Mandela's dream has unashamedly been wiped.....

At the time of the Treason Trials, Nelson Mandela stated bravely and wisely: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for. But, my lord, if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Sadly there is nothing left of his ideals.

Problem is people don't live up to these ideals....they want 'trinkets in airports'. Neither Mandela nor Ghandi, who admittedly had little time before his assassination, could see the next phase which had to be based on economic growth and jobs. Both India and South Africa have/had huge infrastructure needs......water, energy .....and security needs. There were important infrastructure projects available to Mandela, but he assumed good will was enough. Perhaps it's too much to ask that leaders who have achieved huge social change would have the wisdom to build the next phase. Perhaps their successors are mostly to blame. But democracy doesn't flourish in poverty.