Nelson Mandela and ANC’s many failures, by Ochereome Nnanna

Nelson Mandela, often hailed as the greatest African of all time, is subjected to a critical re-evaluation in this article, which contends that his leadership led to a new form of apartheid in South Africa. While Mandela is credited with peacefully transitioning the nation from apartheid to democracy, the author argues that he inadvertently replaced racial segregation with political and economic segregation.

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Mandela’s fame cannot be denied. But from what we see in the South Africa he left behind, it is essentially hype-driven.

The article posits that the black majority, under Mandela's African National Congress (ANC), has monopolized political power since 1991. Meanwhile, the white minority has largely retreated from political competition, focusing instead on retaining control over the economy and land. This division, the author argues, has resulted in worsening poverty among the black population and has created a new divide between racial groups.

This perspective contrasts Mandela's legacy with that of other historical African figures, such as 14th-century emperor Mansa Musa and Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. The author suggests that Mandela's fame is largely 'hype-driven,' fueled by Western media's portrayal of a bloodless transition and the creation of a 'rainbow nation.' The article questions whether this narrative accurately reflects the socio-economic realities faced by black South Africans.

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Mandela ended one form of apartheid and, wittingly or unwittingly, installed another form of it. Instead of setting black and white apart racially, he set them apart politically and economically.

A significant failure highlighted is the ANC's alleged inability to instill a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the South African youth, hindering their ability to compete for economic resources. The piece implies that the current socio-economic landscape in South Africa, marked by persistent inequality and racial tension, is a direct consequence of the post-apartheid policies implemented under Mandela and the ANC.

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The main thrusts of Mandela’s failure are three-pronged. He and his ANC leadership failed to groom the South African youth in the ethos of hard work and enterprise to enable them to compete for their fair share of the economic resources of South Africa.