Comrades and friends,
The Mandela family,
Fellow South Africans,
"In the life of every nation, there arise men who leave an indelible and eternal stamp on the history of their peoples; men who are both products and makers of history. And when they pass they leave a vision of a new and better life and the tools with which to win and build it."
With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, the African National Congress received the sad news of the passing of our Isithwalandwe and former President, Comrade Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions; here and abroad.
Madiba loved South Africa. We recall the strength of his fist punching the air as he stepped out of prison after 27 years; and his sternness during the negotiations for the freedom of our beloved country. We celebrate his ever-present smile, the cheerful Madiba jive, his love for children and great respect for the women of this country.
The large African Boabab, who loved Africa as much as he loved South Africa, has fallen. Its trunk and seeds will nourish the earth for decades to come.
Nelson Mandela, Isithwalandwe – Seaparankwe, born in the village of Qunu in the erstwhile Bantustan of the Transkei, recognised the burden of colonial and racial oppression and exploitation. He then joined the African National Congress in 1942. He was convinced by the belief his wise tutor, Walter Sisulu, had in the ANC as the means to effect change in South Africa. As he said,
"Sometimes one can judge an organization by the people who belong to it, and I knew that I would be proud to belong to any organization of which Walter was a member".
He loved the ANC. Hence his frequent words that upon his death he would join
"the nearest branch of the ANC in heaven"
In his lifetime of struggle through the African National Congress, he assumed and was assigned various leadership positions. He served with distinction. He was part of the ANC leadership collective and did not make decisions without first reflecting with his comrades. Yet he would fight for the principle of what was the right thing to do.
Madiba was also a member of the South African Communist Party, where he served in the Central Committee.
His was a choice to not only be a product but the maker of his and his people's history.
Soon after prison he took the mantle of the President of the ANC and, ultimately the country – becoming the first President of a democratic South Africa. He worked tirelessly for the ANC and a free South Africa. He hated racism and bigotry; sought a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society where all are equal. As he said while in prison,
"Ours is not to ask for equality on a lower scale;
Ours is to fight to win on an equal but higher level".
He passed the baton to the younger generation of his beloved movement, the ANC, to carry on with the vision of bringing about an equal and just society. The ANC continues in this task as set forth by him and those of his generation, living and deceased. Indeed, men and women such as Nelson Mandela,
"... when they pass they leave a vision of a new and better life and the tools with which to win and build it.
His life gives us the courage to push forward for development and progress towards ending hunger and poverty. As we said of him while still alive, and we say so now,
"We have you, Madiba, as our nearest and brightest star to guide us on our way. We will not get lost."
To the entire family of Mandela, we extend our heartfelt condolences. He was as much yours as he was ours, probably his dedication to the ANC family robbed you of a father. We will, from this minute on, as always, walk this journey with you to the end.
To his friends, in the ANC and across the globe and across all divide, be comforted.
To the people of South Africa, may your hearts be not in distress. He lives in each and every one of you and in your homes, because he gave of himself to all of us.
Let us celebrate the gift of his life from this moment on.
Let us honour his memory in a dignified way as his leadership and stature deserves.
Let us participate in all the activities organised in his honour in a disciplined and respectful manner, until he is laid to rest.
Rest in peace, Comrade President,
Isithwalandwe-Seaparankwe,
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Amandla ngawethu
Matla ke a rona
All power to the people
Secretary General's Office
On Fri, Dec 6, 2013 at 9:56 AM, Abdalah Hamis <hamisznz@gmail.com> wrote:
My Fellow South Africans,Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation has departed.He passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20h50 on the 5th of December 2013.He is now resting. He is now at peace.Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss.His tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world.His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family. To them we owe a debt of gratitude.They have sacrificed much and endured much so that our people could be free.Our thoughts are with his wife Mrs Graca Machel, his former wife Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, with his children, his grand-children, his great grand-children and the entire family.Our thoughts are with his friends, comrades and colleagues who fought alongside Madiba over the course of a lifetime of struggle.Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause.This is the moment of our deepest sorrow.Our nation has lost its greatest son.Yet, what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.And in him we saw so much of ourselves.Fellow South Africans,Nelson Mandela brought us together, and it is together that we will bid him farewell.Our beloved Madiba will be accorded a State Funeral.I have ordered that all flags of the Republic of South Africa be lowered to half-mast from tomorrow, 6 December, and to remain at half-mast until after the funeral.As we gather to pay our last respects, let us conduct ourselves with the dignity and respect that Madiba personified.Let us be mindful of his wishes and the wishes of his family.As we gather, wherever we are in the country and wherever we are in the world, let us recall the values for which Madiba fought.Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another.Let us commit ourselves to strive together – sparing neither strength nor courage – to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.Let us express, each in our own way, the deep gratitude we feel for a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity.This is indeed the moment of our deepest sorrow.Yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination.A determination to live as Madiba has lived, to strive as Madiba has strived and to not rest until we have realised his vision of a truly united South Africa, a peaceful and prosperous Africa, and a better world.We will always love you Madiba!May your soul rest in peace.God Bless Africa.Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika.Website: www.thepresidency.gov.za
On Friday, December 6, 2013 8:04:54 AM UTC+3, pastor wrote:R .I.P MANDELA WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU.Mashaka Mgeta <mget...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Rais Jacob Zuma hivi sasa, kupitia CNN Live, anatangaza kifo cha aliyekuwa Rais wa Afrika Kusini, Nelson Mandela (95).>Send Emails to wana...@googlegroups.com
>
>Mwenyezi Mungu amlaze mahali pema-AMINA.
>
>Mwendo ameumaliza, dunia itamkumbuka daima.
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