What you've said

Panorama, Mondays at 8.30pm on BBC One

Thank you for sending us your views on No More Mandelas.

A selection of your comments have been published below.

Read more about No More Mandelas.

---

There is not enough praise for Fergal Keane and the production team for Monday's Panorama. I myself spent half a year in Johannesburg talking to refugees and local people living in squatter camps hoping for a better day. I could not believe the strength and integrity of the people and it was interesting understanding the politics of a country that has overcome so much. I am deeply in awe of Fergal Keane for raising the issues of Mbeki and Zuma's government and actually giving their side of the argument. I don't agree with Zuma's ideals and instinct tells me that once he gets into power, South Africa has a danger of turning into Zimbabwe. I sincerely hope not because South Africa is an incredible country with so much potential.
Debbie Ng, England

As a South African living in London, I found it heartbreaking to watch Panorama. Like so many South Africans I came to travel and 8 years later I am still in London - however like so many South Africans I want to go back. The problem is that we know that huge unemployment awaits, crippling costs of living, not to mention the risks of being robbed, raped or murdered. But the patriotism is still there. Africa is not a poor continent, yet there is so much poverty because the leaders are too busy looking after themselves and not the people. It is time for the leaders to deal with the tribal warfare, corruption and lawlessness. How long before South Africa ends up like the rest of Africa - war torn and burning?
Amina Claasen, London

If this were not such a serious issue, the mismatch of the title and the content would have been laughable.
It seems quite obvious that the programme sought to place the current economic problems of South Africa on the present leadership; however the current state is a result of the racism and atrocities committed by the white people who decided once again that they deserved everything and that black people deserved nothing... remember slavery anyone?
I'm not an expert on South Africa but then again neither is Fergal Keane. By cleverly placing the emphasis of the show from the current state of South Africa being a direct result of apartheid, to how the current leaders are corrupt (a point that the show failed to corroborate) it's unsurprising that the majority of responses to the show were positive (ignorance is bliss after all...)
How poorly edited the shots were. Did Fergal not expect the interviewees to have a response, so when they did they decided to cut their response down... and how dare they talk about the government taking time to make decisions... do we not have procedures in this country for passing laws and making decisions? (Another point which was made in the show but cleverly cut short by editing).
Unlike the programme, I believe in constructive criticism with suggestions, so why not get your ¿investigative journalists' (?) to do a panorama on how ridiculously expensive the ARV life saving drugs so desperately needed (as your show pointed out) are?
What a lot of white people fail to understand is that if you are persecuted, bullied, tortured and dehumanised for a long period of time there will be damage caused which cannot be resolved over night with an ¿apology' or ending of the abuse? But then again it hasn't to them.
Ruth, UK

I would like to express sincere disappointment with the program on South Africa presented by Panorama. With every passing minute of the programme I was shocked and appalled at how biased and untruthful it was! I was insulted by how condescending Fergal Keane came across spewing lie after lie supported by poorly and blatantly tailored editing.
I kept asking myself what was the point of this programme?
The real problem in South Africa is that Apartheid never ended! it just disguised itself. Apartheid pre -1994 was replaced by Economic Apartheid post -1994. The deal in 1994 was that the whites would retain economic control in exchange for black majority rule.
"Freedom without opportunity is a devil's gift, and the refusal to provide such opportunities is criminal" (Noam Chomsky)
It's a case of old wine in new bottles leaving a very bitter taste indeed!
South Africa is one of many rich African countries where the gap between blacks and whites is irrationally wide! Why is it, that in today's South Africa it is still the minority white in control of over 95% of the country's wealth that remain prosperous and continues to thrive? Whilst the indigenous black South Africans who have been undeniably robbed of their precious land, their country continuously being raped of it's rich resources, (first by evil colonisers and now by neo-imperialists, new liberalists and the new generation "colonialists"), continue to perish under conditions that are beyond any thinking person's comprehension!?
What South Africa needs now is: Economic democracy: economic power of the people by the people for the people!
What programmes like Panorama should be doing is providing viewers with accurate accounts of why South Africa and other post colonialism countries are struggling to cope with the unmerited burden of having to rectify a legacy of social ill bestowed on them by their evil predecessors. Please tell the real stories behind the myths of corruption, bad governance and fallen leaders created only to distract the lay man's attention from the hidden agendas of the vultures still intent on fuelling their grand lifestyles they grew so accustomed to during Apartheid!
Wintana Tsegai Demoz, London UK

In my opinion the program was not as balanced as some may think, actually being from South Africa I actually lived in what the program was trying to describe. Yes South Africa has many downfalls at the moment which were clearly highlighted by the program, but I find it fails to shed as much light on the successes of South Africa. Its nice to see that the reporter went to the lengths of asking the opinions of people not living in rural areas or those that where high and drunk. Now the perception of South Africa is what is portrayed on the program. I have read a number of comments that have been made by several British people on the program and they support this argument.
The one issue I totally agree on is that of Jacob Zuma, he is unfit in my opinion to govern South Africa, but the decision has been made and we must let the process of democracy take place.
Madapu Nhlapo, Johannesburg, South Africa (Studying In UK)

Great program, but it does not capture the frustration felt by ordinary people at the gross incompetence of the government and the disgust at the rampant corruption, and the despair at the ever decreasing rate of exchange. And it does not capture, the naked racism now practiced by the black government. It does not capture the slide towards totalitarianism that so many gave their lives to eradicate.
Derek Smith, Johannesburg South Africa

I watched the program (No more Mandelas) with anger. The program only focused on poor black people and how they are suffering, what about the white people! It made out that all white people are better off than the black people, that is far from the truth.
A lot of white people have what they have because its down to hard work and their choices. A white person will e.g.: think about having children, we think of the finances if we can afford to have them. Whereas a black family will have three to five children without thinking of the costs and then the country must provide for them, making that family poor!
The country has gradually got worse since 1994 and continues to get worse. I know of a lot of white people that have left SA, so to escape the violence and the high unemployment. The government has not delivered their promises which was directed at the majority of black people. The divide between the two races is wider today than ever before, because the white majority a re feed up with the violence and killings of their loved ones, can you blame them! It is a fact that majority of crimes are committed by black people.
There is ten black people to every white person. I myself have been a victim of the violence (1997), I was brutally stabbed at my home in kwa Natal. I sustained 12 stab wounds around my body, it was the quick response of my garden boy that I survived! My wounds have healed but my mental state is not the same. I live in fear and my life will never be the same, I take each day as it comes and I still have nightmares. The person was never caught and their wasn't even an investigation into the crime. The government has turned a blind eye on the violence. South Africa is a beautiful country, I do miss the country but I am safer here.
Jean, Norwich, Norfolk

As a South African that has recently relocated to Australia, I am ashamed to admit that I come from a country that is spiralling into turmoil at such a rapid rate.
Mr Keane is a brave man to show the world what is going on in that once beautiful country. It is just a pity that the rest of the Western World turns a blind eye to the happenings in South Africa and Southern Africa as a whole, but then I suppose if we (South Africa) had more resources (oil) to exploit, the western world would be at war in our region as well.
Daniel Tanne, Melbourne, Australia

A good and candid expose except for the constant repetition of the exculpatory assertion that apartheid created so much of the problem. Exculpatory of the colonial power and it's people: T'was The Union Of South Africa Act of 1909, an act of the British parliament that disenfranchised the majority and was the real cause of apartheid. Frank Chikane answered several times referring to the Colonial heritage as having spawned the problem. It was convenient for the English descendants in SA to subscribe to the apartheid theory. Truth is most of them and their Afrikaans brothers were not the luxurious racists, a la Deep South America, that the newspaper selling stories made them out to be. They resisted change yes! They were in the situation and had a better understanding of it than the armchair liberal News pedlars. Like the Zimbabweans before them they were afraid of what change would bring. Were they wrong??
Kevin Carolin, Wellington NZ

I am saddened by the way the country is being pulled apart by itself. A morally bankrupt leadership who have done nothing more than to enrich themselves and a small black minority. South Africa has hit the ropes and is about to fall. I don't see it standing up on its own. It is nothing more than a Zimbabwe in waiting.
Andre, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Great programme. Thanks for taking the time to try to explain to 'outsiders' what it means to live in the "New South Africa". The comment made re bringing back the Nationalist Gov. is one that is shared by many people in RSA. I am white but I have an adopted black child and I have many friends of different cultures and colour. The ANC has forgotten its roots. It is an organisation run by fatcats for fatcats. It has lost touch with the people it purports to serve. I love my country but I cannot live here with the constant threat of violence and with the ever increasing racism. What the world does not know is that most ordinary south Africans were not racist before the new regime came into power. Now I hear comments all the time, from black and white people that they are becoming more and more racist! Why? Because we have nowhere to turn when affected by crime. Our police services are corrupt and now we are in danger of losing the Scorpions who at least gained success i! n the fight against crime. Oh well. My beloved country. I weep for you. You are being ravaged and broken by unscrupulous politicians. Please world, say a prayer for us. We need your support.
Monica, Durban South Africa

I truly hope that the South Africans will have an opportunity to see this, but if it made our future president of the country look a bit....crookish..then i think it will take some time before its released here, and its true for a real south African, there is no more Mandela's here...
Lize, Pretoria, South Africa

I found your programme incredible interesting, and well rounded showing the many sides to South Africa's problems and also that there might still be glimmer of hope in the darkness.
However I am left asking why the programme decided to swerve the one question on people's minds. Is South Africa safe to hold the world cup? Will the water contamination and electricity shortages ever be addressed and will there be power for the world cup in 2010? Will this be the worst attended World cup in its history? What will happen if countries begin to refuse to take their expensive players to South Africa for the world cup?
I would very much like to see if the country is on target as promised by Fifa?
Thank you for a great programme.
Nick Ferris, Colliers Wood

South Africa is going down the tubes. This brave statement is not a racist one in the slightest but one which is made after watching first hand a country that is being torn apart by increasing levels of violence that touches every single South African first hand, rising unemployment and poverty, a break down of public services, a country gripped by an AIDS pandemic, sweeping corruption.
All this is overseen by a government that turns blind eye to these faults, that has failed to deliver on the promises that were their election platform and seems to spend more time blaming the past than trying to build for the future. Nothing will improve as long as the international community buries it head in the sand and believes that South Africa is a stable and safe place when quite clearly it is not.
Lorraine, London

Thank you Mr Keane for producing such an honest program on South Africa. South Africa needs your presence and many others like you. Your program shows dark clouds hanging in the future of my country. Thank you for being so blunt and direct with Jacob Zuma, he was taken aback by your questions and it showed how seldom he is given a reality check about his actions. You see before you the Idi Amin of South Africa, and in his shadow a million more draining the life-blood of our beautiful country.
Kilaan Schoeman, Brighton, UK

I am glad you have shown this. For years the Brits attacked SA over apartheid. Now they are deafeningly silent as the opposite happens. Thanks for showing what this country has become, a violent, bloody orgy.
J Eva, London England

It saddens me to see the state of South Africa now more that 10 years after the Euphoria of the ANC. I have spent a lot of time in South Africa and still maintain a family home there. What would have been interesting to see in the film is an examination of why the blacks have not embraced good government. No one told them what responsibilities come with freedom. The film does not acknowledge the differences between black culture and the west. Why do they think like they do? Perhaps the programme could have dug deeper.
Ron, Scarborough

Isn't Fergal Keane brave, with his vigorous interviews of South Africa's leaders. I just wish we could have the same vigour when BBC journalists interview our own wholly incompetent & corrupt politicians. It is also revealing to know that at least a leading politician in SA can be indicted for alleged crimes & brought before court - would that be possible in the UK - I DOUBT IT.
Spike Menegaldo, Reading, Berkshire

Thank you for an informative show on South Africa. You describe the difference between the Haves and the Have nots in South Africa. I believe that the primary difference between a Have and a Have Not is that the Haves think of Family planning. In other words you only have the number of children you can support. There is still a large part of certain communities in SA who do not use contraception, not only carry diseases but cannot support their own children.
I believe no where in the world should the people who think of family planning (The Haves) have to support those that don't (The Have Nots). It is this promiscuity and social problems that are at the root of the problem for these communities in SA and even some over here in the UK.
Andrew Guard, London

A very interesting programme last night. It would be a good idea to let the South African people see this.
Kerry, The Hague, The Netherlands

Fergal Keane's interview with the ANC new party leader, Jacob Zuma, was absolutely brilliant. I pity the 'new' South Africa for electing such as tarnished leader. However, I hope Mr. Keane will apply the same bluntness when next he interviews Prime Minister Gordon Brown or President Bush, if he ever gets the chance.
David J. Francis, Bradford