Leadership hurts…
The book by David Welsh, The Rise and Fall of the Apartheid, is a book about how black South African’s fought and gained a democratic voice from the elite ruling class of white Afrikaners.[1] Welsh’s work was published at the same time I was living in Botswana, a country known for its bushmen tribes, diamond mines, and HIV/AIDS. This book really impacts me on several levels because I knew and served with people from both sides who survived the Apartheid. They endured segregation, violence, and social injustices and witnessed the creation of a new democratic normal where people of all races, classes, and cultures took the first steps to live, work, and heal together after a half-century of oligarchic control.[2] During my Welsh review I discovered three areas of interest that connect me to the supernatural aspects of global leadership and the need for Christian leaders to successfully defend against the forces of evil. The Apartheid was a living example, on a national scale, of the far-reaching impact of spiritual warfare. I picked the following areas because they connect to my ministry purpose of sharing and showing new leaders how to become effective and victorious when they are wearing Jesus Christ as the armor. Racial segregation, key legislative acts, and servant leadership during the Apartheid are the focus of this post.
First, I was not surprised, but saddened to read that mid-20th Century South African theologians promoted racial segregation. Welsh reports that they had a “belief that the natural, God-given condition of humankind was its division into ‘nations’ with differing cultures, which should be kept apart.”[3] I believe this is an excellent example of how Satan’s forces of darkness gained a foothold on a few well-meaning theologians. The result, like in so many cases of spiritual warfare, was division, disunity, and discrimination. A mission colleague and friend who served with Flying Mission in the Care Ministry grew up in South Africa.[4] She told me that during the 70’s and 80’s it was very difficult for her family due to Group Areas Act of 1950, which was “designed to eliminate friction between the races.”[5] While the Group Act was mainly focused on the discrimination and segregation of Indians, it had a significant impact on blacks, whites, and “coloured” families.[6] Also, another legislative act called “racial zoning” changed the cultural demographics and “reconfigured” many towns and cities in South Africa, which resulted in increased human suffering, poverty, poor housing, and unemployment.
Second, there were several key legislative acts that influenced the Apartheid era of 1948-1994 that I believe are the direct result of a spiritual assault against the well-intentioned theologians who were unprepared to defend against Satan’s schemes.[7] Within a few short years after the Afrikaners took power they made the following legislative changes: race registration, segregated living areas, prohibition against mixed marriages, outlawed “sexual intercourse between races,” removed voting privileges, and changed educational standards.[8] The Group Areas Act forcing segregated living continues to impact the people of South Africa and the surrounding countries some 15 years after the end of Apartheid. For illustration, my wife and I moved into a neighborhood on the outskirts of Gaborone, Botswana in 2009. We were the only lekgowa’s, white people, in the entire area. At first it was very uncomfortable, even though we were missionaries to their country, to feel secure and welcomed. We discovered that most of the residents feared that we were Afrikaners and would continue to follow the Apartheid ways, but after they learned we were Westerners, they welcomed us into their hearts and homes as part of their tribe. We learned give Setswana specific gestures, non-verbal greetings, and body language ques to quickly convey our Western culture and relieve the stress of the indigenous nationals who still fear the negative aspects of the cross-border Apartheid movement.
Third, I think there were some outstanding servant leadership actions and sacrifices that helped unite and guide South Africa towards a negotiated end of the decades of formalized and legislated racism. Two leaders, F. W. de Kelerk and Nelson Mandela, from opposing sides of the Apartheid problem, displayed remarkable courage and leadership to help “transition from white domination to inclusive democracy” according to the Africa News Service.[9] For instance, Mandela publicly framed the joint resolution when he stated, “The leadership has grasped the principle that they are the servants of the people.”[10] Mandela described de Klerk as a “strong, cautious but flexible man who is prepared to adapt to new ideas and to meet new challenges.”[11] De Klerk said Mandela “was every inch a Tembu patriarch and bore the mantle of authority with the ese of those who are not troubled by self-doubt.”[12] Both men were iconic, tested by the firestorm of racism and hate, and yet they displayed themselves as leaders who were both strong, respectable, and self-confident, but also cautious, flexible, and adaptable.
In conclusion, I appreciate and respect Welsh’s scholarly review of South Africa’s struggle to overcome racism. Yes, I experienced some of the aftermath of the racial tensions and carryover between those who migrated from South Africa to Botswana. However, it was not until I reviewed Welsh’s work that I really began to connect with the deep personal scarring and cultural hemorrhaging that the South African people endured during the Apartheid. I am without words for their suffering, but desperately thankful and comforted that God’s grace and love can heal their hearts and bind all their wounds (Ps. 147:3). As a new student with LGP8 I believe we have a lot to learn in Cape Town.
[1] David Welsh. The Rise and Fall of Apartheid. (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009) 4.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid., 22.
[4] S. Molodi, Flying Mission, (Gaborone, Botswana, 2009) Retrieved from: http://flyingmission.org/fmcintro.php
[5] Welsh, Apartheid, 56.
[6] Ibid., 57.
[7] David Brokensha. “David Welsh. The Rise and Fall of Apartheid.” Journal of International and Global Studies 2, no. 1 (2010): 146.
[8] Ibid., 146.
[9] “The Rise and Fall of Apartheid by David Welsh.” Africa News Service. Nov. 19, 2010.
[10] Welsh, Apartheid, 355.
[11] Ibid., 336.
[12] Ibid.
About the Author
Mike
6 responses to “Leadership hurts…”
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Once again, your personal experience in Africa is very enlightening to what really happened as a result of the apartheid. I appreciated your personal reflections and heartfelt words in your response to Welsh’s book and I completely agree with your statement …”However, it was not until I reviewed Welsh’s work that I really began to connect with the deep personal scarring and cultural hemorrhaging that the South African people endured during the Apartheid.” Powerful post, see you next week!
Thank you for sharing your personal experience from Botswana. How incredible and challenging at the same time on a number of levels. I have wondered of late how long it has taken to reintegrate, and to what level people are working to do so still with Apartheid becoming a whole generation of people ago. I am very interested to see what still exists and what is being actively removed.
I also appreciate that you note the spiritual warfare and servant leadership aspects as teaching points for new leaders. Though Welsh does not focus on Christian themes, there are multiple available in the transformation of Mandela, the harsh effects of sin and the need for restoration.
What are you expecting from Cape Town? Are there any particular aspects you are looking forward to that relate to your teaching?
I will be a sponge, and soak up as much culture, academics, and relationships as my small brain can absorb. It will be interesting to see how much of the real impact of the Apartheid we will see as a group. In my experiences, it was not until we were on the small group or one-on-one level that we really got personal enough to develop transparent relationships with other cultures. When we are out on our tours I will be watching the local’s reactions; not only toward our touristy group, but how they treat each other and interact between themselves. I suspect we will see the lingering effects of racism in many forms and contexts.
Wow, Botswana! I am so clueless I had to go look at a map. That is why I am so looking forward to this cohort–the breadth of experience globally.
This statement of yours brings me to my knees, “First, I was not surprised, but saddened to read that mid-20th Century South African theologians promoted racial segregation.” Forgive us Lord Jesus.
See you across the oceans…
I loved the discussion of your time in Botswana. The idea of the indigenous people still being afraid of cross border apartheid so long after its fall broke my heart. Usually as Americans going into other countries we are warned not to act to western because of how it offends other cultures, but to see the westernisms actually helping to ease was interesting.
Thanks for your post.
Jason
Mike,
Your global experience brings such a great perspective to your thoughts and posts. Having lived in a community where you were the minority is a great cultural experience. You speak of it only briefly – I’m curious to know if you were simply avoided or were you targeted as a potential “enemy”?
The other powerful statement you made that resonated with me was: “the deep personal scarring and cultural hemorrhaging that the South African people endured”. I think it’s a beautiful way of trying to capture the horror of Apartheid…and I’m guessing the scars may actually be wounds trying to heal. See you soon!
Jean