A Year In Review – There Was Plenty More in 2024
“Choose to be optimistic…it feels better.”
Dalai Lama
These days, it can be tempting to focus only on the negative. As South Africans, we’ve had, after all, another rather challenging year. And I’m not suggesting we don’t acknowledge the bad things that have happened. But I think it’s also important not to let them completely overshadow the positive aspects of the year.
As we rush towards the end of 2024, we could do worse than take a leaf out of the Stoics’ book – being positive doesn’t mean denying negative emotions or pretending everything is peachy. Instead, it means developing resilience and reframing how we choose to look at the world and the events that shape it. It also means celebrating the good, the happy and the beautiful, even temporarily, instead of choosing only to bemoan the bad and the ugly.
“Happy is the man who can endure the highest and lowest fortune. He who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity has deprived misfortune of its power.”
Seneca
Regular readers of my articles will know that I’m not shy about highlighting the negative aspects of life in South Africa. I feel it’s beholden on us as concerned and committed citizens to call out injustice where and when we see it. As I mentioned in a presentation I gave recently, “all that is needed for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.”
But today, in my last missive for the year, I want to take a break from the corruption, fraud and extortion that dominates not only my professional life, but also the lives of millions of South Africans every day. Let’s get into the festive spirit and wallow a little in all that is wonderful about our country and its people.
Because there IS indeed so much to celebrate about life in South Africa. Well-known actor Will Smith said about our country after visiting here, “It’s really beautiful. It feels like God visits everywhere else but lives in Africa.”
Another actor, Andrew Shue, said, “The biggest lesson from Africa was that life’s joy comes mostly from relationships and friendships, not from material things. I saw time and again how much fun Africans had with their families and friends and on the sports field; they laughed all the time.”
And of course, our very own and much-loved former President Nelson Mandela said, “If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.”
In that spirit, then, here’s a brief look at some of the positive, happy, and good old-fashioned fun events that happened this year. A timely reminder, perhaps, to never let yourself get too immersed in the negative, because positive things are always just around the corner – you just have to look for them.
The U19 Cricket World Cup
Hosted in South Africa earlier this year, the event was a resounding success. And although South Africa lost to India in the semi-finals, there were many highlights for our gutsy team. Not least of which was the performance of Kwena Maphaka, who became the first bowler ever to take four, five-wicket hauls in Youth International Cricket. He was also the first bowler to claim three five-fors at this year’s tournament, and his total of 18 wickets moved him to the top of the wicket-taking charts.
The Olympic Games
Paris 2024 saw the team of jubilant South African athletes double their medal total from the previous Olympics in Tokyo. We came away with an impressive six medals – one gold (Tatjana Smith in the 100m breaststroke), three silvers (Tatjana Smith in the 200m breaststroke, the men’s 4x100m relay team, and Jo-Ané van Dyk in the javelin) and two bronzes (our Springbok Sevens rugby team and Alan Hatherly in mountain bike cycling).
Our medal-winners weren’t the only ones to achieve greatness. Other notable performances came from our men’s 4x400m relay team, who set a new national record time, and a personal best from long jumper Jovan van Vuuren.
The General Election
For the first time since 1994, the ANC lost its majority in the National Assembly, which forced the creation of a Government of National Unity. This created real optimism both locally and abroad – especially from the markets, which boosted the Rand on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. General consensus was that although the ANC were humbled by the result, the elections took place (and the results accepted) in an atmosphere of electoral integrity and respect for democratic norms.
Miss South Africa
In August this year, Mia le Roux became the first deaf person ever to win the Miss South Africa pageant. Mia has been profoundly deaf since she was just a year old, and had a cochlear implant fitted to help her hearing. Her victory was not only a personal one, but a barrier-breaking triumph for women with disabilities. Mia is a shining example of how powerful optimism can be. “Despite being differently-abled, it has not affected what I am capable of,” she said.
Autumn Series Rugby
Sometimes, a tie is just as rewarding as a win, and nowhere was this more evident than at this year’s Autumn Series Rugby League competition.
Although the competition is played in a round robin format, and there is no overall winner, both South Africa and France emerged from the tournament undefeated, each with four wins from four matches.
This 100% record made them winners in our eyes. Oppie Bokke!
The Climate Change Act
Signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2024, the act is generally considered good news. Our new Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, said “The Act sets out a national climate change response, including mitigation and adaptation actions, which also constitutes South Africa’s fair contribution to the global climate change response.”
It’s the first legislation of its kind, and sets the stage for a coordinated and integrated response to climate change across both government and society.
The Cupcake Chronicles
While on the subject of our esteemed President, no review of 2024 would be complete without a reference to THAT video on TikTok.
The short clip went viral, and made even some of the most cynical political commentators feel a little warm and fuzzy.
A little backstory…
The president has quietly had the affectionate nickname “Cupcake” for a while (and mostly online) ever since it emerged that he apparently uses the word as a term of endearment for his alleged mistress(es).
He has never publicly acknowledged nor commented on the name until recently while he was walking past a student on a visit to a campus. The student whispered “Cupcake..” and much to everyone’s delight and surprise, the President leaned towards her, smiled and whispered “Hello.”
The student was filming on their phone at the time, and the video attracted thousands of likes, comments, and shares on TikTok and other social media.
Can I get a big “Awwwwwww” please?
There are undoubtedly many more positive, fun and amusing incidents that took place throughout this year – many of which won’t have made headlines in the press or on social media – but I know I must be respectful of your time.
So, if you have a proudly positive South African moment from 2024 you’d like to mention, please drop it in the comments.
And now, all that’s left for me to do is thank you all for your support this year, and wish you and yours a very safe, happy and blessed holiday season. I’ll be back in the new year to once again enchant, enlighten (and in some case, enrage) you with my thoughts and insights.
Until then, take care and look after each other.