Aisha Adams.
As South Africa prepares to mark Nelson Mandela International Day on Saturday, this year's global theme has prompted young South Africans to reflect on whether the country is living up to the values of its first democratic president.
While many believe Nelson Mandela's vision of equality, justice and human dignity continues to inspire hope, they also say corruption, unemployment, inequality and social division remain significant obstacles to achieving the South Africa he envisaged.
- Pharmacist Aisha Adams, 24, said Mandela's legacy could not be separated from ongoing debates around migration, healthcare, justice and economic inequality.
"Before Nelson Mandela became a legacy commemorated through 67 minutes of service, he was a political prisoner. For more than 27 years, the apartheid state attempted to reduce a liberation movement to a prison number," Adams said.
