Thabo Mbeki: An intellectual powerhouse far ahead of his generation

IOL News

19-06-2025

Former President Thabo Mbeki was known for crafting his own speeches, engaging in thoughtful debates, and challenging conventional wisdom. Let us remember Mbeki not as a relic of the past, but as a beacon for the future.
Image: DIRCO
'You have to lead. You should be sensitive to what your followers think. But if you do exactly what they want, you are not a leader.' — Mahathir Mohamad
IN an era where political leadership often prioritises popularity over principle, former president Thabo Mbeki stood out as a rare intellectual force in South African politics.
Unlike his predecessors, who relied heavily on speechwriters, Mbeki was known for crafting his own speeches, engaging in thoughtful debates, and challenging conventional wisdom.
Mbeki's presidency was marked by a unique blend of intellect and political acumen. He dared to question dominant narratives, most notably during the HIV/Aids crisis, when he encouraged broader scientific discourse rather than accepting prevailing assumptions uncritically.
While this approach drew criticism, it also highlighted his commitment to reasoned inquiry — a hallmark of his leadership style.
His ability to bridge the gap between academia and governance set him apart. Mbeki was not only a politician but also a thinker — one who could frame complex policy issues with clarity and originality. He approached governance with a philosopher's depth and a statesman's pragmatism, making him one of Africa's most respected leaders.
'What happens,' asked Mahmood Mamdani, commenting on the William Makgoba imbroglio at Wits, 'when seekers of knowledge turn around and claim to be custodians of knowledge? Knowledge seeking is a profoundly humble and a profoundly subversive activity. Its starting point, Socrates' fashion, is both the admission of ignorance in self and the questioning of truth. Knowledge-custody, on the other hand, is more of a self-appointed priestly affair, both arrogant and conservative.'
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Indeed, Mbeki's critical intellect and his unwillingness to be swamped by the opinion of the herd were best captured by his pronouncements on issues of national concern, more specifically concerning the HIV/Aids debate.
To be president of a country does not necessarily mean that one should not have or express personal views on matters of national interest. Even though, for public figures, the line between the private and the public is often blurred, it is sometimes necessary to keep it in mind, especially in this age of the unscrupulous press and the paparazzi.
Mbeki's intellectual rigour was matched by his dedication to public service. He oversaw economic reforms that stabilised South Africa's post-apartheid economy and championed Pan-Africanism through initiatives like the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad). As a diplomat, he played a key role in mediating regional conflicts and elevating South Africa's global standing.
Despite his achievements, Mbeki's intellectual independence made him a polarising figure. Critics accused him of being aloof or overly theoretical, yet these very traits enabled him to govern with vision and consistency. In a political climate increasingly dominated by populism and short-term thinking, Mbeki's legacy reminds us of the value of critical thought and principled leadership.
A product of ANC liberation traditions, Mbeki inherited a deep commitment to justice from his father, Govan Mbeki, and his mother, Epainette Mbeki. Educated abroad during decades of exile, he returned to help shape South Africa's democratic future. His tenure as deputy president under then-president Nelson Mandela positioned him as a natural successor, and he led the country from 1999 until his controversial recall in 2008.
Since Mbeki's departure from office, political discourse in South Africa has arguably deteriorated. Parliamentary debate has become more performative than substantive, and intellectual engagement is often sidelined. This decline underscores the importance of nurturing critical thinking from an early age, encouraging young people to question, reflect, and challenge established norms.
Mbeki's intellectual contributions extend beyond policy. He understood that history is not merely a record of events but a lens through which we interpret the present and imagine the future. Drawing from thinkers like Giorgio Agamben and Roger Simon, Mbeki framed the past not as a burden but as a source of insight — an untimely light illuminating the complexities of our time.
As Isaiah Berlin once noted, understanding a thinker requires identifying the central idea that animates their work. For Mbeki, that idea was the transformative power of knowledge, both as a tool for development and as a moral compass guiding political action. He believed in Africa's potential to chart its own course and advocated for African solutions to African problems.
The modern world demands leaders who can marry intellect with governance. As Robert Taylor argued, instinct alone cannot navigate the complexities of contemporary challenges. A nation's survival depends on leaders who apply rigorous thought to practical affairs. Mbeki exemplified this ideal, combining scholarly reflection with decisive leadership.
Edward Said warned against intellectuals who shy away from difficult truths out of fear of controversy. Mbeki never shied away. He remained steadfast in his convictions, even when they placed him at odds with popular opinion. That courage, coupled with his eloquence and integrity, defined his legacy.
As Said put it: 'Nothing in my mind is more reprehensible than those habits of mind in the intellectual that induce avoidance, that characteristic turning away from a difficult and principled position which you know to be the right one.'
Ever since Mbeki left Parliament, there has been a 'dumbing down' of political discourse in the National Assembly. Politicians seem almost frightened, if not apathetic, about showing intellect. Politicians have become intellectually moribund. Cacophony in the form of heckling has replaced robust political discourse.
Sadly, this is characteristic of our society at large. It starts right early in school classes. Children need to be taught to have independent thoughts, to question what they are given, and to challenge myths.
Mbeki is the nation's best thinker among politicians, and the best politician among thinkers. Mbeki is the most widely respected politician on the entire African continent, if not the world. A consistent theme throughout Mbeki's political career has been his inimitable ability to frame and reframe a debate on a given public policy problem by relying on data and originality, not ideology, and to do it with wry and perceptive wit and eloquent wisdom that cannot escape one's attention.
Mbeki is the epitome and embodiment of exceptional and illuminating lifelong virtues. For anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him, it is not hard to remember his awesome personality. Throughout his political life, he has won wide respect as a voice of reason and a source of wisdom. He is the resolute voice for wisdom and decency. Armed with colossal energy and astute judgment, he has helped settle some of the most complex international disputes.
Today, Mbeki's ideas are resurging in relevance. As South Africa grapples with economic stagnation and political uncertainty, there is renewed interest in his vision of rational governance, Pan-African solidarity, and intellectual courage. His absence from active politics left a void — one that few have been able to fill.
Let us remember Thabo Mbeki not as a relic of the past, but as a beacon for the future.
* Dr Vusi Shongwe works in the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal and writes in his personal capacity.
** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.