Touching South Africans on their beloved hero, isithwalandwe ubaba u Nelson Mandela

Soon after Zapiro's gruesome and distasteful cartoon of using rape as a metaphor to describe the current state of the nation, Ayanda Mabulu decided that he also can't lose out. In both instances, it's not the first time that these "artists" have gone overboard in the name of "freedom of speech". But this time Ayanda has "touched the nation on its studio". How dare he dragged the beloved national hero to his controversial and disgusting painting? How dare he does this to "us", a nation which hero worships people?

When some of "us" pointed out the problem with both Zapiro and Ayanda using cartoon and paintings to insult people, we were told about freedom of expression. Because we are a nation of hypocrites, we only see wrong when those we deem as heroes are insulted.  

It's not only the so called "artists" who insult people in the name of freedom of speech on a daily basis, the fourth estate is leading the pack. Have we forgotten about the Eyewitness News' cartoon depicting ANC voters as poephols is the current SA's narrative. But again we are a forgetful and forgiving nation when such things are done by other people. Our forgiveness is reserved for certain people. 

Dealing with challenges facing our movement

In our struggles to improve our beloved movement, we should at all time speak truth to power. While it is rather easy to point a finger at what might be the problem, we should also realize that the other 3 or more fingers are pointing directly back at us. Whatever challenges facing the movement should not be relegated to only lack of leadership because the movement is an organisation because of it's members at branch level and not because of top six, NEC, PECs, etc. The current situation in our movement is reflective of its membership, that is, the leadership problems we face are at all levels of the organisation. 

In pursuit of finding lasting solutions that will move this movement forward, we must shy away from name calling and seeing ourselves as "us" against them. Because the "us" against them creates factions, which are detrimental to our movement.

If majority of branch members have lost confidence in the current leadership, there are processes within the ANC that can help members to address that challenge. In order to move this movement forward, we must also avoid being "members of members. We should at all times remember the oath we took when we were accepted into this movement. 

Back then or recently to some of the new members, we solemnly declared that we will abide by the aims and objectives of the African National Congress as set out in the Constitution, the Freedom Charter and other duly adopted policy positions, that we are joining the organisation voluntarily and without motives of material advantage or personal gain, that we agree to respect the Constitution and the structures and to work as loyal members of the organisation, that we will place our energies and skills at the disposal of the organisation and carry out tasks given to us, that we will work towards making the ANC an even more effective instrument of liberation in the hands of the people, and that we will defend the unity and integrity of the organisation and its principles, and combat any tendency towards disruption and factionalism. This oath should always serve as a compass that guide our discussions to find lasting solutions that will move this movement forward. Amandla!