Programme director
Tata Nelson Mandela, Isithwalwande, Seaparankoe!
Distinguished guests
Comrades and friends
Fellow South Africans
I am much honoured for this privilege to address you on the birthday of our leader and the former president of our country, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. This is the day on which we celebrate the birthday of a unique human being who symbolises virtue in all its forms.
Programme director
Today, 18 July, as we celebrate Madiba’s birthday, let all of us heed the call to spend at least 67 minutes of our time doing something useful in our communities. We all know that Madiba toiled in prison for 27 years for leading the struggle against the inhumane apartheid system. Madiba has made the world a better place. Let us emulate his confidence, his humility, his determination, his strength and his vision.
Our actions should be motivated by the vision that has sustained Madiba’s life, a life dedicated to social transformation. It is a way of promoting the spirit of helping others even as we face our own challenges. The distressed social conditions of fellow human beings should therefore pain all of us, and impel us to act for change. The very act of helping set off this magnanimous spirit of steadfast service to humanity gives meaning to the 67 years that Madiba gave to the struggle for a better managed and humane world.
We hope that through our actions we can inspire others to do the same and to continue building on these foundations so that each succeeding generation passes this illuminating torch to the next. We should all regard the 67 minutes as the beginning of a much longer effort. This must become the routine of our daily toil for the good of all. We trust that the broadest cross section f our society will join hands in this event to improve the lives of the vulnerable in our communities.
In those 67 minutes, each one of us should involve ourselves in reawakening the spirit of human solidarity. In Bertolt Breacht’s words in praise of a revolutionary:
Some get in the way
When they’ve gone it’s an improvement
But when he has gone you miss him.
When oppression is on the increase
Many become discouraged
But his courage grows greater.
Where no one has raised a voice
You’ll find him speaking
And where men live under oppression and much talk of fate is heard
He’ll see the names are published.
Today as we celebrate this special day in honour of Madiba’s 91 years of fulfilment there is no room for long speeches perorations and words devoid of deeds. Madiba always knew that life is given to those who continue to win it back through struggle. And he gave 67 of his best years in the service of humanity.
We dare not fail Madiba, for to do this would be to betray his legacy, which is a crime against posterity and history itself! A very happy birthday to you Madiba and many, many, many, happy returns!!!
I thank you.
Issued by: The Presidency
18 July 2009
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/)
