but are we prepared to say to our heroes of yesterday: You no longer embody the principles we expect of our heroes, so you've got to go!

The conviction of youth

June 16th commemorates the courage of the youth of 1976 who took a stand against the violent apartheid regime. It is often hailed as a defining moment of the Anti-Apartheid struggle. It is also the day that many disillusioned youngsters rejected Apartheid education to join the freedom struggle.

Many families still bare the scars of losing their sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. It was a time of tragedy and heroism, that South Africa can hold up as an example of the conviction of the youth facing the oppressive forces of the day.

With freedom won, our youth like the rest of society have largely grown weary of 'the struggle' and are more inclined to be caught up in consumeristic trends than socio-economic debates.

Yet, the patriotism of today's youth is palpable in their creative expression and pursuit of identity, as never before.

If we are reminded of anything today, let it be that: education and poverty are still struggles that require the conviction of all, particularly the youth, if freedom is to become a lived reality.