“El Nino”, Driemanskap Band Member:

I’m sure he would be proud. Because back in the day, you hardly found someone rapping in their own language. But as the time went by, people started discovering other methods and other ways of conveying the message. Which I believe was one of the things he was standing for.

Instead of going for the armed struggle, he said, “No, let’s have peace negotiations.” Of which he said and came through with a different method of resolution. Rather than like blood being spilled. So I think he would be proud. As long as the message is positive.”

But Digi Analogue wants to get a different point across.

“Digi Analogue”, Musician：
There are songs that we talk about that are about the conditions that we live in here, you know. For example you have a toilet outside, you have a bathroom outside, you have a different kind of conditions from uptown, you know, downtown is completely different.

Before we even come outside, if you take a shot of those cables that you see out there that is illegal electricity, you know, people who steal electricity so they can be able to cook water, boil water.

We have a beautiful city, we have a beautiful country you know. As the time goes, if only we could eliminate these problems, which is never going to be so easy because we are new in this democratic system you know, so its not over til its over”

We’re now heading towards an informal settlement in Guguletu. Dla hitches a ride.

“Dla”, Driemanskap Band Member：
Hey Rasta, everything nice? So we all live in the same street, you know. He and the other band members share a close bond with this place, this society.

“Dla”, Driemanskap Band Member：
I grew up in Gugulethu, ne. NY 7 number 28 and Ma-B lives at NY 7 number 23. So his house is directly opposite to mine, you know? So we grew up together and we’ve been friends.

This is an informal settlement. Its called Barcelona. People who live here are the people who are fortunate enough to afford houses.

“Ma-B”, Driemanskap Band Member:
“So these are the conditions that some people live under. Which are not so good, as you can see yourself. So people struggle here, some survive here, know what I mean, some kill themselves here because of poverty. This is the place of the forgotten people.”

Clearly, a large section of South Africa has still to benefit sufficiently from transformation.

And there is a sense of growing impatience.

“El Nino”, Driemanskap Band Member:
I have to tell you that you mustn’t centralize it at all. Even though like the Mandela’s and the Tutus they are the people that – we are bombarded by the media as if they are the only liberators in South Africa. I’ll tell you about the Sabello Palmer’s, the Chris Hani’s, you know, and I would count, the list is endless.

There may be dissatisfaction now with the way that many South Africans have been left out of the country’s transformation but in the early 1990’s, it was Mandela who the country relied on to prevent all-out civil war.
It was Mandela who kept the nation calm when top ANC leader and struggle hero, Chris Hani, was murdered by white extremists.

And it was Mandela who distanced himself from his own wife, Winnie, when she was accused of being involved in the murder of one of her bodyguards.
While Mandela initially supported Winnie’s legal efforts, that soon ended and he began divorce proceedings.

Once again it was the nation that came first.

Finally, the government of FW De Klerk agreed to terms and the date was set for South Africa’s first ever democratic elections. Nelson Mandela had made sacrifice after sacrifice in order to help bring freedom to his people. And he was not the only South African to do so. But today, 18 years after democracy, the country clearly still has some way to go. So were the sacrifices worthwhile?