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In the summer of 1985 I was a young
man fresh out of Manchester University. Through my reading of African
liberations struggles I had come to understand the significance of the historic
struggle of the African National Congress and the leadership provided by the
imprisoned Nelson Mandela.
I had printed my own t-shirt with
the legend ‘Nelson Mandela ANC’. Wearing it with pride I remember receiving
abuse from some white people who accused me of supporting a ‘terrorist’.
Margret Thatcher’s support for the
South African Apartheid regime and her condemnation of Mandela had influenced
the country. Despite this I saw over the next decade millions of British people
join the Anti Apartheid Movement.
We needed no convincing to support
the ANC. The daily brutality of the Boer regime was daily news item. I am told
that at the time the Association Chief Police Officers requested Margaret
Thatcher to put pressure on the BBC to stop news reports showing brutality in
South Africa. Police officers were reporting fierce resistance on the streets.
The fact was black youth in the UK faced with a racist police service were
joining the dots.
As the spokesperson for the National
Black Caucus I had worked with ANC exiled comrades living in London I was
honoured to be invited to organise a reception for Nelson Mandela in London in
1993. I was later able to facilitate Mandela’s support for the Stephen Lawrence
Campaign.
My association was close and I was
fully involved in working with the ANC and others in the Anti Apartheid
Movement. I attended the Freedom concert at Wembley and celebrated with the
entire world the defeat of despicable racist regime.
When I think of Mandela I cannot but help think of the magnificent
Cuban Army who took on and beat the South African Army providing a turning point in
the war against Apartheid. In 1988 Fidel Castro sent his army to support the
Peoples Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola who were defending the area
of Cuito Cuanavale from the advancing armies of the South African Army and the US
backed mercenaries of Jona Savimbi.
In a decisive battle that ultimately
led to the defeat of Apartheid, the Cubans and Angolans defeated the forces of
racism.
Nelson Mandela never forgot the
sacrifice made by the Cuban people. Always a man of principle Mandela, whilst
forgiving his enemies, never forgot his friends.
In 1996 I met him again in London
Brixton with Operation Black Vote, where he was literally mobbed and applauded
from the rooftops.
The next time we met was in Durban South Africa at the 2001
United Nations World Conference on Racism. Finally I had both the
honour and privilege of being part of the former London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s
team that ensured that Mandela was honoured with a statue in Parliament Square. The great man himself came to the unveiling.
I consider myself to be very lucky to have had these opportunities. For a working class black boy who printed a t-shirt I count myself having been blessed. I remember those times with a sense
of deep joy and appreciation.
Now
the world will mourn and the global media will dedicate hours to his memory. Knowing the man as I do, I suspect
Madiba would not be impressed. I think I can hear him saying “ I was part of
team” I dedicate this song Rastaman Chant by the late great Bob Marley and the Wailers to you Madiba.
RIP Nelson Mandela
