“I am an Airbus A380 pilot. It is the biggest passenger plane in the world today. I have flown to many exotic places in the world. In my opinion, Cape Town in South Africa, is the most beautiful city I have been to.” – An answer given by a foreign speaker during question time at a recent international conference.
As South Africans we know there are many, many beautiful places in South Africa. God has blessed us immensely.
If you like scenery you can choose from the vast plains of the semi-desert Karoo, the bushveld of Mpumalanga or Limpopo, endless mountain ranges like the Drakensberg or Swartberge, thousands of kilometers of white sand beaches, the Kalahari desert, the rolling hills of Zululand or the lakes and forests of the southern Cape.
South Africa teems with many different species of animal from the Small Five to the Big Five. We have more different plant species than some countries put together. We have many different peoples and cultures – in fact, at least 35 indigenous languages of which 10 are official (plus English). More than 80% of South Africans are Christians. We have given birth to icons like Nelson Mandela and some of the most beautiful women on earth.
We are indeed a very interesting and powerful bunch together.
We are home to 8 World Heritage Sites. The Cradle of Humankind (40% of the world’s human ancestor fossil remains have been found in this area). Robben Island (the place of exile and imprisonment for political prisoners and leaders like Nelson Mandela). Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (one of South Africa’s early advanced cultures). uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park (San rock art paintings). Cape Floral Region (one of only six floral kingdoms in the world, and the only one occurring entirely within one country. It includes 9 000 species of fynbos – more than all the species in tropical rainforests). iSimangaliso / Greater St Lucia Wetland National Park (the largest protected wetland in Southern Africa). Vredefort Dome (the largest and most ancient visible meteor impact in the world). Richtersveld Cultural & Botanical Landscape.
Our country is very rich in natural resources like minerals including chromium, ferrochrome, ferromanganese, platinum, vermiculite, manganese, palladium, vanadium, zirconium, gold and diamonds.
But it is when we creatively combine these blessings when we experience the real potential and power of what South Africa has to offer. Think about it: from an idiological and cultural point of view South Africa represents the world in one country. People with diverse view points who have to live together and make it work. If we can succeed, our solution to the problem will be widely applicable across the world.
And we have already started on this journey. Our languages have borrowed words from each other, people like Johnny Clegg has done this for music. We have hosted world cup soccer and rugby competitions. The peaceful transition to the New South Africa on 27 April 1994 was an example to the whole world. We have the best constitution in the world completed by our beautiful national flag and anthem.
We must continue with this creative process of combining all our blessings into new solutions. We will create new places for tourists to discover and experience, new medicines derived from our cultural heritage and plants, new insights from millenia of wisdom. Combining ubuntu with western individualism. Capitalism with socialism in a way that serves humankind best.
There is no doubt that we have got what it takes to be an exemplary nation and country. Go, identify the potential in yourself, your compatriots and your country and help build a legacy for ourselves and our children to enjoy and be proud of and for the world to follow.
I am proud of and thankful for this country God has given us. It is simply the best. As with most things in life it will take effort to maintain and build it. But it is worth all our effort and love. We owe it to God and our children.
