What Jansen actually said about Madiba
University of the Free State Vice-Chancellor Professor Jonathan Jansen University of the Free State Vice-Chancellor Professor Jonathan Jansen
Free State - “I worship the ground Madiba walks on – why would I wish him dead?” This is the question asked by Professor Jonathan Jansen, rector of the University of the Free State, reacting to a report in Beeld on Monday quoting him as saying he wishes Nelson Mandela would die.
“Do you honestly think I would say something like this, knowing my deep admiration for the man?” he asked.
Jansen explained that he was giving a talk to about 250 students about leadership on campus.
The focus of his talk was the leadership of three icons – Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Mandela.
“Obviously, because of attention on Mandela’s health at the moment, and because of the role he has played in the history of this country, most of my talk was about him, his leadership, and the lessons I learnt from him.
“I said Mandela had done so much for our country and I sometimes wished people would leave him alone to die in peace without the constant media glare.
“I said I wished he could be allowed to die without the constant speculation about his health by the whole world. The journalist who reported this took two or three words out of my speech and reported them incorrectly.
“It is not the first time it has happened,” he said.
Jansen said a copy of his “carefully prepared” speech could be made available.
“Also, despite reports that students were disturbed by my speech, I got a standing ovation at the end of it, and I say that with humility,” he said.
This is in contrast to the Beeld report that quotes him as saying he wished Madiba would die and that his statement had shocked the students in attendance.
“Every time we hear he’s in hospital, everyone thinks: ‘This is it, he’s going to die this time.’
“Big Mac (Maharaj, presidential spokesman) is lying when he says Madiba is in for check-ups. When you are 94, you go to hospital to die; not for routine tests,” the newspaper quotes Jansen as saying.
Maharaj was not available for comment on Monday morning.
The professor’s comments raised mixed reactions on Twitter, with some saying Jansen was brave in making his comments, and others saying he had gone too far.
@TCMabasa tweeted on Monday morning: “Professor Jansen says he wishes Nelson Mandela would die!!! The controversial professor has gone too far this time” while @Rupsta1 said: “Leave Madiba to die in peace, I agree with Prof. Mandela deserves peace now. He’s done his job”.
Joshua Carstens tweeted: “Wow. Jonathan Jansen said he wishes Mandela would die now. Whether this is ethical or not; he is a brave man…”
@bassetzoo was quick to defend Jansen’s comments: “Jansen would never state he wishes Mandela would die. I think we should all perhaps be kind to Madiba and let him die. SA nation will be ok”.
Mandela was discharged on Saturday after spending nine days in a Pretoria hospital to receive treatment for a lung condition.
The Star