Winnie Mandela l One Young World 2013 Johannesburg

Описание: Today we mourn the loss of Winnie Mandela. We extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones.

A memory from One Young World co-founder Kate Robertson:

"On the last day of One Young World 2013 Johannesburg we had an unexpected guest. I was called backstage at the start of the Closing festivities – and there she was, the icon that was – and is still – Winnie Madikizela Mandela. As she smothered me in a huge hug I was stunned and bewildered. She made it clear that she wished to address the Summit Her praise-singer went on stage and there she was – hit by a wall of sound as 1300+ delegates, led by the South African young leaders roared at the tops of their voices welcoming her. She had tears in her eyes - she was loved but was in need of that love.

I thought her speech that day was important – so did the news networks which led every single news bulletin with it the following day. Her message resounds with me still: when leaders and governments get it wrong young people have the right to criticize them, the right to object. Ever since then I have noticed the leaders of many governments, when challenged, resort to complaining that they are being disrespected and that this is unacceptable i.e. criticism is itself unacceptable.

Mama Afrika said not only was it not unacceptable but that she believed that she, and her generation of leaders was failing young South Africans at that time, that what they’d done wasn’t good enough and that the younger generation would be right to hold them to account. She felt she herself had the right to criticize the ANC government – and that any citizen had and should exercise that right. It was a message for everyone everywhere – hold leadership to account.

RIP Mama Afrika with all the souls who left the world in the struggle against apartheid and in the violence that beset The Beloved Country."