South Africa commemorates Nelson Mandela's birthday

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa on Thursday commemorated the annual birthday of its greatest son, Nelson Mandela, the prisoner-turned world statesman who was born 101 years ago died in 2013.

Millions of South African are joining the rest of the world in celebrating International Mandela Day and reflecting on the legacy of the Nobel Laureate.

In Pretoria, members of the mayoral committee are handing over blankets and cleaning and painting the homes of the less fortunate.

They visited 1 Military Hospital in the city where Mandela was regularly admitted for treatment in his final years as well as the Union Buildings where his body lay for three days prior his funeral. 

The Mandela Day campaign followed the United Nations' declaration of the African National Congress stalwart’s birthday on 18 July as International Nelson Mandela Day.

On this day, individuals are asked to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to uplifting their communities in honour of Mandela, and signifies the 67 years in which the ANC leader fought for justice and freedom.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has called on South Africans to reflect on Nelson Mandela’s legacy and ask themselves whether they are living up to it.

“Since he dedicated his life to a cause, what is it that you have dedicated your life to?” he asked.

Mmusi Maimane, the leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance spent Nelson Mandela Day reading to the young pupils at the Bergsig Primary School in Cape Town. 

“As we pause today to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela and the enormous contribution he made to our society and our democracy, let us also consider the issues he felt strongly about. We all know how he felt about education, and how he considered this to be the most powerful weapon to change the world,” he said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has lauded Mandela as an “extraordinary global advocate for dignity and equality” who anyone in public service should seek to emulate.

As “one of the most iconic and inspirational leaders of our time”, the UN chief said, “Nelson Mandela exemplified courage, compassion and commitment to freedom, peace and social justice”.   

“He lived by these principles and was prepared to sacrifice his liberty and even his life for them”, Mr. Guterres spelled out, a UN statement said.

–0– PANA CU/MA 18July2019