“Nelson Mandela is our North Star” – SA Minister Gayton McKenzie

Honorable Minister Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, took the spotlight on Wednesday at the Nelson Mandela Memorial Lecture which was as unexpected as it was powerful, sharing a deeply personal narrative of his transformation from a life of crime to political leadership and the evolution of his views on the legacy of Madiba. As the keynote speaker at the lecture themed ’30 Years of Democracy in South Africa: Unthreading the Genesis of Government of National Unity,’ held at the Freedom Park Museum and Heritage Site in Pretoria, Hon. McKenzie’s acknowledged the indelible mark of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation and national unity on his own personal life, and urged all citizens of the Africa’s Rainbow Nation to find their inner Mandela.

“I spent my whole youth in jail,” Minister McKenzie confessed. “I grew up in prison. And I wasn’t a political prisoner. I was a common criminal.” By the age of 20, young McKenzie from the ‘Coloured’ community was a notorious criminal sentenced to 17 years in a maximum-security prison. He described his rise within the prison’s gang hierarchy and his intense hatred for White people.

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He reminisced about his initial bewilderment with Mandela’s approach to reconciliation. “Nelson Mandela broke my heart. Mandela stabbed many of us in the back,” McKenzie declared, recalling his disillusionment when Nelson Mandela agreed to work with the very White people who had enforced the oppressive Apartheid regime and robbed him of 27 years of his life. Instead of pursuing a populist route of expropriating land and properties from the White minority to redistribute to the historically disenfranchised Black majority, Mandela’s path seemed a betrayal to many, including McKenzie.

However, it was Mandela’s message of reconciliation that profoundly challenged McKenzie’s worldview began to influence change even within the harsh environment of prison. Mandela’s stance on reconciliation extended to the treatment of prisoners and throughout his life he advocated for the fair and humane treatment of all, including prisoners. Nelson Mandela is famously remembered for his speech where he said “It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails.
A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones”. McKenzie recalled “Two days after that speech, we were no longer sleeping on thin mattresses. We got beds, mattresses, extra blankets, because of that speech.”

As McKenzie’s perspective began to shift during his time in prison, he experienced Mandela’s compassion firsthand. He recalls a poignant moment when he witnessed a teenage White boy being subjected to gang violence. Defying gang rules and risking his own safety, McKenzie intervened and sought help for the boy. “In that moment, I found the Mandela in me,” he reflected. This pivotal experience marked the beginning of McKenzie’s transformation into an advocate for justice and social change. Inspired by Mandela’s principles, McKenzie smuggled a video camera into prison, documenting the brutal realities inmates faced. This footage contributed to significant prison reforms after the Jali Commission of Inquiry set up by President Thabo Mbeki.

This moment was pivotal for McKenzie, setting him on a path to redemption. After his release, he became a tireless advocate for youth education, focusing on steering children away from the pitfalls of criminal life.

Upon his release, McKenzie turned away from a life of crime and dedicated himself to preventing others from following the path to hell . He began speaking at schools, sharing the dangers of a life of crime. His honesty and passion resonated deeply, even earning him unexpected job offers and support from those who once feared him. Rhea Davalios, a White woman, became his mentor as a motivational speaker, teaching him not only how to speak effectively but also basic social skills he missed while in prison. This was regardless of critics who warned her about the risks of associating with a former inmate. “I overheard a conversation where they said, ‘You’re taking the biggest risk of your life,’” McKenzie recalled.

“She said, ‘Mandela taught us Ubuntu, and because of Mandela, I’m going to show this ex-prisoner Ubuntu.’” This gesture of kindness marked a turning point for McKenzie, helping him reconcile with Mandela’s legacy and fueling his desire to give back to his country. “I am embarrassed about my past life of crime, and people might wonder why I don’t take a salary as a minister,” he said. “It’s because I owe so much to this country, and serving it is my greatest pleasure.”

“People have forgiven me because Nelson Mandela taught us forgiveness. I am the product of the kindness of strangers, and I am what I am because Nelson Mandela showed us the way.” McKenzie stated. He urged everyone to “find the Mandela in you,” calling for unity and reconciliation in a country still grappling with the legacies of apartheid and inequality. He also credited the country’s Rugby team, The Springboks, the enduring significance of the Springbok name, which Mandela insisted on retaining. “Today, the Springboks are the ones keeping this country together. Mandela saw that 30 years ago, what us mere mortals are only seeing now.”

He spoke of the profound influence Mandela has on his life and political perspective saying “Mandela was a Saint”. McKenzie acknowledged the challenges South Africa faces, criticizing both government and society for failing to fully honor Mandela’s legacy. He lamented that some young people now view Mandela as a sellout, a perspective he passionately contested. “The word sellout and the word Nelson Mandela does not belong in one sentence,” he declared.

In his role as Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, McKenzie he has committed to promoting Mandela’s values, particularly in education. He announced plans to integrate lessons about Mandela into school curriculums and prison programs, aiming to reduce recidivism and inspire future generations.

“Nelson Mandela is our North Star. Nelson Mandela is the best thing that ever happened to us,” McKenzie affirmed. His speech concluded with a call to action: “We are the children of Nelson Mandela. We should not let people divide us.”