One man’s reconciliation is another’s opportunity for redress

By Alec Hogg

The wise ones tell us not to judge until we have walked a thousand steps in another’s shoes. It would help if we could just understand each other’s language better.

Yesterday, South Africa’s President delivered an impassioned speech at Ncome, the site of the Battle of Blood River. As he correctly explained, for one group of Africans it was a disastrous setback. For another, such an improbable victory that for the past 176 years they celebrated it as The Day of the Covenant to the God of their understanding.

Jacob Zuma, a descendant of those defeated on that 16th December, unveiled the Reconciliation Bridge at the site. He drew on the words of a Presidential predecessor, Nelson Mandela, who urged reconciliation. Then added his own interpretation, a view that “reconciliation and redress are two sides of the same coin.” Hau, Baba.

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