I first came to your country in 2010 as a young journalist, full of curiosity, optimism, and hope. Johannesburg’s energy was unforgettable, but it was Soweto that truly left a lasting impression on me. Walking through the homes of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, I felt the weight of history and the triumph of a people who refused to surrender in the face of injustice.
What I remember most, however, was not only the history it was the people. The warmth, the kindness, the laughter, and the friendships that crossed borders and became family. South Africa did not simply welcome me; it embraced me.
Even after returning home to Cameroon, that connection never faded. I continued working with South African institutions, building bridges, exchanging ideas, and strengthening relationships. To me, and to countless Africans across the continent, South Africa has always been more than a nation. It has been a symbol of resilience, courage, and the collective victory of an entire continent over oppression.
Today, however, my heart is heavy.
From Lagos to Nairobi, from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg, we are one African family. The struggle against apartheid was never fought by South Africans alone. It was supported by Africans across the continent and by people around the world who believed in justice, dignity, and freedom.
That is why it is deeply painful to witness division where there was once unity, suspicion where there was once solidarity, and acts of xenophobia that threaten to overshadow the values that inspired generations.
My dear brothers and sisters—from Gauteng to Mpumalanga, from Durban to Cape Town this is not the South Africa that inspired the world.
Our diversity has always been our strength. Our shared history reminds us that no nation rises alone, and no people flourish by turning against one another. The bonds that unite Africans are stronger than the forces that seek to divide us.
We are Africans first.
The South Africa we admire is still worth protecting a nation built on courage, reconciliation, and the belief that our common humanity is greater than our differences. May we continue to choose unity over division, compassion over fear, and hope over hatred.
With respect, admiration, and unwavering faith in the African spirit.
