Madiba's grandchildren will determine the future of the ANC

The duty of the young is to improve upon the past, which is, largely, a world created or messed up by their parents.

What we are witnessing now is that moment when the grandchildren of Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and others must make a choice in terms of the political future and leadership of the ANC.

The story of their responsibility began in 1999 when political icon Mandela stepped down as leader of the country and party to hand over the reins to Thabo Mbeki.

Of course, over the last ten years we have come to learn how the Mbeki generation not only lost the plot by losing the vision through infighting and power mongering, but plunged the youth, which looked up to it, into political confusion.

All of a sudden, the youth hung precariously on a political edge that saw some of them lose faith and turn their back on the ANC because of alleged corruption and failure of political vision.

It is the sort of crisis that comes only once to a generation and perhaps we are lucky that the ANC Youth League has risen to the occasion.

Fikile Mbalula and Julius Malema were forced to take a giant leap into adulthood when entrusted with the responsibility to pull the ANC back from the precipice.

Through their provocative and controversial mobilisation strategies and efforts, they have risen to the occasion. Some cynics may not agree with roaring parties at selected middle-class venues and car washes, where booze-tinged political discussions took place, but these have proved to be a hit with the township youth.

Now, South Africa is poised to see if the youth, which came out in large numbers to register to vote, will remember and connect with the political history of their grandparents.

Of course the Mandela generation and its power has receded into the past.

Now is the time for their grandchildren — especially those born from 1976 onwards — to usher in a new era in South African politics.

In fact, this election is what they were born for and it is good that it is happening while Mandela — who delivered freedom — is alive.

The Mbeki generation has exhausted its role through self-destruction.

The 1976 generation, as epitomised by Saki Macozoma and Murphy Morobe, for instance, has returned from prison and exile alive but abdicated its historical responsibility to pursue status, power, money and everything that it can buy.

It would seem that the best chance for this freedom and democracy is for Mandela’s grandchildren to assume leadership, responsibility and take this country to new heights.

For them to do so, they would first have to establish that strong link with Mandela’s historical mission by voting for the right party.

The time has now come for the children of 1976 to do the right thing.

They can only rise to the occasion by voting for the right party or betray their historical mission.

The nation is waiting with bated breath and the world will know if they appreciate what Mandela et al have done for them when the IEC announces the results this weekend.

Today’s youth are the antidote to both the self-aggrandisement of their parents and soulless politics of greed that has characterised the last ten years.

Over the last few months, both Mbalula and Malema have succeeded — with great help from the IEC — to sell the need and urgency of political participation to the youth.

There has been an unexpected avalanche of youngsters who have turned up to not only register to vote but have expressed the willingness to take their future into their own hands.

In just a few days, the real power of Mandela’s grandchildren will be felt.

It would be a betrayal of their historical mission if they were not to do it for Mandela while he is in the twilight of his life.

For most of the youth who will be voting for the first time, I doubt if they can afford to betray the legacy of Mandela.

Whichever way they vote, there is no doubting that South Africa has, finally, taken the corner to purge its soul. And maybe, who knows, Jacob Zuma is exactly the man who has been handpicked by history to usher in the new era.

There is very little doubt that the youth love his song, his dance, his dress style and accessibility.