From Where I Stand: Iconic Ideas Echo into Eternity

By Sihlangule Mmiselo Siwisa

This book is about leadership. It is about the kind of leadership that bends the arc of history and builds upon heritage in order to create a living legacy.

The central challenge of a society that is moving away from imbalanced development is not only addressing economic inequality but also restoring a sense of confidence in the quality of thought leadership that steers the destiny of the nation. We need cohesive leadership and that in turn can precipitate the kind of patriotism that emphasizes seeking common ground and consensus above dwelling on differences and petty party politicking that polarizes our nation.

I believe that there is a difference between history and heritage.

History is the sum total of all of our stories, but Heritage is what we choose to appropriate out of our History to own and shape the values, rituals and destiny of a particular society. We do not have the luxury of cherry picking what we regard to be palatable or unpalatable within history regarding the truth and the completeness of the collective story of history.

For instance, the Anglo-Boer War and the Rise of Afrikaner Nationalism is as much a valid part of South African History as the birth and evolution of the African National Congress as the oldest and most enduring liberation movement in Africa.

Heritage however is what I 'choose' to appropriate or 'own' and subsequently celebrate out of History as being part of my own story and therefore worthy of being re-told in order to build, establish, strengthen, and sustain the value system of my own society.

I believe all of history is worthy of being remembered, but not all that is within history is worthy of being celebrated. What I choose to celebrate out of history is what I appropriate as my heritage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504994125

Sihlangule Mmiselo Siwisa

Sihlangule Mmiselo Siwisa is an alumnus of Rhodes University in Grahamstown in South Africa with a BA in economics and mathematical statistics and a middle managers leadership program certificate from the UCT Graduate School of Business. In the corporate world, he has crafted a career over eight years that is steeped in the understanding of customer service, relationship management, and brand equity development. He is the former global key account manager at BCD Travel and former national key account manager at the South African subsidiary of the German company Wurth. He is currently CEO of Rebellionaire Music Exposition (RMX), which is a company he cofounded to enable himself and other creative beings to monetize their gifts. By day he is a businessman building a world-class leadership consulting brand, and by night, he is an artpreneur building an empire with a mogul mind-set and modest lifestyle. He is currently serving the Transnet Group as a customer experience manager (CXM) in the commercial division of the biggest operating division of the multibillion Rand African Transport and Integrated Logistics Giant, Transnet Freight Rail. He is a young executive in training with a bright future, but beyond that he is a stirring orator, a gifted writer, and a creative songwriter/amateur filmmaker. He published his first book while he was a student in 2005, entitled “Afrika, Arise” by S. M. Siwisa (AuthorHouse March 2005 Indiana US). Subsequent to that he has published two more books: “Giant Steps” by S. M. Siwisa (Authorhouse Nov 2010 London UK), “The Courage to Begin Again” by S. M. Siwisa (Tate Publishing 2012 Mustang US); and he is presently working on publishing his fourth title, “From Where I Stand” by Sihlangule Siwisa. His formative years were shaped by a desire to change society, which corporate success has not dulled. Outside of work, Sihlangule is an ambassador of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) Trust as a former winner of the SOMAFCO Trust Essay Writing Competion in 2012. He then went on the OR Tambo Edu-Tour to Swaziland, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Sihlangule is a student of the subject-design-driven entrepreneurship, which he was introduced to via the Mandela Washington Institute and he is part of an initiative by CoCreate called Change Makers which a network of young entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers under the auspices of the Dutch Embassy in South Africa.

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2015 Sihlangule Siwisa. 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 11/10/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9411-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9424-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-9412-5 (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

Acknowledgements

Foreword

A Life to Remember

Chapter 1

A Writer’s Eye (Imagination)

Chapter 2

Courage does NOT always ROAR (Courage)

Chapter 3

Grey Heads on Green Shoulders

(The Need for World Class Leadership)

Chapter 4

A Tale of Two Kings (Righteous Defiance)

Chapter 5

No Progress Without Struggle (Determination)

Chapter 6

The Need to Differ Well (Finding Consensus)

Chapter 7

A Truth Well Told (Discovering Purpose)

Chapter 8

Who you are is ENOUGH (Self-Acceptance)

Chapter 9

Teamwork makes the Dream Work (Individuals in an

Inter-dependent Collective)

This book is dedicated in memory of my late friend and fellow Rhodes University graduate; Xolisa Vitsha

(25th July 1978 – 24th June 2015); who wrote the following words:

"In pain, conquer yourself

not the phenomena or the actual

feeling you are going through."

Ps Xolisa Vitsha

03h14 20th June 2015

Acknowledgements

Dear Sihlangule and Lusenathi Siwisa A Man will be a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Isaiah 32 v 2. Do not fall in love with the image in your head, fall in love continually with God’s workmanship which is in the Father’s hand. Amen

To my Parents; Mr Hintsa Kgositsile Vuyisile Siwisa & Mrs Nolundi Maureen Pearl Siwisa

Dlangamandla, there is a saying ethi by the time a son realises that his father was right, he usually has a son who disagrees with him. I am deeply moved that God gave me the grace to understand the teachings I once misunderstood before I have my own children. Your generosity, your ability to treat men and women of all walks of life with respect, your ability to give direction when others are happy to abdicate responsibility, your commitment to God, country & family and your own unique signature sense of humour are all the things that combine to make you in our eyes a Colossus of our Time.

MaHlanga, I want to say you that you have given me the gift of your undivided attention. The reason why I am able to communicate my emotions today is because of you. I recall the days when you drove me back from school at Selborne College and listened to my musings about the events of the day.

The fact that you took the time to listen to me, gave me confidence in the validity of my own ideas is what ultimately led to my discovering the gift of writing that allows me to add my thoughts to the theatre of ideas in the world. How much is too much of something that is more than enough?

To my Grandmother uMakhulu uNogesi Matutu and my late Grandmother uMakhulu uFlorence Nontando Siwisa; you are the Institutions upon which the Grand Traditions of our Great Dynasty are built. You are a reflection of what is most memorable about all of us.

To my siblings: Mbasa, My two of my favourite pieces of writings in the world are written on a cushion that sits on your bed and a plaque that is on your wall as you walk into your home. Sange, Milani & Neliswa will know what I am talking about. The plaque reads, Please excuse the mess, the children are busy making memories and the cushion reads, Home is where your story begins. You are the fire around whom we draw close for warmth, laughter & wise counsel.

Mhlangenkululeko, my Best Man …You are the Best of what we have to offer. Lizwe, you are the One who shows us that work done in silence at a local level can be rewarded audibly and handsomely at an international level. Salathiso, you are Wise Beyond your Years. It’s been a pleasure watching you grow up Grey Head on Green Shoulders.

To Mr & Mrs ML Ngozwana – thank you for raising uLungelwa and our extended circle of siblings: Yonwaba, Landi, Nickey, Sipho, Wancy, Bulelwa, Lindi, Linda and Lukholo.

To Dr Sizwe Mabizela, the 6th Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University and his wife Dr Phethiwe Matutu, thank you for being kind enough to add credence to my thoughts with your foreword. Your ascendency to the helm of our beloved institution and that of Dr Saleem Badat & his wife Shireen Badat before you, testifies to the triumph of selfless scholarship & reflection over unreflective thought, entitlement & resignation.

To The Honourable Ambassador Rev Dr Mankenkesi Stofile & his wife Mrs Nambitha Stofile A life of greatness is not reserved for the chosen few: women and men with perfect skin, flawless teeth and a royal pedigree. There are no extra human beings on the planet and every single one of us, I deeply believe, can choose to create a life of greatness and extraordinary meaning. Robin Sharma. Thank you for being a signpost as we follow you on this path of service with the capable help of Ms Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane whom you have mentored. Dabs, 2015 was your year.

To Professor Shepherd Mayatula, thank you for interrogating the concept document that was the foundation of this treatise. Nasi nam isandla sam.

To the Honourable Deputy Minister of Finance,

Mrs Mcebisi Jonas & his wife Mrs Matshepo Jonas the central challenge of a society that is moving away from imbalanced development is