Joburg mayor pays tribute to Nelson Mandela
Among the guests who attended was Kimberly Malope (12), a grade 6 pupil at Laerskool van Riebeeckpark from Kempton Park. The young motivational speaker, poet and actor was the first young person to ever address council.
Clr Mpho Parks Tau, the executive mayor for the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), led a special council meeting which paid tribute to former president Nelson Mandela last week.
The city’s politicians across the political divide expressed their condolences to his family.
“Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was more than just a political leader, or the president of our country for an all too brief five year period. He nurtured the struggle for our freedom, inspired a continent, served as the conscience of the globe and eventually through his words and his actions, transformed a generation,” said the mayor.
Among the guests who attended was Kimberly Malope (12), a grade 6 pupil at Laerskool van Riebeeckpark from Kempton Park. The young motivational speaker, poet and actor was the first young person to ever address council.
“I have taken it upon myself to travel from one province to another, educating young girls about the use of sanitary towels, hygiene, HIV and Aids, teenage pregnancy and the importance of education,” she said.
Kimberly was part of the Nelson Mandela Foundation for the dialogue with former US president, Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea Clinton in July. She was also part of the Women in Dialogue, hosted by Dr Mo Ebrahim, an event which formed part of the 11th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture series in Freedom Park, Pretoria, in August.
She is the face and ambassador of Sandis’ Ubuntu Foundation in Soweto. The mayor said the memory of Nelson Mandela will live on in Johannesburg through the landmarks named after him, such as the Nelson Mandela Bridge, the Nelson Mandela Square and his homes in Orlando West and Houghton.
“The CoJ will continue to build on the legacy he bestowed on the city. Through the years, Johannesburg has responded by conferring Madiba as a Freeman of the City – the Freedom of the City award is the highest honour the city can bestow on any of its citizens. Madiba, a humble, un-equalled resident and father of the nation, is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, holder of the national government award, Ikhamanga, and 260 doctorates from various world universities, grand orders and other global prizes.
“I still remember with fondness his remarks when we conferred the Freedom of the City on Tata Mandela in July 2004. With that remarkable sense of humour and twinkle in his eye, he recalled an historic practice which entitled recipients of such honours to drive their cattle through the main street of the city. I, therefore, firmly believe that the most profound way in which the CoJ can honour the legacy of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, is to continue following his example and proceed with the fundamental transformation of our urban shape and landscape. As Johannesburg residents, we were privileged to provide a home for South Africa’s most illustrious son of our soil. His legacy will endure. His memory will never fade,” said the mayor.
