Mandela gave Qunu global fame

Qunu, an Administrative Area with a number of villages surrounding a village called Lwalweni, has been a hype of activities for the past 23 years after one of their sons, the late Nelson Mandela was released from jail.

Villagers were proud and felt honoured to have a person from their village who has become a world icon.

This, despite fame, brought a lot of activities in Qunu with people from across the world touring the country, visiting the village.

Many hoped to have a glimpse of the former statesman while, for some, shaking hands with family members was going to be a world changing experience.

Some, mostly journalists in terviewed villagers about the experience of having a world icon on their doorstep.

The Lwalweni village became famous globally – this is a place where the world icon is buried.

On  December 5 last year Qunu residents came alive as villagers woke up in shock on the death of their famous son. The news were hurting for many and many said the lights dimmed for their village and its people.

Mandela’s neighbour Ayanda Mtshelwane said there’s no longer that hype.

“We used to see a number of people travelling to the Eastern Cape saying they were here to see Mandela, some were lucky to see him while some were not, at the time Tata was very sick.

When he died last December, he was literally taken away from us as villagers – that connection with him or that ownership of him was gone and ever since we’ve seen nothing interesting happening there involving commu nity,” said Mtshelwane.

Mtshelwane said Mandela visitors or tourists use to have time for villagers, but that is a thing of the past.

“We don’t see that. Good times in Qunu have gone with Tata, there’s no longer that time people and children use to enjoy by standing outside Tata’s house expecting gifts and all that,” she said.

Earlier this year, Nolandile Geledwane, whose house is neighbouring Mandela’s farm said some tourists used to come to her place and ask her about how she feel to be Mandela’s neighbour.

“They will come and leave some goods with the kids after they asked about Tata but that never happened again.

This village has become like any other village, there’s just nothing special about it these days, though it’s early to tell, but we can see that our light has gone,” said Geledwane.

Another villager, who asked not to be named said the house, despite it being a National Key Point there’s hardly a sign that this was Mandela’s home.

“All we recognise are walls and the huge yard. There’s no sign that shows that this was the world famous president’s home.

It’s quiet, there’s just no activity and it’s a forgotten home. Only two women are always in the house, the workers from the local community.

Motorists and tourists just drive past and some use to blow their vehicle horns but that is not happening anymore.This has become any other house,” said the villager.

At the Mandela farm, there used to be Christmas parties where celebrities including talkshow host Oprah Winfrey  would come and share with Madiba and children from villages around.

Later everything changed but tourists kept coming and visited Mandela’s place. They will then spent time with the villagers, with the hope of having a glimpse of the former statesman when he’s walking around his farm.

But those days, according to a local young entrepreneur and tour guide, Phiko Habe, are gone.

“You know how generous tourists are and when they came to Qunu they always have something to share with the locals. But this time around they are scarce to come but my main work was to deal with journalists, who also played their part as well, but you hardly receive a call from them these days,” said Habe.

Habe said he has taken a number of journalists to tours in areas related to Mandela like Mqhekezweni and Mvezo. “But Qunu was the main focus as this was the place the old man stayed when he retired,” he said. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za