With the passing of Walter Sisulu the world lost one of the great pillars of social justice and human rights. The first political mentor of Nelson Mandela and his closest confidant died last week in Johannesburg at the age of 90. For those close to the anti-Apartheid struggle, it is difficult to speak about the accomplishments of Mr. Mandela without also speaking of Mr. Sisulu.
Since 1941 these two men had struggled together, were imprisoned together, and participated in the destruction of Apartheid together, but his greatest contribution may have been his understanding that Nelson Mandela was the right person for the job. From the time Mr. Sisulu joined the battle against Apartheid in 1940 until his retirement as Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1994, Sisulu worked tirelessly for a just society. It was Mr. Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and others who are credited in forming the African National Congress’ Youth League in 1944, which rejuvenated the organization’s struggle against apartheid.
In 1960, the white South African government introduced various laws designed to keep the races separate. During that same year, in response to a demonstration organized by the ANC to protest these unjust laws, the government arrested 18,000 protestors and banned the ANC, leading the anti-Apartheid movement to go underground. The need to become an underground movement led the leadership to simultaneously conclude that the only way to gain independence would be through military action.
It is at this juncture of history that three important developments took place. First, on November 11, 1961 the ANC established Umkhonto We Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), as its military wing. Second, Mr. Sisulu was chosen to head Umkhonto. Third, the white South African Government received enhanced surveillance support from our own Untied States of America and the Israeli Mossad. Less than two years after the formation of Umkhonto, Mr. Sisulu, Mr. Mandela and 18 others were arrested and charged with plotting to overthrow the illegal and immoral South African Apartheid government. This resulted in the world-famous Rivonia Trial in which 8 of the accused including Mr. Sisulu and Mr. Mandela were convicted and sentenced to life in prison. They served their sentences at Robben Island prison, now a major tourist attraction and a lasting reminder of the injustices committed under Apartheid.
As the New York Time’s wrote in it obituary, Mr. Sisulu’s political career was less celebrated than Mr. Mandela’s, but no less remarkable. Though Mr. Sisulu served 26 years in prison unjustly, like Mr. Mandela, he never wavered from his commitment to peace and reconciliation. Seldom has world witnessed such focus to a cause and the complete knowledge and command of one’s own abilities. Strangely, the world stage is created in such a way that in many respects it is easier to be Nelson Mandela than Walter Sisulu. Mr. Mandela is the one world knows as the face of liberation in South Africa, but without Mr. Sisulu it is doubtful the world would know that face in the way that it does. The greatness of an individual is seldom achieved without an equally talented individual willing to circumvent the lure of their own personal ambition to reach a greater cause.
This may very well be Mr. Sisulu’s greatest contribution to the world stage, the gift of Nelson Mandela. Without the unwavering commitment to a cause to which he gave nearly 60 years of his life, it would be difficult to imagine an individual mentoring someone for a place that they could have assumed for themselves.
On his first encounter with Mandela, Mr. Sisulu recounted, “I had no hesitation, the moment, I met him, that this is the man I need!” According Sisulu, way back in 1941 he knew that Nelson Mandela was the man he needed “For leading the African people.” The global community continues to be inspired by what Mr. Sisulu saw in Nelson Mandela. Somewhere in the heavens the lion sleeps tonight. After 90 years the lion deserves to get some rest. Rest well; you’ve earned it!