The Call for African Pride

By Zandile Dlamini

This book is about two of the most prominent leaders of South Africa, leaders whose respective roles shaped and influenced South Africa, both positively and negatively. Those leaders were Dr H. F. Verwoerd, better known historically as an architect of apartheid, and Nelson Mandela, the doctor of the soul, known for his peace and reconciliation policy. Verwoerd was a doctor of psychology, a profession he used to his advantage to cripple the minds of black men; hence black people are still suffering even in the new dispensation from inferiority complex strongly argued in the book by the author.

The author is appreciatively of these two heads of state, who came from different backgrounds. Verwoerd had no regard whatsoever for black people, but in many other ways, he was much like Mandela in character and reasoning capacity. What cannot be disputed about these two remarkable leaders is that they both created a rich history for South Africa, which we owe to both Dr Nelson Mandela and Dr H. F. VerwoerdVerwoerd with his apartheid policy and Mandela with his peace and reconciliation policy.

Both had strong characters, being idealists and philosophers in their own rights, men who stood for what they believed in and held firm to their convictions, knowing that greater success comes with pain and at a high price. Where they differed was in their outlook on life. Ones focus of interest was a minority group (whites), while Mandelas was on all races, including both blacks and whites. Hence, he received the title of Father of the Nation, while Verwoerd was the god of the white people only.

So the book shall take you on a journey of how these great mens ideals and beliefs had influenced the people of South Africa and the world in general and how detrimental was the policy of apartheid in the lives of many who until this day and age are still struggling to detached themselves from that belief of inferiority. They were taught by apartheid and Dr Verwoerd that it defines their existence and that belief keeps holding back the millions of black African people from forging ahead in order to be the greatest they can be as proud Africans, irrespective of the way forward presented to them by Dr Nelson Mandela. There is a star and a hero in every one of us, so the book is taking everyone on a journey to self-discovery and pride in their own identity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546283614

Zandile Dlamini

I am 44 years old woman from South Africa, I am a motivational speaker, a writer and a published poet with various publications, to count but the few the Hunter`s poem was published by the Grahamstown University in their journal in 1997 while the Dawn and Word was published by the Poetry Institute of Africa in their anthology of verses in 1998 -1999. I have a background in journalism, social and academic research presently pursuing studies in Law and I am also into ministry.

Book preview

© 2017 Zandile Dlamini. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/12/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8362-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8361-4 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 The Legends of Time

Chapter 2 Freedom Is Still a Fantasy

Chapter 3 Dismantle White Supremacy

Chapter 4 Nepotism and Lack of Proper Governance

Chapter 5 Culture Is Your Identity

Chapter 6 The Trendy After Tears in Black Funerals

Chapter 7 Liquor and the Media

Chapter 8 What An Insult to the Class Of 1976

Chapter 9 Anything with a Free Tag Has No Value

Chapter 10 A Threat to Economy and Growth

Chapter 11 Royalty and Law

Chapter 12 America Their God

Chapter 13 Youth Choking in Despair

DEDICATION

T o my loving parents the late Qhakaza and Thenjiwe Dlamini and my two wonderful siblings the late Pinkie and Thulisile Dlamini. For how I wish you could have lived to see this day you have been anxiously waiting for, the realization of a dream I held so close within the deepest of my being but for it to have waited until you all embarked on a journey whose travellers never returns, but allow me to say however way things had turned out but in the end what you always knew that it was going to happened has indeed finally happened, as your belief and faith in me that had never stopped to show has brought about this success in my life of finally publishing a book hence I found it just that I dedicate it to you saying in the end we did it may you enjoy it with me from the other side for it is ours to enjoy and to be proud of.

To my loving country South Africa, the African continent and the world at large, I hope you shall appreciate the effort I have made out of love and concerned for the well-being of our identity as people and our cultural and social identity. As you read the book and understand where I come from I want you all to know that what I have said I meant well, with all that is painted in the book and I hope that it shall serve the mission intended, which is to root out the every trace within our existence as black people in Africa or anywhere else in the world for that matter, the inferiority complex that still lingers over us and make you to be proud of your identity and never feel inferior in anyway or allow anyone to make you feel any less of a human being because of the colour of your skin, walk tall as human beings and as Africans and know that you can only be that which you choose to be, not that which you are perceived by anyone to be. Where I have been harsh just bear with me and know that sometimes to put the message across more clearly you will have to be cruel in order to be kind, and while on that note in conclusion I trust you shall receive the book objectively, critically and with reservations if need be but keeping an open mind that the entire exercise is aimed at bringing out the best in all of us black and white alike as human beings cut from the same pattern of human species nothing else. I thank you all enjoy the book.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

T o you father Gabriel and Getty Madlala there is no way that I could celebrate this achievement without you coming to mind, as you never stopped encouraging me to follow my dream whatever the obstacles I have met over the years along the way, but you never stop believing in me saying know this child about success that it never comes easy and sometimes it is received at a very harsh price to pay but in the end the feeling of knowing that you did it no one could ever rob you of it, for it shall be yours alone to enjoy and you were never so right thank you a thousand fold.

Baden Didiza, the retired welfare officer, thank you for all the research you have helped me with and the discussion we had over the years that were so powerful with your legal expertise and political background you have helped me a lot in gathering all the relevant information for my book as it never would have become anything other than an idea if it was not for your help and your encouragement to write a book that you believed can bring about a major change to many people and give them a different perspective. Dr Mashia Maponya who helped with the editing of the book and gave me political information that I needed.

My reliable source from Mail& Guardian who wanted to remain anonymous who provided I with all the information I needed and took me through the journey of compiling the book and I could never forget my other source of information to count but the few I shall truly thank Verashni Pillay for his unbiased insight when explaining the impact of apartheid towards his black counterpart irrespective of the fact that he enjoyed the privileges that apartheid treated his life to, the check point team that always bring to our attention the stories that matters that affects people`s lives on their day to day life. Last but not least let me extended my gratitude to a retired educator my friend Musandiwa Munonde and say thank you for a friend you have been in my life, for your love and support was like breathe to me I needed to forge ahead and in conclusion there was no way I could leave out one name my loving niece Siyabulela Dhlamini, thank you my child for being you and always wanted nothing but the best for your aunt, as I cannot be exaggerating to say we wrote this book together because your encouragement made it impossible for me to disappoint you in anyway as failing to publish this book would have equally disappointed you but now that the opposite is the order of the day I know you are singing the songs of praise along with me.

CHAPTER 1

THE LEGENDS OF TIME

T he storyline of this book is about two of the most prominent leaders who ever walked the face of the earth in South Africa. These are leaders who shaped and influenced South Africa both positively and negatively. I am talking about Dr H. F. Verwoerd, better known historically as an architect of apartheid, and Nelson Mandela, the doctor of the soul known for his peace and reconciliation policy. Verwoerd was a doctor of psychology, a profession he used to cripple the minds of black men and women.

In this book, I show appreciation for the two heads of states. They came from different backgrounds, which made them different. Verwoerd had no regard whatsoever for black people, but in many other ways was like Mandela in character and reasoning capacity. What cannot be disputed about these two remarkable leaders is that they created a rich history for South Africa. We owe it to both Dr Nelson Mandela and Dr H. F. Verwoerd – Verwoerd, with his apartheid policy, and Mandela with his peace and reconciliation policy. They were strong characters – idealists and philosophers in their own right. They were people who stood for what they believed in and stood firm by their convictions, knowing that greater success comes with pain and at a high price. Where they differed was regarding their outlook on life. One promoted a minority group (whites) while the other promoted all races. For that to have awarded him the title of Father of the Nation, while Verwoerd was a god of white people only.

When the architect of apartheid introduced his unjust policy, which was aimed at treating white people as supreme at the expense of the majority of South Africa, this policy stripped black people of their pride and dignity. As a result, it planted in their minds the belief that they are inferior to their white counterparts. Verwoerd had the skill and mental qualification to devalue and degrade the minds of African people. He brainwashed, confused, and destroyed the minds of black people. He inflicted the fear of God in the minds of African people regarding white supremacy. Blacks didn’t dare to question who gave it to them because surely it was not God. But somehow, he twisted their minds into believing that the supremacy that whites enjoyed at blacks’ expense was indeed their God-given ‘gift.’ What other logical explanation could there have been for one man to be treated as if he were bigger than life, or if his breath was bought when others were received freely through the kindness of Mother Earth?

He made blacks believe that they exist by default while whites are the God-given race that receive all the blessings. In reality, there was never anything extraordinary or different about them except the colour of their skin. However, I would like to believe that Verwoerd meant well with his brilliant policy for those of his own skin. But he did far greater damage that took a lifetime for black people to heal from. For years, blacks were made to believe that dogs were better than them in the eyes of Verwoerd and his partners in crime.

Verwoerd had a frightening hatred of blacks. Could it be that he was so threatened by them? But in what way?

What became a joke to me was how he was defined by the prime minister of Rhodesia, Ian Douglas Smith, upon hearing Dr Verwoerd had been assassinated. Prime Minister Smith said:

To those who knew him personally (and I count myself as one of those who had this privilege), his deep sincerity in everything he undertook, his gentleness and kindness towards all people, his championing of civilized and Christian ideals, and his wise counsels in times of peace and adversity will be greatly missed.

The only part that can be perceived as accurate in this brief speech about the man who had viciously savaged many souls and killed many innocent lives is defining him as a man with deep sincerity in everything he undertook. Verwoerd stood firm to his inhuman policy at whatever cost. But to dare to define him as a kind man towards all people was an insult to the truth, given the unjust treatment received by the majority of this country under his leadership.

What Verwoerd was, was the champion or darling of the minority group in this country: white people, to be precise. I have no doubt that until this day some whites (perhaps not all of them) still worship the ground he walked on. But to the world in general, and to blacks in particular, he was cousin to Satan, a cold-blooded man. His inability to appreciate human races other than his own colour made him pure evil and compromised his charm and his humanitarian nature. To many, he was cold. It is ungodly to wonder which Christian ideals mentioned by the honourable Smith he had championed in his time because Christianity encourages love of neighbour. He hated, persecuted, imprisoned, and brutally murdered without remorse, so his ideologies and convictions contradicted everything that Christianity stands for – unless, of course, they believed that God was one of them. But when we consult the same Bible that came with their missionaries, there is no part that says, ‘Love thy neighbour, but only if he is white. And hate and kill a black man.’ So their claim that God is one of them is unfounded. God doesn’t have a colour. The colour is with men.

So, in my point of view, apartheid was a policy designed by Dr Verwoerd to test the human spirit – its power, courage, and tolerance – and to test our ability to rise above all that and still be human beings. At the same time, it was a mechanism that was to produce a rich history for South Africa. Had it not, we never would have produced the likes of Oliver Thambo, Walter Sisulu, Mama Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Helen Suzman, Miriam Makeba, Nelson Mandela, Govern Mbeki, Steve Biko, and Chris Hani, to count but a few. Therefore, we would have missed the opportunity to see the human spirit at its best.

Verwoerd’s policies created a global concern and a debate. Ordinary South Africans became extraordinary people as they unitedly fought the policy that undermined their right to life and compromised their dignity. The policy was constructed for the benefit of the few, who by birthright were not even beneficiaries of this country. As resistance policies that oppose the shameful policy of apartheid were formed by black elites, a number of names came to the fore, later to become prominent figures that rooted out apartheid.

It all started with the colonization of African states by foreign countries like Britain, France, and others. But that was never enough for Verwoerd. He saw his countrymen and land being taken over unjustly even though efforts were being made by the African states to put an end to colonization. But the Afrikaners were still able to manipulate things to their advantage with men like Hertzog in the forefront. Historically, it was his policy of segregation that he implemented: the Native Land Acts, the colour bar acts, and so forth. This gave birth at a later stage to Verwoerd’s mastermind policy of apartheid. Hence, I always say Hertzog was the actual designer of apartheid. He had a vision that he could not see clearly enough. Then Verwoerd helped to get it all right.

Verwoerd had a nerve bigger than himself. He proudly designed a policy to the country that was not his native land, at least not by birthright: a policy that was aimed at torturing African people in their motherland, assassinating their human character, lowering their dignity and pride to nothing, making them last-class citizens in their native land, and handicapping and brutalizing their human spirit. For apartheid was well arranged by this man, a man who was not just a politician but also a doctor of psychology. He used his detailed knowledge of the mind to put the fear of God in the minds of black people regarding white supremacy. He brainwashed them into believing that whites are superior to them and that whites are God’s chosen race and most-loved people. According to his policy, whites are a symbol of purity, supremacy, and absolute power who, by birth, should lead, be honoured, and be served by those inferior to their kind. Apartheid made African people think little or nothing of themselves. It made them think they exist by default and that their living is at the mercy of their white counterparts, whom they practically looked upon as gods.

Verwoerd, the mastermind behind apartheid, had the highest level of intelligence. He had an intellectual mind and ability to influence. But he was a dangerous human being whose cunning nature was displayed through the history of his term of office as prime minister of South Africa and even long after his death. Verwoerd was brutally killed in the House of Assembly by Dmitri Tsafendas, a killing that demonstrated that those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.

I was never so appalled as by the way he defined apartheid in his speech. He described it as a policy for promoting neighbourliness. While accepting there are differences among people that should be acknowledged, they still live together as neighbours. Then he said in this absurd speech that this policy (according to his twisted mind) was meant to benefit all mankind. If you were to hear this speech, you might wonder if this thinking was what to expect from a brilliant doctor of psychology. He should have known better than to paint himself in such a speech as a lunatic, a fool with no degree. He should have been ashamed to ever associate apartheid with anything that promotes neighbourliness. In reality, it was aimed at dividing people and promoting racism and tribalism.

This was the speech of a man whose ambition knew no bounds, a twisted Afrikaner who was obsessed with power and supremacy. He didn’t know that supremacy is not something forcibly taken, but is something you are born with. He never knew to stop with his obsession for he was obsessed with his selfish lusts – assuming he actually believed that the nonsense he had defined was really the way the world would look at it. Or maybe that was the only way he knew how to keep his sanity intact. Explaining it for what it really was would have tormented whatever was left of his conscience, and he couldn’t bear to subject himself to that kind of torture. If he had, he never would have achieved what he did through apartheid, namely making history and a monument to himself that was there for all to see.

As one man wrote: ‘Verwoerd is dead.’ As a mastermind, he designed a scheme that forged white people together in unity. The writer was clearly pleased by the death of this Boer, who was cold and ruthless at heart generally but warm and loving to those of his own colour – a man of deep sincerity, as described by Smith, but a sincerity felt mainly by those of his own skin colour, as he implemented apartheid to the fullest extent of the law. As a result, the majority of this country harshly felt the frightening jaws of that law, which had cut wounds so deep in their hearts that they felt it in every sphere of their lives.

But I hold no grudge towards Verwoerd. He was born in this world to make his mark, and he made it. Making