How
do we measure a life? Is it measured in minutes? In cups of coffee? In
sunsets and sunrises? Why is it that some people will dedicate their
lives to creating a greater good for others while other people can
be purely self serving?
Here
was a young man who at age seventeen decided that he was going to work
for the greater good. And he did. He lived in exile, trained with MK, he
served time in prison during apartheid and continued to serve South
Africa faithfully in our time where leadership is so often lacking.
After the emancipation of South Africa he was elected minister and had
remained a minister since. In 1998 he was responsible for establishing
the Roads Agency. At the time of his death he was serving as Minister in
the Presidency. He was known as a just and fair leader.
How
does one measure the value of a life? Is that value purely based on
what our nearest and dearest place on it? Is it purely out of need? Or
is there a greater picture for the altruistic soul? What legacy does
each of us leave? Is it business success? Raising thinking, responsible
and kind children? Perhaps we do something for our community? But what
if we don’t do any of those things? Is ours a life wasted?
I
remember attending the funeral of a family member who had also been in
politics, serving as mayor of Johannesburg in the 70’s and also worked
for the greater good serving alongside Helen Suzman. What astounded me
at this funeral were the vast number of people in attendance, all of
whom had a meaningful connection to the deceased. There were nurses who
he had assisted in their career development, there were ballet dancers
and theatre directors, businessmen and school teachers among the
mourners. Each had a story to tell about him and how he had helped them
profoundly. There were many, many people this individual had helped
through his life however he never spoke about what he was doing at the
time so the family were touched by these unfamiliar stories.
Somehow
I think the case may be so too with the late Minister Chabane. He seems
to have been a man who just got on with the job at hand. No bells. No
whistles. No frills.
Through
my work I have interviewed many South African politicians however,
selfishly, I wish I had met Minister Chabane. Somehow I think an
interview with the late Minister would have been special and I feel
deprived that I never got the chance to share him with my radio
audience.
My
thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and colleagues of
the Late Minister Chabane and his two guards who also died in the fatal
crash.
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