The Third Generation: A South Africa Ready to Blossom...
I have lived long enough to witness two very different South Africas.
I have survived 30 years of Apartheid and another 30 years of what we have called “democracy.”
These two eras shaped our nation in powerful ways.
Some painful, some hopeful, all of them significant.
But as I look toward the next 30 years, I believe we are standing at the threshold of something new.
This emerging era is not simply a continuation of what came before.
It is the beginning of a third generation.
One shaped not by the wounds of the past nor the disappointments of the present.
But by a growing desire for renewal, unity, accountability, and shared prosperity.
It is a generation that thinks differently.
Questions more boldly. Dreams more freely.
What inspires me most is the spirit of ordinary South Africans.
Across ages, backgrounds, and communities, people are doing the real work of rebuilding.
Fixing, teaching, creating, mentoring, innovating, and refusing to let cynicism take root.
In small everyday acts, a new culture is forming.
One that values honesty, fairness, hard work, and compassion.
This is where I place my hope.
Our country’s greatest strength was never found in systems or structures.
It has always lived in its people — resilient, determined, diverse, and deeply human.
The first 30 years were about division. The next 30 years were about transition.
The coming 30 years can be a time of growth, maturity, and shared purpose.
At 79 years old, I know time is precious.
But I also know that South Africa has a remarkable way of surprising us.
Often, when we least expect it.
I hope I live long enough to witness the early blossoming of this new era.
To see the shoots of something better breaking through the soil.
And even if I witness only the beginning, I will be grateful.
Because the seeds have already been planted.
The roots are already spreading.
The next generation is already rising with courage and conviction.
South Africa’s story is far from finished.
I believe that the most beautiful chapters are only now beginning...
With very best wishes,
Chris Wilkinson.
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