A man walks to a public viewing point near the burial ground of late former South African President Nelson Mandela ahead of his funeral in Qunu. I’m Serge Kasanda, 27 years of age, from Democratic Republic of Congo.
I might not be well educated due to my poor English structured sentences, I might not have a profound political understanding, But as an African young man, I just want to express myself and plead with the media to voice my sadness to our African leaders for not embracing the legacy of our African freedom fighters As a non-South African citizen, I choose not to celebrate Tata Mandela’s death, but to pay my last respect and reflect the life of the truest patriotic leader of all time that admired and cherished.

It can be so untrue of me to say I’m celebrating the life of this extraordinary human being who stood for democracy, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness at the stake of his own life for others, while in reality, this is not what I’m experiencing in my own country and the rest of Africa.

The truth is, this celebration belongs to South Africans citizen because in reality, this is what they have achieved and they have every right to be proud of themselves. I wish Tata Mandela’s spirit was born in every African leader!

My message to our African leaders is this: It’s so naive of them to stand on the podium and give an emotional yet hypocritical speech about this great man, the son of the soil, the leader who put his own people first, because they cannot in anywhere reflect his values and his leadership principals. With all due respect, they should go home instead and reflect in his life and change for the better Africa.

I left my home country to come here not by choice but for fear and hopelessness of not realising my dreams in a country of autocracy and selfish leadership. But being 8 yrs in South Africa, and still holding an asylum seeker permit, my hope for the future is uncertain.

As one of millions foreigners living in this country, I choose not to blame South Africans for the challenges we face, but to constantly put my deepest sorrows on our respective African leaders who have failed us for years.

I’m crying out to our African leaders, to emulate Tata Mandela’s values and principals, so that we, as African young people can unleash our potential in our own respective countries.

To all South Africans, God has blessed your country through Tata Mandela, and you must all be proud of this gift. I think the best way to honor him, is to keep his spirit alive.

I salute you Tata! You are my hero for life! May your soul be at peace in the heavenly place!