'Indonesian people are so friendly'

Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

A country is strengthened not by great people with small views, but by small people with great views.

Thanks to such people, the young Republic of South Africa has made great strides toward economic, sociopolitical and health equity and emerged as a regional power.

Now, by cohosting the forthcoming Asia-Africa summit along with Indonesia, South Africa is aiming to become a global player.

South Africa's new ambassador to Indonesia Griffiths Mandlenkosi Memela, who submitted his credentials to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on March 16, is one such "small person with great views" who has contributed to his country's outstanding achievement.

South Africa's growing stature in the global and multilateral arena was well reflected in the successful hosting of several regional as well as international conferences or summits such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the African Union Founding summit, the Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Movement summits, the World AIDS Conference, the UN World Conference against Racism and Xenophobia, and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Ambassador Memela, a freedom fighter-turned diplomat, was the chief executive officer (CEO) when South Africa hosted the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR).

"I was given a very short time to undertake such a huge operation. As CEO, I was responsible for all matters ranging from overall strategic planning and managing human resources, finances and the preparatory process to liaison with the United Nations and other global stakeholders. It was an exciting moment," Memela, said.

Speaking with the candor of a professional diplomat, Memela said he would not have succeeded without the support of Foreign Minister Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma.

" She was my principal and my guiding light," he said in admiration.

His experience in organizing the WCAR meant that Memela was the right person in the right place at the right time. That is why South African President Thabo Mbeki appointed Memela as his representative to Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, at a time that South Africa and Indonesia are hosting a gigantic Asia-Africa summit in Jakarta.

One might wonder how Memela acquired such managerial skills while working as a diplomat. Dual roles are not new to Memela, who has a hands-on background in both management and diplomacy.

He studied while he worked. While working ostensibly for the apartheid regime, he fought against the same regime underground. In the end, he was successful in both endeavors.

After completion of his secondary education in Eastern Cape province, Memela's family was not in a position to send him to university. He decided to work in the administration of the Homeland Department of Traansval and continued his studies on a part-time basis. Later, he moved to the University of Transvaal.

Memela, who speaks fluent English, Xhosa, Zulu, Debele and some Swahili, obtained his BA degree in 1981 and Baccalaurius Luris in 1994.

"I studied history and anthropology for my BA. Later, I continued with a degree in law (Baccalaurius Luris). During that period I quit the Homeland Department and joined the Transkei Administration and the University of Transkei," said Memela, who is married, with four children.

The 57-year-old diplomat said he did two things while working at the University of Transkei.

"I worked as a student affairs officer. Simultaneously, I was an active member of the United Democratic Front (UDF) underground organization," Memela said.

The UDF, an organization established by the African National Congress, was very active in organizing mass protests against the apartheid regime. Memela became more active in the UDF when it ceased to be an underground movement in 1985.

During negotiations with the apartheid regime between 1991 and 1994, Memela was appointed by the ANC as a rapporteur in one of the working groups.

" It was one of the most challenging periods of my career. It was a vexing environment punctuated by tension, mistrust and grand polemic," said Memela, who was also attached to the ANC's electoral committee. He was also sent to New Delhi in 1993 for training as a diplomat.

After the establishment of the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) in 1994, Memela was appointed executive secretary to the TEC subcouncil on Foreign Affairs. It was this job that turned him into a top diplomat.

"As executive secretary, I coordinated the entire process in which we formulated South Africa's foreign policy," Memela said.

His first position in the newly established foreign ministry was as chief director for European affairs (1995 to 1996). Later, he was appointed as South African high commissioner to Kenya in 1996 by then president Nelson Mandela.

During his time in Kenya, Memela combined his managerial skills and experience to build a strong relationship between Kenya and South Africa.

" I was very impressed by the way both Kenyan leaders and the people received me in their country. They regarded me as a brother and embraced me. What a pleasure it was to receive that kind of treatment! I will never forget that for the rest of my life," Memela said.

A man who has the trust of Mbeki and Dlamini Zuma, Memela loves to watch soccer, tennis and swimming. Once he was a soccer player. Now, due to age, he regularly visits the gym instead to keep fit.

Before coming to Indonesia, Memela worked as the foreign ministry chief director for East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

When asked his reaction upon his appointment as ambassador to Indonesia, Memela said he had mixed feelings.

"On one side, I was a little reluctant to move to a completely different environment (Asia). On the other, as a trained diplomat in India I had to regard it as a challenge to understand this part of the world better.

Anyhow, Indonesia is not new to me. I was a very close friend of then Indonesian ambassador Lument Purnomo in Nairobi. I heard a lot about Indonesia from him," Memela said.

Another thing grabbed Memela's attention: batik shirts. After they were introduced to South Africa by former president Mandela they became very popular in South Africa.

"When I landed here, the first thing I did was to purchase batik shirts," Memela said with a laugh.

He has lot of praise for the hospitality of Indonesian people: "They're so friendly; I rarely saw that in other parts of the world."