On Thursday the 18^th of September we had a session with Debby Edelstein, a ‘friend of SAWIP’ as Brian Currin would say.

It was the final session for us UP members, and through the session you may have seen a few random smiles on my face. Those smiles were little indicators of my thoughts on the year. I thought back to DAY 1, selection camp, and I am mesmerised by the growth that has taken place not only in me but in my friends as well. I expressed my sentiments of gratitude, in our session, for these special people: Nolzito, BG, Ali, Mmats and ofcourse B. #ThankYouForThisYear.

The focus of Debby’s session centralized itself around three major themes: Listening, Diversity and Picking Yourself. Throughout the session she also gave us illustrative pointers on facilitation of a meeting/activity.

Whilst, engaging on diversity, Debby requested each of us to share on a leader that we found to be out of comfort zone or unexpected. I shared more of an unexpected lesson learnt than of a leader per se, but perhaps my lecture, Mr William H. Gravett could be said to be a leader in his own right. He lectures us RPK 320 or Legal Practice (A module that has the attendance of around 15 percent of the registered students.) So, you can imagine my astonishment to have found a lifelong principle in a class that most would find to be a drag. The principle shared with us was based on Stephen R. Covey’s four quadrants of Time Management.

The diagram above gives a compendious overview of what each quadrant entails. Ideally the quadrant that we should spend a majority of our time in is Quadrant two. Most of us meander from quadrant one and as a result of the pressure we face we then need to spend time in quadrant four. Spending time in quadrant four is a mechanism we use to ‘survive’ as it provide a means of escape from the excess and self inflicted stress of being in quadrant one. This revolutionary principle has to do with transforming our patterns of thought from doing things that are urgent to doing things that are important (when they are not urgent).

I find myself each day making a conservative effort to do the things that are important and as a result I have fewer things that are urgent. I am not rushing around like a headless chicken trying to meet all my deadlines and targets but rather apportioning my time to handling each aspect of my life with the care and detail necessary for efficient results. One example is making time to spend or check-in with my brother who is 4 years younger than me. I believe the short whatsapp messages or pop-in visits has facilitated a greater bond and trust between us. My Mum always says: ‘You will only have one brother in this world’. And well if I am honest he probably is a leader that I would find to be unexpected. (Older brother pride I guess). That is a short snip-it into the last week; please check out the link below as a useful and practical demonstration of how this principle works:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmV0gXpXwDU

I’m sittin’ ‘n’ rockin’, in front of the fire,

Watchin’ the flames as they dance,

Sippin’ a glass full of old rock and rye, and

Drinkin’ a toast to the past:

Here’s to the people and places I’ve known.

Here’s to the love and pain that is gone.

Here’s to the joy and sadness I’ve seen.

Here’s to the unfinished dreams, and

Here’s to what memories mean.

Rock ‘n’ Rye, rock ‘n’ rye,

I’m sittin’ here rockin’ with tears in my eyes,

Sittin’ here’ rockin’ with tears in my eyes,

I’m sitting ‘n’ rockin’, in front of the fire,

Thinkin’ of things as they are,

And how all that I am is just pieces and parts

Of the memories I’ve gathered so far.

Here’s to the goodness and kindness I’ve shown.

Here’s to the people I’ve treated wrong

Here’s to the mistakes that I wish I could change.

Here’s to the pride and the shame,

And the growin’ that comes with the pain.

I’m sittin ‘n’ rockin’ in front of the fire,

Thinkin’ of things yet to be:

How the present’s a doorway that leads from the past

To a future that I’ve yet to see.

Here’s to the man I was in the past.

Here’s to the man I am now at last

Here’s to the man I someday will be.

Here’s to the hoping he’s better than me,

Because of these old memories.

Mike Cross is an American singer and song-writer, who blends the genres of rock, country, pop and folk music. The words to this song are a sentiment to an old American tradition that seems to be fading out of their society.

My work exposure is at the Faith and Politics Institute and I have recently read an essay by our founder Doug Tanner, entitled: ‘The Truth Can Set Us Free’. Doug references the words to this song in his essay and alludes to an American society that has on the face of it lost this age old tradition and with it a time set aside for reflection.

The idea of ‘reflection’ as a value was first introduced to me on selection camp. It was during an activity of identifying what values were important to each of the individuals present to determine the commonalities between our value sets and to see how they aligned with the values of SAWIP. In a world where improvement is predicated on acceleration, it is a struggle to find time to reflect. As I explore this new founded value, I have made a commitment to myself: To preserve time in my day to allow for reflection.

Other than this high frequency tempo that our lives are expected to move at, another obstacle we face in finding time to reflect is of the constant background noise that fills the void of silence. Remedial tasks that can be used for reflection (washing the dishes in my case) are surrounded by a bombardment of white noise, often presenting itself in the form of TV, social media or youtube. Doug expresses his thoughts, on the song Rock ‘n’ Rye, that there is no better moment to reflect than rocking in front of a fire or on the porch of one’s house. The depth of consciousness, required for true reflection, is unattainable when this white noise, pollutes our minds with a myriad of thoughts other than our own.

Reflection is a cornerstone of the Faith and Politics Institute and the work that is done here is centered on this idea of going back to remember the struggle that was faced to achieve democracy. A major chapter of the SAWIP experience has to do with reflection. These BLOGS serve as one expression of the emphasis SAWIP places on re-visiting your thoughts to allow for assimilation of the week’s events.

I am but a novice in learning how to reflect but a novice that is cognizant of its importance. In my next blog I will share with you more on the purpose behind the retreats and pilgrimages hosted by the Faith and Politics Institute. I will also provide a backdrop of how the institute supplies, nourishes and sustains many of the Congressman and notable government figures with a sacred time of remembrance.

This week Wednesday we will be heading off to the big apple, it is said to be the city that never sleeps. I do hope for my sake that it is not too busy so I able to safeguard a time for reflection.

Over the past week we have been to a host of museums and memorials and all have been contributory to the themes of war, civil rights or politics in some way or another. Yesterday, on the 29^th of June we went to the National Air and Space Museum, which changed up the general trend and allowed us to learn about some fun facts from the scientific world.

There were many impressive exhibits on display some of the hi-lights included: Sputnick 1, the Wright Flyer (the worlds first successful aeroplane) and the Moon Rover. The exhibit that I will most remember was the one where we made our last stop on the tour. It was of an Aeroplane called the Spirit of St Louis. The story behind this plane is an enduring one and serves as an example of determination of one mans will power to succeed in an outrageous task. That man is Charles Lindbergh.

Charles Lindbergh, was an aviator who is known famously for the FIRST non stop solo flight across the Atlantic. The purpose behind Lindebergh achieving this feat was as a result of a challenge set out by Raymond Orteig, for a total of 25,000 dollars, to the first person who would make the trip from New York City to Paris.

What is so remarkable about Lindbergh's journey is his employment of some rational yet irrational methods. There were many that doubted whether he would succeed but also whether he would make it out alive. Here are a few of the crazy techniques Lindbergh used in his arduous journey:

1. Side panel windows were removed: There was a method to Lindbergh's madness. He did this so he would have a constant flow of air in the cockpit. Lindbergh was fearful that he would fall asleep and relied on the constant flow of air to keep him awake. He did report that there was one occasion that he recalled of falling asleep but fortunately he awoke to steer on.

2. There is NO cockpit window: Lindbergh requested that the large main and forward fuel tanks were placed in the forward section of the fuelage, which was in front of the pilot. This helped with the center of gravity but also meant that he had no window to look out of. Lindbergh's argument was that he had no need for a cockpit window as either the sun blocked his view or the cloudy atmosphere did not allow him to use the window. How then did he navigate himself? Well he would constantly look out the window frame of the side panels. Our tour guide explained to us that at some points he would fly close to the ocean and estimate the height of the waves and the direction in which they moved to orientate himself. He also had his trusty compass assisting him.

3. What did he eat?: Food was not a problem ,he took three sandwiches with him on his trip, of which he only hate half of one sandwich.

Lindbergh flew a distance of 3600 miles or 5800 km non stop which translates to a total of 33.5 hours without any sleep. The Spirit of St Louis captures the minds of both the elderly and the young. It is a story of bravery but also of a man who was determined to see through a task, no matter how ludicrous it may have been. Charles Lindbergh's adventure is not only a story of one persons life experience but a metaphor of the Human Spirit. As each day continues here in DC and with many of the conversations I have with my peers, the interns at work and the highly profiled people I have met, there is one thing I am always left bewildered by. That one thing is the infinite potential that of the Human Spirit.

On the 26^th of June we were afforded the opportunity to meet Congressman James E. Clyburn, of South Carolina, as well as his eldest daughter Commissioner Mignon Clyburn (of the Federal Communications Commission). I am almost certain that a great many of my SAWIP team members will be writing a blog on this session. Why? Because, it was a night where 18 young South African Leaders sat around two people whose words dripped with wisdom and experience. It was a night where leadership was presented to us in its truest form.

The Congressman has recently released a book entitled: ‘Blessed Experience: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black’. On this night he shared with us some of what was said in his book but also there was the additional personal touch. I sat on the floor this evening, in the lounge of Tom and Carol Wheeler, and whilst the Congressman shared his stories, a nostalgic feeling overtook me. I was reminded of the fondest memories in my childhood, where I would sit with my granddad listening to all of his adventures and laughing at the quirky jokes he would make.

The beauty of this evening was relayed in the type of leaders the Congressman and the Commissioner are. They shared with us a great deal of golden nuggets and all through their own personal experiences and stories. One story that stands out for me was when the Congressman first ran in the general election of South Carolina. He was first announced the winner of the election but was called up at 3am and then declared a 500 vote loser as opposed to a 500 vote winner. The words that got him through this ordeal were written on a sticky-note that his wife placed on the mirror in their bathroom. The words read:

‘When you win, brag gently and when you lose, weep softly’

The Congressman told us that, that morning he wept softly. There were other narratives where the Congressman and the Commissioner had endured failure and with patience and resilience were able to bounce back to establish themselves indelibly in society. Perhaps, why we will remember this night so well is that these two immense leaders were not afraid to share their hardships, their vulnerabilities and their failures with students who they have met for the first time. The Congressman and Commissioner spoke to something that all human beings have and something that most leaders try to hide or cover up. They spoke to our insecurities. Dealing with these insecurities is a challenge we all take up and we all are trying to overcome them. But in the mean time we can become extremely harsh and patronizing of ourselves. On this night I learnt that whilst caring about my reputation is important and worrying how others perceive me is imperative to present a good image, there is an aspect that is far more valuable. That aspect is to just be myself and accepting that well there will be occasions where the public may not see that as good enough. Having the courage to simply be myself is imperative to not losing my identity. The message I received on this remarkable evening was that failure is not the end of the journey but the start of one.

We were blessed to have met and engaged with the Commissioner and Congressman. Their words will resonate with me for many years to come.

So Mesmerized was I by the architectural designs of the buildings I walked past on my way to work, I seemingly forgot in which direction I was going in. Passing by the Capitol, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court, one cannot help but be in awe of the majesty of these establishments. DC during this time of the year is buzzing with starry eyed interns. I feel privileged to be one of the many young minds here, sampling the life. the culture and of course the food that this diverse hub has to offer.

My work exposure placement is at the Faith and Politics Institute, on a 110^th Maryland street, within the National Mall. I was welcomed by Nelson Watkins, a very astute gentleman. Nelson gave me a short tour and introduced me to everyone. The last person I met was the current CEO, Elizabeth McCloskey (Liz for short). She is a warm and friendly person and greeted me with a smile and a hug, probably the best way to welcome someone like me.

The first day involved orientation into what exactly the Faith and Politics institute is about. Liz provided me with some reading material and I dived into learning about the organization I will be a part of for the next few weeks.

The institute was founded in 1991 by Rev. Doug Tanner. The mission of the institute is to advance reflective leadership among Members of Congress and Congressional Staff to bridge the divides that arise in America’s democracy. The Institute has developed several programs and initiatives to advance their mission. A few of the methods they employ are:

• Weekly reflection groups held for Members of Congress
• Engaging lectures and discussions to explore life and the call to service
• Dialogue opportunities for Members of Congress Senior staff and other faith leaders
• Experiential pilgrimages to learn more about history through travel and the implications of that history today.

The objective of these initiatives is to create a space for Reflection to take place. The first question we must pose to ourselves when reflecting is not a methodical one. NO. It is a purposeful one. Most people in their day are concerned with the HOW to resolve a problem. Reflection takes the focus off the HOW and places it on the WHY. Providing a retreat or an opportunity for leaders, especially those in governance, to tackle the issues of WHY certain decisions were made or actions sort, will allow evaluation to occur. Evaluating our purpose and redefining ourselves, our institutions and our structures is essential to ensure progression. An institute advocating for reflection is definitely a measure that we would need to employ in South Africa. Numerous decisions are made on a daily basis by our leaders that affect the public, which on the face of it, are misguided from the public needs. Reflection will be a guiding tool to our leaders in establishing better governance.

I look forward to my time here at the Faith and Politics Institute and am yet again grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded.

American Sports, always a topic of hot debate among sports fans outside of the US. The argument generally is: Why is it that America does not conform to the sports that are played by the rest of the world.

On the 23th of June I had my first experience of an American sports game. I joined the Sakells on their family outing to the local baseball game. The game we attended was the Washington Nationals versus the Atlanta Braves. The Nationals, which is the home team for DC, has not done particularly well this season against the Braves. However, there was a change in form from the previous game, which they won 3-0. The Nationals were again the victors in this match winning 4-1. It’s always a great feeling winning a match even if you have only started supporting the team a few hours earlier.

Baseball may not be as popular as American Football but from the attendance and atmosphere you would never say. In contrast to,South Africa, when we see local teams playing, the number of fans supporting is generally low. The number of supporters for the Nationals V the Braves, was approximately 32,000 people. That sort of attendance is only seen at a Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates game, which are our two biggest soccer rivals. One could argue that the US has a significantly larger population and infrastructure that allows for that sort of capacity, but that does not necessarily mean people will make time for the game. It’s truly all about the culture that is created in and around the sport.

The ambiance within the stadium was unbelievable, especially considering these are local teams competing. I know that this sort of culture is seen at Rugby games but it generally does not filter into sports such as cricket and hockey. The entertainment provided during the baseball game attempts to make it a fun affair for the whole family. It was interesting to note that the activities during the intervals, we

re centralized on the country as opposed to the baseball team itself. The singing of one of their anthems ‘God Bess America’ creates an all inclusive environment. Everyone in the stadium got up and stood together as Americans. The division between different supporters were broken and reconciled by one truth. That everyone in the stadium regardless of their sporting affiliations are proudly American. The message portrayed is that being American is far superior to the support of a local baseball team.

Another fun tradition and promotional event is the 'Presidents Race', which takes

place at every Nationals home fixture, during the 4^th inning. The race involves life sized bobble head figures running against each other. The participating presidents include: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson and William Taft. The race itself serves has a dual function, it is entertaining as well as a learning opportunity for everyone attending. These minor practices are what contribute to this Proudly American image and YES, at one point there was the illustrious chant of: USA, USA, USA!

So why is that Americans seemingly are not interested in sports such as cricket or rugby. Well that I am still figuring out. For now what I can say is that the purpose behind any sport is to build comradery and spirit and based on today's game that surely is achieved on the highest level.

On the 29^th of May we had a session with Helene Hoedl. It was a basic introduction to the inner working of the UN as well as a little on how the UN was formulated.

I was extremely thankful for the information provided by Helene on the UN, but what she left us with was a tad bit more than and just some background knowledge. When you meet someone who is inspired by their work and believes in their ability to create change their words seemingly are more weighted and when they speak it is with fervor and passion.

The underlying message I received from meeting Helene was one of hope. The existence of a global community where the purpose is for the betterment of human kind is essentially what the UN provides us with. Our judgment as separate states can so easily be clouded by our own endeavors, we measure our success by how our well our economy thrives and not whether our people are content and joyful in their lives. We seem to connect the wealth of a country to the happiness of a nation. The point I am trying to make is that the existence of a body that wants to see a world of solidarity that transcends the borders of land, is a body that we should all subscribe to and support.

The second portion of our session with NSL and WIP, on the 20^th of June 2014 involved the resolution of a conflict of interest between two different fictional nations. The entire scenario was fabricated to illustrate some of the issues facing many of the countries today. Each person received a character which they would need to play and in so doing achieve certain goals for there people, whilst resolving a conflict. The role of the UN in the dispute was to mediate the negotiations and come to a resolution. However before we could even begin to discuss the issues on the table, the role played by the antagonist of the situation, demanded that the UN play no part in the discussion and he advocated that the UN leave the room. This I think caught everyone by surprise. We spent about 20 minutes deliberating on how to get the UN involved or not. We see this exact situation time and time again with many of the leaders around the world not wanting the global community to get involved. One such instance was recently seen in Uganada with the passing of the Anti-gay laws. President Museveni in an interview with CNN made it known that he wants no assistance or aid from parties outside of Uganda when it comes to legislation governing his own people.

Ironically when there is the need for outside assistance countries so easily then rely on the UN, WHO or WFP for help. I guess picking and choosing when the global community can get involved is the prerogative of the leaders of that country. I do however believe that all nations should be accountable to International standards. Whether that is truly achievable or not, only time will tell.

Peace and security for all with friendly relations between nations are at the core of the UN constitution indeed we saw this manifested in our hypothetical scenario. The UN played a massive role in bringing nations to the table and from there to mediate the problem. It was evident that the UN proved to be the most useful role player at the table.

We must therefore be cognizant of the transformation the UN can make when it gets involved. The UN’s existence provides me with comfort. I find comfort in knowing that there is such an organization and that its purpose is not for any one nation but for the global community.

Arriving only on Thursday(19th June), the first leadership session I was exposed to was the combined seminar with NSL and WIP, on the Friday (20th June). Paddy Meskill opened the session by playing us a song from The Poozies:

‘There’s another train there always is, maybe the next one is yours, get up and climb aboard’

I am sure a number of us when we first heard the words may have laughed a little. Part of the DC experience is getting lost and winding up on the wrong metro train or even missing the train you were suppose to get on to. But as the words say, there is another train coming.

There was one aspect spoken on that resonated with me through the session. It was on the purpose of ‘anxiety’. So often viewed in a negative light, anxiety was presented in way that it can be of use to us as leaders. They key however is in balance. Too much anxiety will lead to that feeling of being overwhelmed. Too little anxiety will lead to a feeling of being too comfortable and settling into a state of complacency. Keeping the right amount of anxiety or staying in the zone of optimum anxiety assists in ensuring that a task is done with excellence and inhibits mediocrity. Creating this balance will certainly take time and personally getting overwhelmed is an area that I will need to work on.

The metaphor of a train seemed to have carried through the session, with reference to identifying the cross roads in our lives. We were requested to pair up in groups of three, and required to share what these cross roads were. What was most intriguing about the exercise is that for so many of us, who are said to be the change agents of the future there seems to be a great level of uncertainty in where exactly we are doing. For me personally my experiences through SAWIP have me a bit unsure of which train I want to get onto. After listening to the other students I felt at ease, in a sense that knowing I am not the only one staring at the map and still deciding where is it I am going. My issue is not about what I want to do but more about where will I be best effective to cause transformation within my society.

I foresee a second part to this blog but as I reflect today, maybe the idea is not to only get on one train in life. Making stops and altering direction is perhaps part of the journey and well at least I have the certainty in knowing that there is another train coming and it could possibly be mine.

It has been a crazy week, one minute I am preparing for an Insolvency Law exam, the next I am back at home packing and preparing, and before I knew it I was on a flight to Washington DC.

With all the running around and trying to get everything done on time the feeling of excitement had not set in. All the family and friends who asked me, whether I was excited or not, may have received a rather bland response. With everything happening so fast you almost don’t have time to feel anything. It was only until all the bags were checked in and all the family had left the airport did it all set in. The day had finally arrived and I was off to begin my journey in the United States of America.

This was my first time flying out of South Africa and with that in mind I tried to get as many tips about international flying as possible. Some proved to be useful and others not as much. I also received a few warnings about International flying which somehow did not seem to affect me in any way.

This is my top 5 helpful hints for a long haul flight:

1. 1. Pack a mini-toiletries bag

· What you chose to put in this bag is really up to you but as long as you have your tooth brush, tooth paste and your antiperspirant deodorant you are good to go.

2. 2. Buy a pair of flight socks

· The whole idea behind wearing these socks is to prevent your feet from swelling. When I first heard this I could not help but laugh. The thought of walking off the plane needing a different shoe size, got me chuckling quite a bit. This proved to be one of these international flight myths and my feet had not grown in any way whilst crossing the Atlantic. I am sure it would affect each individual differently and the blood circulation within your lower-limbs would most likely be the determining factor in all of this.

3. 3. Wear comfortable clothes when flying

· Flying for well over 24 hours and being in the same set of clothes can be very uncomfortable. Track pants and a hoody is what I wore for the flight, the only thing more comfortable than that would be a ‘onezie’ but probably not the most appropriate gear.

4. 4. Adapt your sleeping pattern to the time-zone you are in

· The biggest warning I got had to do with jet-leg. To solve this dilemma I slept within the DC time zone. This allowed my sleeping pattern some time to adjust. ‘Jet-Lag’ was another Myth that I found about international flying. My sleeping techniques may have helped me somewhat but I certainly have had no problem with falling asleep.

5. 5. Sleeping aids

· Sleeping on the plane can prove to be difficult and awkward. Something that proved to be of great help was a neck pillow which helps to prevent spasms in your neck. It was also suggested to me to try taking some Melatonin. Melatonin is a drug that regulates your sleeping pattern and although I did not get a chance to purchase some from the pharmacy it’s something I will look at getting for the future.

I hope these hints are of use to you as they certainly assisted me on my first International Flight.

Apart from being the greatest sport in the world, completely subjective view from my side, the game of soccer has provided us with much more than just entertainment.

The soccer world cup provides the easiest conversation starter for just about anyone. One fact that Nic Wolpe (CEO of Liliesleaf) shared with us was that suicide rates drop by around 50 percent worldwide when the soccer world cup is on. The reason for this is that no matter who you are or what you do for a living, everyone has some common ground. Everyone from the security guard at the mall, the school learner, or the Professor of Environmental science, has something to share about the sport. For a moment we forget about our issues, problems or tasks to be completed and we engage passionately with someone we may not know much about. In that moment something special happens. We do not view that person based on their skin colour, their religious view or their political affiliations but simply as a human being.

Nelson Mandela said at the first Laureus World Sport Awards that “Sport has the power to change the world…it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

We as South Africans all seem to have this feeling of nostalgia about the soccer world cup. A memorable time for us as a nation and whilst there may be a lot of unanswered questions from broken promises from made by the government and FIFA, one thing is certain, and that is the people of South Africa all united in our roles to send a message to the world. A message that we as a nation are capable of great things.

This past week has been a relatively relaxed one. The month of May has presented many challenges in the areas of: academics, time-management and well just keeping my sanity. Retrospectively, my thoughts are how did I get through it all and well this led me to the topic for this week’s blog. Gratitude.

I cannot say that being able to manage all that was on my plate was easy and often digesting everything proved to be a mammoth of a task. With the assistance of many others I seemed to have been able to consume all the different foods presented and I can assure you that I enjoyed every bite.

‘Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, but the parent of all others’ Marcus Tullius Cicero

It’s an unusual phenomenon, that we only give thanks or show our gratitude once a task or goal has been accomplished. Perhaps while we are caught up ‘DOING’ we do not notice who is giving us a helping hand. I always wonder about the authenticity of graduation or final ceremony speeches. Is there really an element of gratefulness or is it protocol to make sure a few names are mentioned.

This past week we had our SAWIP Alumni and Board dinner. It was an amazing evening and I did not even get a chance to meet with all the prolific guests who attended the function. My mind still wonders what I could have learnt from the conversations I did not have. When the night ended I think we all walked out with smiles and had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.

I have been blessed with so much thus far and having the opportunity to be a part of a program of this nature where the people involved are putting their time, money and energy just for you to go out there and achieve, astounds me. Brian opened the evening with a few words to the guests and of course giving a brief intro about SAWIP and its vision. He concluded by explaining to everyone that tonight was really about us, being able to work on our networking skills.

I was reminded by Sally to employ the three principles given by Nigel Bailey for driving conversation: Elicit, Express and Build. How fortunate were we to purely have an evening to work on a technique of this nature. As I write this I get what Charmaine Jacobs (Chairperson of Toastmasters) would call ‘Goosebumps.’ (Hoendervleis, for my Afrikaans brothers and sisters out there).

Getting through what was a grueling and rigorous month I surely needed to rely on many people. Banele has proven to be someone that seems to just do it all. Another moment of gratitude arose when she drove all the way from Johannesburg to Pretoria for a checkpoint. Simply to see how I am doing and how the program is going thus far. Yes, I am fully aware that these sorts of meetings are necessary but what makes the difference is the willingness by those in management to do them. I must also add that having the Dinner at Brian and Sally’s home added an extra touch of magic to the evening. It probably has something to do with Indian culture. We really enjoy having guests over and when you are invited to someone else’s home it is a sign that you have made it passed the awkward acquaintance phase.

Oh I cannot forget to send a big shout out and thank you to Brand SA for their awesome gift bags and the message which they left us with: ‘Play your Part’ such a great initiative from their side. My final thank you goes to everyone who has contributed to my Fundraising; you all have been a true blessing. Your financial contribution is no doubt important but your belief in me as a young leader is what I am most grateful for.

As we enter the final stages of preparation and with exam stress looming in the air I want to wish everyone all the best. To our CT counterparts, Good luck and God speed we shall see you in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

A few weeks back we visited a number of historical and memorial sites in the Johannesburg area. The superlative of the day in my opinion had to be, Liliesleaf farm. The residence of one: ‘David Motsamayi’ AKA Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. Liliesleaf was a safe house for many of the liberation movement leaders but ironically this safe house proved to be the Jackpot, for the government, leading to their incarceration.

The following week we were honoured by having a session with Nic Wolpe. He is the Chief Executive of Liliesleaf farm. Nic has a deep-seated passion for history and its preservation in monumental sites but more importantly in the minds and hearts of the people of South Africa.

He described Liliesleaf as: ‘a link to our past, a bridge to the present and our connection to the future’

From the start of the session it was apparent that Nic views history as being marginalized in our society. I certainly saw evidence of this, as on numerous occasions I found myself explaining to people what Liliesleaf is. Nic’s views are certainly veracious ones.

Our discussion eventually led us to the lack of awareness of many of the White characters that played major roles during Apartheid. For those that were persecuted the choice was relatively simple. To go against the system would be the logical thing to do. For the White men and women that took a stand it came with exclusion, rejection and persecution from their own communities. These repercussions were, willingly chosen by these people. Their moral convictions were so great that they saw no alternative but to turn against their own race and fight the system. But who are these heroes? Their names and their effect on South Africa have become all but a footnote in our history.

‘... and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love’ Nelson Mandela

In a post-apartheid era I think we would need to tweak the words a little by saying: ‘and if WE can learn to hate, WE can be taught to love’ I am of the firm belief that as non-whites we also have much to learn when it comes to love. Love displayed by the White man would be seen as acceptance and acknowledgement of the Black man. Love from the Black man would be seen demonstrated as forgiveness.

I would implore us to realize this ideal through the education of history in our schools. I would suggest that an avenue in achieving reconciliation is by teaching that there were both Black and White men fighting for equality, humanity and freedom in our land. Figures such as: Beyers Naude, Braam Fischer, Molly Fischer, Denis Goldberg and Lionel Bernstein need to be included in our history syllabus. By learning about these heroes we become cognizant of the fact that the struggle did also involve White men and women and we come to the realization that their actions enabled many of our Black heroes in their quest for a democratic South Africa.

So if you are reading this because you thought to yourself who is this random Indian guy wearing a flat cap claiming to be the Madiba of tomorrow? Well then my blogging technique seemed to have worked. Unfortunately this blog is not about me emulating the great man but rather about the legacy of a leader.

Okay how does that tie in then with the title? Well for quite some time I have found myself wondering about the leaders we have seen after the Madiba era. Not just the subsequent presidents but really the totality of political leaders. Obviously we cannot help but draw stark comparisons between the current leaders within the ruling party and those of the previous regime.

What really got my mind thinking about the legacy of a leader was a short conversation that I had, at the local Engine garage, with my previous House Father, Dr. Brett Hurley. He said something very profound, I cannot recall his exact words but it was something along the lines of: you can identify a great leader not by what he has done whilst in his position but rather how the system or structure continues when he has left.

All too often as leaders we get caught up making a change that is very immediate and have many short term goals, especially when our leadership position has a date of prescription. Do we actually think beyond our terms of office?

At this point I would like to throw in a few political heavy weights: Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela have been attributed with playing significant roles in forging our democracy and rightly so. Then with such influential leaders of the past, why do we have leaders of today that are anything but comparable. Where has it gone wrong?

General public will say that the current leaders are simply not good enough and while I find it hard to disagree with this, I also cannot say they are the only ones accountable. After having my mind wrought with this topic I stumbled upon an amazing article by Vusi Kweyama, entitled: Significance of Historical Figures: Number one leadership example.

In short the article is about the significance of mentoring the leaders that will succeed you. Being a devote Christian I am well aware of the principles of: Discipleship or as the author says ‘mentorship’. The article challenged me on many grounds as I thought to myself that whilst I am certainly empowering myself with many of my daily activities, am I empowering others. Do I simply mean setting an example or being a role model for others? NO. I mean investing my time into younger future leaders around me.

The legacy of a leader is not just about generating structures that will prove to benefit an institution in the years to come but more about developing those that will fulfil the gap you leave behind.

It has been a phenomenal journey thus far with SAWIP and we have had the opportunity to be influenced by so many great minds. My challenge then to all of us would be: to not keep our experiences to ourselves but raise up the leaders we see among us. Impact their lives by being a mentor. Walking with them; teaching them; and advising them so that they may also be a part of the next generation of leaders.

I may not be the Mandela of tomorrow but perhaps, I can play a role by inspiring someone who just might be.

I always thought these two words were synonymous. In fact I was not wrong; well at least according to the few dictionaries I checked in. The Oxford; Merriam-Webster online; as well as the Cambridge online dictionary all site the word racialism to be synonymous with racism.

This past Wednesday (23/04) we had a session with Brian Currin on the Constitution. It was more of an open discussion where we chatted about a few general topics that included: The supremacy of The Constitution; Rule of Law and touched on the Preamble, but what stuck with me through the week was the word racialism. I think partly why I contemplated this so deeply is because my grandfather tends to use it instead of racism.

We were led to this engagement by looking at Section (1)(b) of the Constitution which states :

The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values: non-racialism and non-sexism. Brian posed the question to us, as to what we thought the difference was between the words ‘non-racialism’ and ‘non-racism’.

This then is my understanding from the discourse. Racism is exactly what we know it to be, discrimination of another race due to a belief that one race is superior to another or that there is hierarchical differences among race groups that is a determinant in various achievements.

Racialism would then be a belief in the existence and significance of race. Racialists would believe that racial superiority does not exist. In essence a Racist could then be a Racialist but not the other way around.

So let’s put this into an everyday context and relate it to dating. About a month or so ago I tweeted this: ‘I wonder, is thinking that it is a social norm to date solely within your own race, not a narrow form of racism’. In retrospect this then would be racialism. I am reminded of a comment that a friend of mine, Mr X, made a few years back. A few of the guys from my first year in residence came back to visit and it was great to see them all. I inquired about a mutual friend that was not present to which Mr X replied that he has become something of a ladies’ man, hooking up with a number of girls. He then said, ‘No offence Erwyn, but he even hooked up with an Indian girl’ It was one of those moments where you stand back and think to yourself is this the society we live in. The point I am making is he would consider himself not a racist but a racialist. But I beg to differ, and perhaps this is why the distinction should not be made.

The purpose then of the legislator to use ‘non-racialism’ as explained by Brian is maybe an ideal that our society should strive towards. We as South-Africans that claim to be the Rainbow Nation should not even acknowledge the differences of race within our society. This is a great endeavor and one that may not seem achievable in my generation but to fully realize a society void of the barrier of race this ultimately would be an ideal that South-Africa must see through.

We have all heard the clichéd phrase, don’t judge a book by its cover, and I have also heard countless of people saying the complete opposite, ‘I never judge a person, until I get to know them’. But the notion of getting to know every person you come into contact with before forming an opinion, seems highly improbable to me. And even if we are too afraid to admit it we all make some hefty judgements on those around us based on a first impression. Whether that impression lasts or not only time will tell. This weekend marked the first encounter of the CT members meeting their UP compatriots and as much as there was excitement about the session on Balanced-Leadership, there also was a sense of anticipation. I found myself identifying the differences as well as the similarities in those sitting amongst me. I had a thought about the online application, and remember somewhere reading that SAWIP as an organisation identifies a very diverse group of individuals who include those that are extroverts and those that are introverts. So I began my hunt for who I would consider as outspoken and those I would consider as more reserved. As the session continued it was intriguing to see the dynamics within one group. It was also interesting to see whether there was a level of openness and sincerity between the members or whether people still felt the need to assert themselves and their position on the team. Somewhere through the session I completely forgot about who exactly was around me and truly immersed myself in the seminar given by Nigel Bailey. When chatting to Kim Williams (program manager), over what was a great meal (Thank you to the Calvers for hosting us), I expressed that the practical methods given on how I can personally tackle areas of weaknesses in my leadership ability were invaluable. What I was most challenged by, when reflecting on the session, is to be able to keep my composure in situations where I am stretched beyond my limits and out of my comfort zone. Coming back to the title, do first impressions count, well certainly, but all too often we think we have a person figured out and then, bam, they surprise you. It is without a doubt that these “surprises” are something that I am looking forward to.