Journey of a thousand miles on Human Rights Day

The education of the lion cub cannot be outsourced to a lesser animal – the future king of the jungle can be taught only by the current king of the jungle. That’s the moral of the fable by Russian author Ivan Krylov. The future of South Africa is too beautiful to be left to the whims and fits of hateful zealots. We must teach our children about tolerance and kindness.

In Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela wrote, “In my experience, I have found Jews to be more broadminded than most whites on issues of race and politics, perhaps because they themselves have historically been victims of prejudice. The fact that Lazar Sidelsky, one of the firm’s partners, would take on a young African as an articled clerk, something almost unheard-of in those days, was evidence of that liberalism.” Broadmindedness and kindness cannot be taught in the classroom alone, but in human interactions and wonderful human experiences.

On Human Rights Day, South Africa’s Promise, a non-profit organisation that works to rebuild black communities; the Jewish National Fund (JNF) of South Africa; and the King David Schools Foundation, organised a hike involving young people from the Tshwane township of Soshanguve’s Hebron Celebration Centre International Church and King David School Linksfield. The lace-up was led by David Fleminger, who is known by every stone and tree on Linksfield Ridge.

It was a short and easy hike, but the memory is sure to linger for a lifetime in the minds of the participants. The executive director of the King David Schools Foundation, Raelene Tradonsky, was literally leading from the front, as the youth of today struggled to keep up with her. Dr Nico Molefe, a former maths teacher of Mosupatsela High School in Kagiso Township, whose long and illustrious journey has led him to the role of maths education researcher at the Gauteng Department of Education, was cool in his bucket hat, polo shirt, and jeans.

It was a hike of firsts for most of the youngsters. For those from Soshanguve, it was their first time seeing Johannesburg from the ridge, even most of those from King David had never seen their school from above. It was a time to see the city-forest, to admire the cityscape instead of focusing on depressing and decrepit buildings. After the hike, it was time to descend to King David school and break challah.

As the rest of the food and soft drinks flowed, so did exchanges of kindness. JNF Executive Director Bev Schneider, whose Hebrew name is “Bracha” (blessing), found a namesake and kindred spirit in Tshegofatso Ratsaka, whose first name also means blessing.

It was time for the post-walk talk, to hear the history of Human Rights Day, but more importantly to hear about the dreams of young people so they can create their own stories and contribute to history.

“This is really amazing,” said Noa Swartz from King David school, “It’s diverse. It represents what South Africa is – different cultures. Other countries don’t get to do this. This country is full of energy, like the music, there are so many things that make South Africa what it is, and we need to keep on working to get along with one another. This country is amazing, but it still needs a lot of work.”

South African youth has always created ripples of hope that grew to become currents of profound, positive change. It is our duty to create opportunities for success through constructive interaction. The blizzard of hate which has been unleashed on the Jewish community through boycotts of some of its businesses must never be allowed to be the big story that defines South Africa today. Jewish lawyers defended Nelson Mandela in his trial, saving him from the death penalty, thus leading to the peaceful and miraculous transition that ended apartheid. On his return from exile, erstwhile African National Congress leader Oliver Tambo paid tribute to the Jewish activist who saved his life and said, “I crossed the border illegally into the then Bechuanaland with the help of Ronald Segal.” The reason why the world knows about the leader of the Pan Africanist Congress, which led the protest marches of 21 March 1960, is because of his biographer and friends, Benjamin and Anne Pogrund, who are based in Jerusalem.

In his book, Let My People Go, Chief Albert Luthuli warned that the future is pregnant with anguish and suffering for people of all races in South Africa. The country of our dreams won’t be achieved overnight, but one thing is for sure, young people took the first step of the journey of a thousand miles this past Human Rights Day.

• Muzi Kuzwayo is the chairperson of South Africa’s Promise, a non-profit company that works with young people across the country to help them unleash their potential.