30 Years after apartheid: Reflecting on South Africa's ongoing fight for democracy

This weekend marks the 30th anniversary since the fall of South African apartheid. Since then, the young democracy has struggled to find its footing as it grapples with apartheid’s legacy and the imprint of institutionalized racism. Ali Velshi, a child of South African Indians, vividly recalls the day anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990. In his new book ‘Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy,’ Velshi reflects on that day, writing: ‘The campaign for Mandela’s release had become a cause celebre around the world. It had also become the symbol that embodied the fate of the nation as a whole: South Africa would only be free when Mandela was free. And now, he was free.’
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#SouthAfrica #NelsonMandela #WorldNews

[@techhawk1543]

They said the same thing about the PROTESTS against Ap@rtheid South Africa & the Vietnam War on American College Campuses !

[@christopherjavens3438]

Commie

[@sherryobar5750]

Thank you for this video. What an incredible man! 🙏

[@BillBarr4President]

..and criminal

[@calvinndallas3289]

I had the exact same reaction of shock to seeing the aged Mandela walking to freedom. The 1962 image of Mandela had been so ingrained in our minds that it took a moment to absorb the new image of the old warrior, but as he smiled and waved the pain of injustice gave way to the hope for change.

[@peternduru202]

Thank you for this Velshi. Never let us tire of reminding the world about Mandela and SA.

[@lm_b5080]

did this dude seriously just find an opportunity to plug his book while speaking about mandela? bit narcissistic

[@0-Elias-0]

Ali Velshi always comes up with the best news pieces.

[@khalifbrown9900]

South Africa’s breathtaking beauty resonates with a rich tapestry of cultural diversity, yet it pains me to witness in going disenfranchisement based on the color of one’s skin. Let us envision a future where South Africa shines as a beacon of democracy. Where every individual is valued and empowered to thrive, regardless of their background. Together, let’s work towards a more inclusive and just society that embraces the full spectrum of human potential.

[@BillBarr4President]

It has become a absolute sh*thole of a country

[@NDARYBC]

trump act like he's poor and innocent and respected as a good man...no comparison to a Nelson...

[@MrDayna39]

Good commentary about South Africa, it's amazing how unjust and upside down the world was and still is in many places. At the moment a similar apartheid system is trying to be brutally enforced in Palestine.

[@matthewbaynham6286]

Now with the apartheid in Israel, it's South Africa who is standing up for the Palestinians in Gaza. And how can South Africa be declared the most unequal country in the world when you have North Korea, I'm guessing whoever judged that had their own biases that they wanted to impose.

[@smeekle2000]

You know it!

[@erickdavid2412]

there is no rich people in North Korea. They are all equal. Maybe google what equality means.

[@smeekle2000]

In every country there is massive inequality. Unless you are royalty or militarily aligned through nepotism- everyone is a pawn. Your president doesn't have to worry about groceries. Do you have to worry about groceries? Those who feed you, can control you- time to wake up, Erick and/or David!

[@urban_legend.]

That survey regarding South Africa being the most unequal country in the world ; they were meaning economically, the gap between the rich and the poor are of the highest in the world

[@matthewbaynham6286]

@@erickdavid2412 that's nonsense that guy Kim is not treated equal to anyone and neither are his friends and family

[@unitedwestand5205]

"my VP actually endorses me for president" - President Biden

[@thomasrogers9146]

I HAVE TRAVELED IN AFRICA AND IM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH THE FAILUE OF THE ANC. I WAS ALSO ENCOURAGED BY THE SUCESS OF PAUL KEGAME IN RWANDA. ITS ALL ABOUT LEADRSHIP.

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

Modern South Africa is a more robust democracy than the US, with a constitution that provides far more rights and protections for it's citizens, from voting rights to recognition of individual choices. Mandela helped South Africa to a good start as the first democratic president, but his selflessness also set the country back, when he opted out of a second term. That opened the door for corrupt opportunists and too many 'leaders; with no or poor essential skills, to step into that void and set the country back ever since. Had Mandela stayed on for a second term, the democracy would have been more mature and ready for him to hand the baton to the next generation ... instead the country began to be looted from within and from the outside by Russia and China.

[@user-db2tk3rr5i]

I strongly agree 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

@@twilight444m5 Read ALL of my comment, not just the first line.

[@smeekle2000]

@@twilight444m5 Crime is up everywhere. Poverty causes crime.

[@6Haunted-Days]

@@smeekle2000wrong again it’s MUCH MUCH more than crime by far…..come ON.

[@smeekle2000]

@@6Haunted-Days Explain.

[@daylight5500]

An update for you, Ali. The whites have not been in government since 1994. The self inflicted wounds have been the work of the majority elected party that has lost it's way. This party has recognized that it is corrupt but does not know how to find it's way back to the days of Mandela and Mbeki. One can only hope that they can. The people of South Africa deserve better.

[@techhawk1543]

"But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians". *- Nelson Mandela*

[@christopherjavens3438]

Jews matter more

[@kashmir6672]

You are just awesome, Mr. Velshi.

[@mamadoubarry6051]

well said brother velshi

[@smeekle2000]

Free Afrika!!!!

[@kdtennis1]

Latino Here ( Arizona Voter). I am happy tbe black majority took over the Parliament in 1994. The country has not had a European President since 1994. I think the country is 80% African,7% Coloured,4% Asian ( mostly from India) and 9% European South African 2024. Whites and Asians own large sectors of business in 2024!😮

[@user-zh8fu8lw3r]

Egyptian Arafat and Mandel are not the same.

[@lm_b5080]

did this dude seriously just find an opportunity to plug his book while speaking about mandela? bit narcissistic

[@24-Card]

Apartide is alive and well in Israel.

[@Spiral.Dynamics]

Free America from AIPAC.

[@user-zh8fu8lw3r]

Mandela and those Egyptian's calling themselves Palestine are not the same.

[@mikefobear589]

We need leaders like Nelson Mandela in America.

[@smeekle2000]

USA empire has fallen.

[@LB-hi6zc]

The South African dream has become a nightmare

[@mixedtraveler3585]

Not really

[@paulrowe9486]

I live in South Africa and I can tell you that you are right !

[@johannorman3067]

Thank you Ali. Great segment.

[@thomasdequincey5811]

Did Velshi have a point here? All I heard were platitudes.

[@user-wh9vy2fx8y]

Virtue Signals

[@koosdoos007]

Well said Ali. Now STOP selling the new NBC app at the end of each clip

[@izaakvn]

The rainbow nation has been lost... fighting a different apartheid. A New power struggle in the democratic Republic and our Mandela dream has diminished. The struggle continues...

[@annem.brammage712]

Well explained - thank you. “Cry my Beloved Country “.

[@cattuslavandula]

South Africa also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world.

[@0-Elias-0]

Where are you getting your crime statistics from?

[@psylentrage]

@@0-Elias-0 Statistics South-Africa. Look it up. But for even more context, under ANC rule (been for 30 years now, since the end of apartheid) we now in 2024 have >28K murders a year, 1/5 children go to bed without food, over 120 rapes/day meaning thousands each year, 80% of grade 5 students can't read for meaning, near daily electricity blackouts that started in 2007 costing the economy BILLIONS, state capture, corruption, 100s of denied farm murders, water shortages because of mismanagement and NOT drought, CHOLERA outbreak in 2023, children dying in PIT TOILETS (again this is 2023!), near 70% youth unemployment, etc. We are experiencing ALL the symptoms of being at war, yet we aren't in one.

[@sleuthjill7653]

Sadly, the stats are high but this I am afraid is the result of inequality, to boot with no catch net to aid the impoverished. While I do not condone crime, I fully appreciate why!! Decades of oppression, stunted education and zero government assistance have led to this dilemma. It will take a number of generations for equilibrium to be reached. My heart goes out to my fellow South Africans who have endured so much.i fought for justice and equality and proudly voted for Madiba’s release in the referendum.

[@psylentrage]

@@sleuthjill7653 Not from South-Africa are you? Under ANC rule (been for 30 years now) we now in 2024 have >28K murders a year, 1/5 children go to bed without food, over 120 rapes/day meaning thousands each year, 80% of grade 5 students can't read for meaning, near daily electricity blackouts that started in 2007 costing the economy BILLIONS, state capture, corruption, 100s of denied farm murders, water shortages because of mismanagement and NOT drought, CHOLERA outbreak in 2023, children dying in PIT TOILETS (again this is 2023!), near 70% youth unemployment, etc. We are experiencing ALL the symptoms of being at war, yet we aren't in one. Then inequality you speak of, ALSO the fault of the CURRENT government

[@psylentrage]

@@sleuthjill7653 Not from SA are you?

[@roscozone8092]

My 17 years in SA tell me that the dream of the rainbow nation remains sadly elusive…

[@JoellePretty]

Now Free Palestine

[@randomcertainty2079]

How's the crime rate and economy under the new "Democracy"?

[@paulrowe9486]

Crime is rocketing and no one seems to care ???

[@PatriciaPerez-kt7rp]

Scump "I am prepared to LIE."

[@erickdavid2412]

do you call the same political party in power for 30 years democracy?

[@vvevv88]

Give Ali Velshi the morning show. Joe and Mika are awful.

[@user-nm1ni1so4h]

Did he just assume my gender And race

[@lowboyyy]

it's crazy to think b! d n got arrested with him

[@stoopidpursun8140]

That was in Biden's wilder, younger days. He still had a lot of anger to work out after cannibals ate his uncle, after all.

[@jordyb57]

FREE ISRAEL 🇮🇱

[@paulrowe9486]

Give Israel back to the people who lived there for hundreds of years in peace THE PALESTINIANS !!!

[@AGoodJoe]

Wow, this Nelson guy is just like drumf. 😆😆😆

[@heemlo649]

I guess one small difference is Trump's wife didn't torture anyone to death.

[@arkadeyellow2931]

'I am prepared to die'. I'm sure Trump would say it too. But that's all he would do : say it.

[@paulrowe9486]

At his trial in 1961 he could have been hanged and he knew it when he said those words !

[@letsgorandall9848]

Uncle Fester, it is peaceful protest

[@commonsense504]

It's now an advanced peaceful society and nearing a utopia on earth, right?

[@LittleBigMediaCo]

Nowhere is a peaceful society nearing Utopia on earth ... but at least it's a country with equal opportunity and a world leading constitution that has more citizen rights enshrined in it than anywhere else.

[@commonsense504]

​@@LittleBigMediaCoas long as your not white.

[@commonsense504]

​@@LittleBigMediaCo 🤣😂🤣😂 👌🤡

[@paulrowe9486]

@@LittleBigMediaCo You write SUCH GARBAGE !!!!! What use is the constitution for people who have nothing to eat ???????????????????

[@homoblogicus7899]

Now everyone who is not black in SA are discriminated against because of their skin colour.

[@smeekle2000]

That's not true.

[@6Haunted-Days]

Yep they try to hide and LIE ABOUT it just watch some unbiased videos on it and the other videos people have in their phones. You’ll see some disgusting rampant racism and corruption. They’ve done WORSE not better

[@AmandaMack-ok1uv]

That's rich when Americans are currently in a campaign to generalize and terrorize every single person coming from South America, but are sitting here complaining about what's going on across the Atlantic Ocean.

[@paulrowe9486]

It is true ! White people are banned from having jobs in Government and Municipality and many other jobs Coloureds and Indians too ! We can only get jobs in small business's !

[@nevergetagooduserid]

A murderer hailed as a freedom fighter

[@smeekle2000]

You mean American presidents?

[@paulrowe9486]

His political organisation murdered people but Mandela only blew up electricity transformers and similar ! Why don't you read his book ," A Long Walk To Freedom" ??? You might learn something !

[@ginjjiigok364]

Mandela called Israel an apartheid state

[@user-wh9vy2fx8y]

And?

[@BillBarr4President]

who cares what he said

[@commonsense504]

And Mandela's wife murdered hundreds of innocent people by lighting them on fire. What's your point?

[@Laughandsong]

That was his brain failing.

[@jeffs9850]

Israel has caged millions of people. I’d call that something akin to apartheid. The fanatics will always cry that Israel is god’s chosen people. My problem isn’t with the people, it’s the murderous government leadership.

[@homoblogicus7899]

STOP LYING ALI. THERE IS NO LAND INEQUALITY.

[@rukiddingmeNJ]

How is this relevant to your America? It’s not. This is gaslighting.

[@mikeymill9120]

Gaslighting? 😂😂 Thanks for the laugh!

[@rukiddingmeNJ]

@@mikeymill9120 Merriam-Webster : psychological manipulation of a person usually over an extended period of time that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories and typically leads to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, uncertainty of one's emotional or mental stability, and a dependency on the perpetrator Gaslighting can be a very effective tool for the abuser to control an individual. It's done slowly so the victim writes off the event as a one off or oddity and doesn't realize they are being controlled and manipulated.

[@mikeymill9120]

@@rukiddingmeNJ Congratulations, You can copy and paste. You claim this video is gaslighting but supply no evidence.

[@rukiddingmeNJ]

@@mikeymill9120 Yea.. I know. You totally missed the point. Done with you.

[@mphmph1198]

Don't forget that trump is today's Nelson Mandela. JFC!

[@MyKidsLoveDragQueens]

How fabulous if he spends as many years in prison....

[@velanganirichmanmajola4062]

As a South African, I find this very insulting 😡. You can't compare Trump to a freedom fighter and human rights activist. You can't be serious 😮

[@MyKidsLoveDragQueens]

​@@velanganirichmanmajola4062Trump compared himself to Mandela....

[@winstonsmith6607]

@@velanganirichmanmajola4062 JFC stands for jezus effing krist. He was being satirical. Although, I have no doubt that Biden at one point tried to take credit for ending the apartheid.

[@mphmph1198]

@@velanganirichmanmajola4062 It's called sarcasm.

[@user-fx4wu6oj1g]

Thanks MSDNC for helping get TRUMP Re-elected

[@Crash1025Bandicoot7]

Trump 2024 Save America 🇺🇸 - secure borders - strong economy - strong military - pro 1st and 2nd amendment - pro bill of rights - pro small business - pro democracy - pro America First - pro equality - pro world peace - helps our veterans - low inflation and interest rates for all Americans - supports poor and middle class Americans for success Tell your friends and family.

[@Alexthomas-hd4xj]

Have you hit your head

[@krisbaker9427]

GOP 🤮

[@MyKidsLoveDragQueens]

We have the lowest crime rate in five decades, and the economy is fantastic!👄

[@xtbum3339]

😂😂😂