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ShareWith construction work in full swing for next year's soccer World Cup, the drive to Johannesburg's Apartheid Museum entails several detours (one past Nelson Mandela's current residence), but worth the effort nonetheless because the museum is a terrific ready reckoner to a sordid phase in human history.
That such a draconian political system could have been introduced in the middle of the 20th century, and at a period in world history when countries like India were achieving independence, is mind boggling. But then again, which stage in human evolution has been free of injustice, discrimination and violence?
Interestingly, the museum is located adjacent to a casino, though the driver accompanying me was emphatic that there were no political overtones in this. "This area has large open spaces, and the complex has come up wonderfully hasn't it?" he asked. It has. The architecture is stylishly modern, the lawns are well-manicured, dotted with waterbodies and exotic foliage.
Inside, the history of apartheid is traced graphically through photos, documents, soundtracks, short films and video clips. It takes a few hours at least to traverse through, at the end of which no one can surely remain unmoved by man's inhumanity to man.
The favourite section within the museum inevitably pertains to Mandela who remains this country's (if not the world's) most iconic figure. Proof of his appeal was evident from the number of young people who bustled around in this section. A young white couple seemed particularly enamoured, and wondered aloud how he kept himself so fit when in bondage.
I had some answers. Apart from a strong mind and commitment to the cause, Mandela would box against his own shadow and play football against himself in Robben Island. When he emerged from jail past age 70, he was not only strong of mind, but stood erect and fit for office.
Subsequently, Mandela is reported to have said that sports had the power "to change the world ... to inspire... to unite people." In a world bereft of statesmanship, these words are perhaps never more needed than now.
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But sports crazy South Africa currently rages and debates over the gender of Caster Semenya, the world women's 800 m champion. A leaked report that Semenya was a hermaphrodite because she had internal testes and no womb has raised the political temperature in the country -- still racially sensitive -- by several degrees, apart from sending the athletics world into turmoil.
From president Zuma downwards, South Africa rallied behind the beleaguered athlete, but at the subterranean level, there is anger and acrimony. On Friday, leading radio jockey Phat Joe, was summarily silenced for saying on air, "Let's say she has testes...Does it mean she is a man or woman? She is either a natural phenomenon, or something is wrong and something should be fixed.
The graver development, however, was Nedbank withdrawing its sponsorship to athletics. Julius Malema, ANC Youth League leader, is in no doubt that racism is at the root of the decision."The three medals that were won at the World Championships were by blacks,'' fumed Malema while addressing students at a university.
On the Semenya controversy, Malema was unequivocal. "In South Africa in the villages, we only have boys and girls...when a child is born, we open its legs and that is the sign we use.''
Wonder what counter the International Amateur Athletics Federation has to this..
