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If the civil unrest that unfolded in our country this week has shown us anything, it has shown us and the world that the concept of Ubuntu is not just a philosophy that we throw around as South Africans, but an entire energy that so many in our country embody, together. Ubuntu is as much about unity in times of struggle as it is in times of celebration.

As Nelson Mandela once expressed to journalist Tim Modise, “Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves. The question therefore is, are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you, and enable it to improve? These are important things in life. And if you can do that, you have done something very important.”

We have seen people from all over South Africa coming together to offer help to the members of our country in need during this time. Communities, individuals and businesses distributed over 40 000 loaves of bread. Airlines scheduled more flights to aid the impacted provinces. Volunteers provided all sorts of essentials from sanitary pads to baby food. Messages of love and support have flooded in from all over the rainbow nation, from Table Mountain to a former expat defending his country in an open letter to critical expats who said “I told you so.” Yes, Ubuntu is powerfully present right now.

Ubuntu as Nyaumwe & Mkabela (2007) note in their work Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems is “an African concept that refers to humaneness between people within a community.”

In light of the spirit of our country right now and the patriotism shown, we have added some powerful words from the Cape {town} Etc community, from former to current expats and locals still on SA soil on just how much we all love our country.

“We left in 1992 to work and stay in Bahrain, just after the Gulf war and we came back because we wanted to. I rather die at home than in a foreign country. SA has beautiful places and one can still have a good time even if you are poor…. The things in life that are the most important are the ones that money can’t buy.” 

“We left 3 times…every time to the USA and came back 3 times…Cape Town has a piece of my heart and will always have a piece of my heart. Our country is the most beautiful country and I pray we will get through this too…and that things will be better in the future. Every time I see Table Mountain or the Penguins or just take a drive next to the ocean…I thank God for the beauty we have in Cape Town and South Africa. We are blessed with such beauty, may we all find a way to enjoy our Amazing country in a peaceful way. I have hope…and hope matters.”

“I decided to leave my home country 6 years ago to come to live in SA and despite everything, so far, still believe I made the right choice!” –Marco Bruzzo

“Lived abroad too but here I am. You literally can walk alone at 2am but you die of loneliness. You seek out other South Africans just to belong again. Even the family you don’t get on with you miss. Nothing can erase the SA and Cape Town out of you, it’s deeply rooted within you. I’m a patriot and I won’t give up on my Country.”
“I don’t care a braai won’t be a braai if it’s not on South African soil, cold black labels while chilling on the warm south African summer afternoon, I’m sorry this [is] my home regardless…its what I want to know…the rest of the world is also in alot of nonsense at the moment but one thing we have that they don’t is spirit of ubuntu…thank you but I’m dying here thank you very much…I’m dying where oupa raised me, I’ll visit countries but I’m not leaving home behind.”
“I live in 1 of the epicenters of where this [civil unrest] started… We had explosions and gunshots from Sun nite until it abated on Tuesday afternoon. But the good I have witnessed, the incredible nature of the people on the ground is unparalleled. SA is not its infrastructure that a minority is trying to dismantle, it is the spirit of the majority that stands together, supports, protects, cracks a joke to keep up the spirit, cares, opens up and offers their homes, their food, and so many other amazing things I have witnessed over these past 2 days of rebuilding. It makes me more proud to be a South African than it makes me sad.”-Lamees Samodien

“Staying is [a] choice that we make, because we choose to invest ourselves in this country and commit to improving it. We don’t stay because we don’t know any better.“–Farzana Araie

“My family left SA in 1985, I have lived in a number of countries and none of them have had the amazing energy of SA, and none of them have truly felt like home. I love the feeling I get upon returning to SA – as soon as the plane tires hit the tarmac, I feel energized again (even after traveling for 40hrs). Yes, South Africa has many problems, but the people are resilient and know how to come together as a community in times of need. I hope to move back, one day very soon. Just need to find a job there! Stay strong my fellow South Africans!”–Tracy Relph

Indeed, Madiba, the rainbow nation has for the most part come together. The civil unrest has shown the fierce spirit of Ubuntu.

Picture: Unsplash

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