South Africans 'need another Mandela'

CROWD CAPTIVATED: Warren Searell, former New Zealand High Commissioner to South Africa, talks in Masterton.PHOTO/ELLIOT PARKER

Masterton people heard a mix of harsh reality and inspirational words in a public address by former New Zealand High Commissioner to South Africa Warren Searell.

With a crowd seemingly eager to hear that South Africa was doing well, there was an air of despondency when Mr Searell shared statistics such as 33 per cent overall unemployment and a 50 per cent youth unemployment rate in the country.

South Africa was still one of the most unequal countries in the world, leading to a downward spiral of disillusion, frustration and crime, he said on Monday.

But there was some positive news including the strong legacy of Nelson Mandela and the positive connection between South Africa and New Zealand.

Mr Searell mentioned the sense of hope Mandela had given all South Africans, even with his death last year.

"All South Africans stopped what they were doing to mourn Mandela," he said.

The challenge now was for a new leader of Mandela's stature to step up in the May elections.

"Mandela was a symbol of a better future for South Africa and now there is a vacuum of hope that needs to be filled by a leader."

Mr Searell said cities such as Pretoria were developing rapidly: "A hub of finance, where you see Mercedes and BMWs parked in the street."

On New Zealand's relationship with South Africa, Mr Searell said trade was modest because of the transport costs involved.

"There are no direct flights and ships have to stop in Singapore."

New Zealand annually exported about $225 million in goods to South Africa, with dairy exports making up the bulk of sales.

Mr Searell said sport still played an important part in the relationship between the two countries, initially because of the 1981 Springbok tour and the role that had in addressing apartheid, but it also had an ongoing role in bringing people together and forgetting racial differences.

The talk took place at the Sport Wellington Wairarapa complex on Chapel St and was part of a series hosted by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.