The society

I believe that whereas many homes, churches, schools, workplaces, playgrounds and other places where members of our society converge are engaged in good work, too many people continue to fall through the cracks primarily as a result of the long-term effects of apartheid.

I believe that whereas the transformation agenda of our society is vast, its two make-or-break challenges are how we are going to put our most capable people in front so that they can lead and how we are going to build capacity in the majority so that they can play their own roles.

I believe that whereas poverty and suffering are the lot of mankind and both poor people and rich people are aware of this fact, it is the sponsored nature of the poverty in our society that makes poor people find it both intolerable and unacceptable.

I believe that whereas the preservation of existing value as well the creation of new value are critical for the functioning and progress of our society, it is important to realize that it is the inequitable distribution of value that landed our society in the current quagmire

I believe that whereas the past blood-curdling war of political apartheid killed many people and left their loved ones in unimaginable pain, it is the current bloodless war of economic apartheid that kills even more people through deprivation of opportunity and promotion of ignorance.

I believe that whereas the strategy in the former phase of the liberation struggle was to mobilize the might of the muscle or the masses, the strategy in the current phase of the liberation struggle must be to mobilize the might of the mind.

I believe that whereas the majority in the previous phase operated the frontlines to confront bullets and bombs in support of their leaders, the leaders must in the current phase operate the frontlines to engage knowledge and education in support of the majority.

I believe that whereas the savagery of political apartheid in the former age required the bravery of soldiers and the resilience of victims, the callousness of economic apartheid in the current age requires the courage of patriots and the responsibility of citizens.

The organisation

I believe that whereas some organisations might have served people well in the past by providing them with guns and walls as a safety curtain, it is the duty of capable people today to protect their organisations through constructive engagement and reasoning.

I believe that whereas it is imperative for our organisations to produce people with the technical competence to build and lead robust organisations, it is also vital to produce people whose character and integrity can defend society against undemocratic institutions.

I believe that whereas organisations are effective in bringing people and resources together to work towards achieving common purposes, the mayhem they are known to cause when their immense institutional power is usurped or transferred into inappropriate hands calls for caution.

I believe that whereas organisations are vehicles for progress in any society, they cannot substitute for capable individuals and many organisations have spent decades using the resources of our society to promote incompetence and dependence in people.

I believe that whereas the current government and business leaders command the political and economic power to move mountains, the sheer scale of commitment, competence and moral rectitude required to reverse the ravages of apartheid will be difficult and long in coming.

I believe that whereas apartheid was concocted and effected in collusions between previous government and business leaders, its worst victims are communities and its ultimate defeat will not be seen until communities themselves take ownership of the fight for transformation.

I believe that whereas it is natural that every parent will want to give their own children the best support or resources possible, creative steps need to be taken at community level to ensure appropriate support for all children through processes of championships and companionships.

The individual

I believe that whereas citizens should determine for themselves the type of success they desire for their lives, from wanting to take care of their families to wanting to help heal our society, the tendency by progressive people to disown their poor communities is self-defeating.

I believe that whereas I am committed to the concept of becoming a companion for someone in order to share my knowledge and provide guidance to help build individual leadership capacity, I recognise the need for me to first become a champion of my own worthy cause.

I believe that whereas background plays a significant role in determining the future of young people, I am aware that life will reward each person not on the basis of extravagance but on the basis of the value the individual creates out of nothing or adds to what already exists.

I believe that whereas trying to find inspiration in our immediate environments is often difficult, I am aware that the rich histories of our country and the world make it possible for me to use the power of reading and learning to access leadership models worthy of emulation.

I believe that whereas for reasons ranging from my date of birth to my inadequate bravery I never took up arms as a soldier against apartheid, I am proud of those among my compatriots and others whose gallantry brought us to the current phase of the liberation struggle.

I believe that whereas various aspects of life around me are attractive and tempting, the most enduring privilege of the modern age is access to cutting-edge knowledge, which grants people an opportunity to understand things and determine the paths of their own lives.

I believe that whereas the seeds of apartheid and the strengths of our doubters or adversaries remain a threat to our democratic project and its ideals, what comes to derail our dream of liberty and prosperity might well be our own weaknesses or insufficient courage as believers.

I believe that whereas I cannot deny the difficulties of my own life, I am privileged to know what I know and pray to God the Almighty to grant me the courage I need to play my role in helping to create conditions that assist my fellow citizens to take responsibility and share in His glory.

Gibson Sakong
Executive Chairman – Montshepetja Academy