In a room lined with images from around the world, people from
across the globe gathered Thursday to hear former deputy president
of South Africa Jacob Zuma detail his struggles in the fight
against apartheid in South Africa, stress the importance of unity,
and speak on the issue of race in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina.
An extended delay of Zuma’s flight arrival gave the crowd
of about 40 people just over an hour to sit in Bunche Hall and chat
among themselves. A professor seated near an image of the pyramids
of Egypt told stories of his recent trip to South Africa to a
circle of four around him. Across the room, a UCLA faculty member,
who is a native of South Africa, discussed with an undergraduate
student from Ghana the dangers of being outspoken with political
views contrary to those of the South African government.
Conversations gave way to applause as Zuma, security in tow,
entered the room and took a seat. An introduction by Allen Roberts,
director of the African Studies Center, which put on the event, was
the final delay before Zuma spoke.
“I have grown up yearning for South African
freedom,” Roberts said, just before Zuma took to the
podium.
Only making time for a few thank-yous, Zuma delved right into
the core subject of his talk: the need for freedom in South Africa
and across the entire continent.
Zuma’s story began in the 1950s, when he and members of
the African National Congress, of which he is currently deputy
president, were talking about the need for freedom and an end to
apartheid, drafting a bill of rights and developing the 1955
Freedom Charter.
“We realized that it was not enough to just talk,”
Zuma said. “We had to struggle.”
Zuma said the initial plan was to struggle for freedom
peacefully and non-violently, even though the government fiercely
opposed the liberation movement. However, when nine people were
shot and killed at a 1960 demonstration, Zuma said there was
“no choice but to declare the armed struggle.”
The African National Congress was banned in 1960, but Zuma
continued with his anti-apartheid activities. In 1963, because of
these activities, he was sentenced to 10 years in jail at Robben
Island. Upon his release in 1973, he continued with the
struggle.
After going into exile in 1975, Zuma continued to fight for
freedom in various countries across Africa, including
Mozambique.
He was forced to leave Mozambique in 1987 due to pressure from
the government.
Zuma returned to South Africa in 1990 after the African National
Congress was reinstated, an event Zuma attributes in part to the
government’s realization that its military was not as strong
as it had been after a defeat in a battle south of Angola.
“I flew into South Africa with two colleagues, not sure
whether we’d come back or not,” he said.
Back in South Africa, with apartheid gone, Zuma continued his
struggle for not only freedom, but also to move forward.
“What has propelled us is the belief you can only have
African freedom if there is peace and stability throughout the
continent,” he said.
Shifting from talks of African freedom to the issues of race,
Zuma touched on Hurricane Katrina.
“You need to look at what is happening here. What has
happened through Katrina has revealed even the United States still
faces a lot of challenges,” he said.
The presentation ended with a question from a student about how
race relations in the United States can be mended.
“We don’t want to pretend we have all the
answers,” Zuma said. “The problem cannot be an
overnight issue.”
Leaving just as he entered, amid applause and security, Zuma
also left an impression on those who heard his story.
Baylee Decastro, a fifth-year international development studies
student who recently returned from spending eight months in South
Africa doing research, said she was fascinated by the methods used
by the African National Congress.
“We here at UCLA are so blessed and so privileged,”
she said.