The Springbok rugby team’s winning formula of unlocking the power of unity in diversity inspired his latest book What makes South Africa special?, says author, economist and Christian marketplace leader Dr Arno van Niekerk.
He said that in January, while praying for SA in his hotel room in Austria, where he was lecturing at a university, God showed him a picture of what made the Springbok rugby team special. “And I realised that this was actually a winning model for South Africa.”
“And then I started to really dig into it, read up and research and I realised this is something that is completely missed in terms of our potential as a country. And one of the key reasons for that is because we still look through racial lenses,” he said.
The book highlights how the unity between Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus started a process that filtered through the whole team, enabling them to work through issues and use their racial diversity to shape a unique, winnning Springbok culture. It further discusses how this process can be applied to reshape SA.
Arno also writes about how the SA flag reminds him of Joseph’s multicoloured coat and a similarity between Joseph’s story and SA’s story. Joseph’s father saw something special in him but his brothers became jealous and his journey to providing solutions that saved the known world went through a pit and being hidden in jail. Similarly, people who first came to SA saw it had something special. But since the discovery of gold and diamonds the country has experienced different cycles of oppression. “We need to break the cycle of oppression and create a scenario where we start getting out of the pit and out of the jail.”
”If we could unlock this power of our diversity and come together as a people, we will be a lighthouse to the nations and also unlock Africa’s potential. So the book emphasises all these things that are unique, that make us special, that we often miss.
“It’s a call to South Africa, to say: ‘Listen, let’s not allow division to hold this country hostage anymore. Let’s commit to unity, to building bridges, to peacemaking.” Arno says that in his book he deals with practical ways of applying the Springbok’s winning model to SA.
Last week Arno and Pastor John Mathuhle a bridge-builder and deputy leader of Hope4SA, presented the book to church leaders and community members in Pretoria and Soweto. “We were very well received and a highlight was signing a peacemaker manifesto – a commitment to peacemaking and bridge-building – in Soweto.”
He said he plans to hold similar weekend meetings across the country. There will be three more meetings in Soweto, to cover the whole area, and next weekend he will be in Paarl.”
The book, What makes South Africa special?, can be ordered by emailing makingSAspecial@gmail.com. It costs R120.
Please help us to keep on publishing news that brings Hope in Jesus:
>> Donate >> Become a Super Subscriber
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/gatewaynews100
COMMENTING GUIDELINES
You are welcome to engage with our articles by making comments [in the Comments area below] that add value to a topic or to engage in thoughtful, constructive discussion with fellow readers. Comments that contain vulgar language will be removed. Hostile, demeaning, disrespectful, propagandistic and off-topic comments may also be moved. This is a Christian website and if you wish to vent against Christian beliefs you have probably come to the wrong place and your comments may be removed. Ongoing debates and repetitiveness will not be tolerated. You will also disqualify yourself from commenting if you engage in trolling.
