'Resilient, and a man of unwavering principle' - President Cyril Ramaphosa pays tribute to anti-apartheid activist, Reverent Tshenuwani Farisani
JOHANNESBURG - Resilience - the word many used to describe the late reverend Tshenuwani Farisani - a respected anti-apartheid activist and former member of Parliament.
Mourners, including senior government officials, gathered at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo on Saturday to honour the man who they say never wavered in his fight for liberation.
ALSO READ: Dr Tshenuwani Farisani remembered as a dedicated public servant
Farisani passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, following an undisclosed illness.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered the eulogy, reflected on Farisani's courage, recalling how he was arrested three times during Apartheid for his activism.
In 1987, Farisani went into exile in the United States, but later returned - a move Ramaphosa has described as a powerful symbol of his commitment to justice and freedom.
"He was a man of unwavering principle, nothing could sway him from what was right, from his dedication to the cause, the people of South Africa and their total emancipation."
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Mail & Guardian
4 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Reimagining SA-US relations in the aftermath of the Oval Office spectacle
US President Donald Trump. The Oval Office encounter between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump was no ordinary diplomatic engagement. It was a geopolitical theatre — a collision of clashing narratives, one anchored in misinformation, the other focused on sustaining economic opportunities. Yet beneath the theatrics lay deep tectonic shifts in the global order. If we reframe from spectacle to substance, this moment is not an anomaly, but a strong signal of change. Like a clarion call for transforming not just a bilateral relationship, but the paradigms that govern diplomacy in a fractured world. The spectacle and the system President Trump's invocation of the 'white genocide' and 'land expropriation' myths, conspiracy theories rooted in post-apartheid disinformation, transformed the Oval Office into a theatre of post-truth politics. In stark contrast, President Ramaphosa anchored his response in evidence and historical nuance. Yet, he was flanked by elites representing a narrow, privileged slice of South African society, many of whom continue to benefit from both apartheid-era structures and the post-1994 democratic order. Ironically, their presence inadvertently bolstered Trump's narrative, leaving Ramaphosa politically and rhetorically isolated. The dissonance in perspectives, most of which were tangential to the pressing structural issues, laid bare a deeper epistemic fault line in international diplomacy. A few days later, this collision of spectacle and geopolitics became more visible, more public and more fraught, as Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire, reportedly exerted influence over South Africa's domestic ownership laws. His push to secure a license to operate These events expose a critical question — will global relations continue to be shaped by the ideological distortions of dominant powers or can emerging middle powers like South Africa assert a sovereign, historically grounded and futures-oriented voice in shaping global narratives? But to fixate solely on the leaders' exchange is to miss the forest for the trees. This encounter should be situated within four converging systemic dynamics: Weaponised misinformation: The Oval Office moment reflected a global trend in which misinformation becomes diplomatic currency, supplanting evidence-based policymaking with political spectacle. Colonial afterlives : Trump's selective empathy for lower-middle-class white South Africans, while erasing the structural violence of apartheid and ongoing economic inequality, mirrored America's own unfinished racial reckoning. Both nations remain haunted by colonial legacies that continue to shape contemporary power dynamics. Land reform in South Africa: It is central to addressing the enduring legacies of apartheid and colonial dispossession. The government's approach, as embedded in The manipulation of public discourse through misinformation further constrains the potential of land reform to serve as a vehicle for equitable economic empowerment. Geopolitical realignment: As the US recedes into transactional nationalism, South Africa is recalibrating its alliances, deepening its ties with Brics and the Global South. The Oval Office tension is not merely interpersonal; it is symptomatic of a world undergoing seismic geopolitical reordering. Creating pathways out of tension Futures thinking compels us to move beyond linear forecasting toward systemic foresight. How might South Africa and the US transform this tension into opportunity? Rather than reverting to business-as-usual diplomacy, this is a chance to craft pathways — not just to each other, but to the systemic crises unfolding across climate change, technology access, energy transitions and legitimacy: Institutionalise reparative diplomacy: South Africa should move beyond extractive and exploitative trade arrangements, such as exporting unprocessed critical minerals to the US, which disproportionately fuels US industrialisation, towards reparative partnerships grounded in mutual benefit, innovation and structural equity. This shift calls for a A reparative framework would also support greater symmetry in global power relations. South Africa's exports of critical minerals enable the US to secure its supply chains for strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence and military technologies. These partnerships must, however, also foreground South Africa's economic development priorities. At their core, they should promote domestic mineral beneficiation and intra-African value-chain development, imperatives to reducing dependency and advancing economic sovereignty. Defend transparent land reform: The South African government's land reform programme should continue evolving with clear legal frameworks, such as the Expropriation Act, ensuring fairness and promoting inclusive economic development. Redistributing land is only the first step; beneficiaries need title deeds, financial, technical and infrastructural support to make land productive and sustainable while reassuring investors that land reform will not undermine agricultural productivity or economic stability. Crucially, unutilised state and rural land under the jurisdiction of traditional authorities should be integrated into a broader national strategy. Land reform and economic development are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing. Embrace post-Western multilateralism: The US should engage South Africa not as a subordinate but as a co-architect of new governance frameworks, particularly in frontier arenas such as AI ethics, climate and trade diplomacy and global financial architecture reform. Equally, South Africa should guard against surrendering its agency to a declining hegemon operating through outdated diplomatic paradigms. A truly post-Western multilateralism requires that all governments adapt and engage as equals in shaping more just and future-fit international systems. A call for courage and imagination The Oval Office confrontation was not merely a diplomatic rupture; it was a symptom of decaying systems and a crucible of possibility. Futures thinking reminds us that crises are not endpoints, but inflexion points. Here, futures studies are defined as a systematic, transdisciplinary approach to exploring, anticipating and shaping more favourable outcomes by embracing complexity and a plurality of possible trajectories. The Retrofitting established policy frameworks to accommodate Musk sets the stage for a global order where misinformation thrives, alliances fracture and diplomacy is reduced to viral spectacle. But this future is not inevitable. It is a choice. The central question shaping South Africa-US relations is no longer merely whether the two nations can afford to collaborate. Rather, it is how South Africa can most effectively navigate a shifting geopolitical landscape, one increasingly defined not by binary choices, but by the rise of multipolarity, multi-alignment and strategic autonomy. As US diplomacy contends with internal challenges and fluctuating global influence, countries like South Africa and others are exploring other partnerships, such as Brics, opening a spectrum of diplomatic possibilities. These range from deepening ties with the US to expanding South–South cooperation through Brics, to crafting a nuanced foreign policy that engages multiple partners without becoming beholden to any single bloc. A sovereign-respecting relationship between South Africa and the US would depart from the legacy of asymmetrical engagement. Instead, it would reflect the emergence of a multipolar global order in which both countries act as autonomous agents defined not by subordination or rivalry, but by mutual respect, flexible cooperation and a recognition of shared and divergent interests alike. To thrive in an increasingly multipolar global economy, South Africa cannot afford isolation. It needs a diverse portfolio of allies and partnerships. The challenge now is whether Ramaphosa will pivot to the gravitational pull of Trump-era theatrics and Musk's techno-capitalist demands or whether he can seize this moment to reset the terms of engagement with the US on the foundations of sovereignty, foresight and shared prosperity. Letitia Jentel is the senior programme manager and researcher with the Futures programme at the , an independent public policy think tank.
Eyewitness News
6 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
'Resilient, and a man of unwavering principle' - President Cyril Ramaphosa pays tribute to anti-apartheid activist, Reverent Tshenuwani Farisani
JOHANNESBURG - Resilience - the word many used to describe the late reverend Tshenuwani Farisani - a respected anti-apartheid activist and former member of Parliament. Mourners, including senior government officials, gathered at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo on Saturday to honour the man who they say never wavered in his fight for liberation. ALSO READ: Dr Tshenuwani Farisani remembered as a dedicated public servant Farisani passed away on Thursday at the age of 76, following an undisclosed illness. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered the eulogy, reflected on Farisani's courage, recalling how he was arrested three times during Apartheid for his activism. In 1987, Farisani went into exile in the United States, but later returned - a move Ramaphosa has described as a powerful symbol of his commitment to justice and freedom. "He was a man of unwavering principle, nothing could sway him from what was right, from his dedication to the cause, the people of South Africa and their total emancipation."
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa and ANC leaders pay tribute to struggle stalwart Dr Dean Tshenuwani Farisani
President Cyril Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders have paid tribute to Dr Tshenuwani Farisani who was given a special official funeral on Saturday Image: Presidency President Cyril Ramaphosa has described ANC stalwart, Dr Tshenuwani Dean Farisani as a dedicated public servant, a mentor and a man who committed his life to uplifting disadvantaged communities. Ramaphosa delivered the eulogy at Farisani's funeral, held at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, on Saturday where scores of mourners including Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and many other dignitaries paid their last respects to the revered ANC stalwart during a Special Official Provincial Funeral Category Two. "Here is a reflective message. A funeral of a man of highest stature. As we say farewell to this remarkable soul. We should celebrate a life that is well-lived. A life that is lived with conviction. with purpose and extra-ordinary vision. Dean Farisani was not just a leader in title, but a beacon of hope, integrity and justice and he adhered to his principles. We honour him for that, and we thank him for having been such as great gift," he said. During his eulogy, Ramaphosa also described Farisani as a visionary who was committed to fighting poverty and empowering poor communities stating: "Dean Farisani soon became attracted to liberation theology, and its message that the true Christian faith demands active resistance to all forms of oppression and solidarity with the poor.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Ramathuba described Farisani as a father figure who will be remembered as someone who was close to the poor and chose to live among them. "Ordinary people from all walks of life, especially in this province will be described as a father who raised us. I can attest to his teachings which shaped many of us. If you look at the Lutheran church, most of us who are active politically, it was mainly his teaching which groomed us to understand what the meaning of serving is, "she said. "Today we honour the memory of Reverend Tshenuwani Simon Farisani, a monumental figure in the revolution and an altruistic leader who devoted his life to the struggle and the pursuit of an improved life for our citizen "He mobilised the entire church to fight apartheid. We did not celebrate him enough during his lifetime. As we lay him to rest, we need to commit ourselves that we will not allow his contribution to be diminished," said Ntshaveni. Last week, on hearing for the former Speaker of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature's death, Ramaphosa expressed his deep sadness at the passing of the renowned theologian, freedom fighter, and human rights activist, who passed away at 76 following an illness.
