Today South Africans and rest of the world woke up to the news of Nelson Mandela’s passing. The former president sadly passed away at his Houghton home last night after a long illness. The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) sends its heartfelt condolences to the Mandela family, the African National Congress (ANC) and his comrades.
The death of the former president and one of the world’s most respected icons, currently reminds us of the values (ethos) we need to uphold as we strive to build a society that is free from all forms of oppression by virtue of his values. The world will remember our former president as an icon who aptly championed the ideology of a non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic society in South Africa.
“We grieve, mourn and celebrate Madiba with a heavy heart as we enter a ten day mourning period. It goes without saying that this country has lost a person who embodied a spirit of humanity and selflessness, leaving a legacy that we all appreciate and cherish.
As South Africans we need to celebrate Mandela’s life through respecting and upholding the values of the Constitution, develop programmes that will eradicate poverty and ending violence against vulnerable groups including children, women, LGBTI community, disabled people and the elderly people”, said Mfanozelwe Shozi, Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality.
It is through heroes like Madiba that ensured that during the CODESA negotiations institutions geared into strengthening and supporting democracy both within and outside government were established. It was during his stewardship as the President of the Republic of South Africa that women representativity in parliament moved from 2% to 30%. It was also during his Presidency that the Commission for Gender Equality was established.
On behalf of the Commission for Gender Equality, “We say your memory and what you laboured for will be your legacy. We shall never forget the footprints you left behind”, Mfanozelwe Shozi added.
May your soul rest in peace, lala ngoxolo, Tat’u Madiba!
