Critiquing the icon Nelson Mandela

The African dream of liberation has become a long nightmare. As Mandela turns 90, the country he helped found some 14 years ago is in a mighty mess.

Its hatred of black people has reached the apex with the mass slaughtering and displacement of black Africans (apparently a good 20 or more of the more than 60 dead are South Africans). Post-1994, has been much celebrated for the benefits it bestowed upon a few, silence has befallen the fate of the black majority, which has been bequeathed a bestial existence. Mandela's 85th birthday was a Coca Cola affair. The multinational corporation was given full rights to throw a party for our founding father. Coke milked his name dry, everything was branded, serviettes to programme - the whole affair was televised live. This forced a friend to remark that we need another "Free Nelson Mandela Campaign."