Province gives final salute to a global icon

DRIEKOPPIES – The first democratic elected president

Mr Nelson Mandela, who passed a fortnight ago was finally laid to rest this Sunda,y, but before that the province had one more chance to say its goodbyes.

Addressing masses donned in ANC colours at the Driekoppies Stadium, premier and chairperson of the ANC in the province, Mr David Mabuza said Mandela was larger than life and since no prison was strong enough to break him, there will be no grave big enough to conquer him.

“The brutal apartheid system tried to break his spirit by imprisoning him, but could not succeed. They abused and tortured him and his family but this wasn’t enough for him to give up on a dream to free his people. It is for this reason that I am certain that there is no grave big enough to conquer him, his visions, wishes and dreams for a much better future. We are burying the flesh and not the spirit, for it will never ever die. His legacy will live on and it’s up to us to carry on the torch and make it shine bright, not just for our people, but for the whole world to see,” said Mabuza. He called on the ANC in Mpumalanga to conduct an introspection and reflect on the life of Mandela.

“Mandela was a true son of the ANC. He is the product of the party and he served this organisation with excellence. He died a servant of the people. It is therefore befitting to defend his legacy by ensuring that the party grows and stays in power for it to continue to free our people from hunger and dreadful disease,” he said.

“I want to appeal to our leaders to live the life of Mandela and strive to serve and unite the people. And as long as I shall live, I will strive

to follow in his footsteps and work for the emancipation of our people,” he concluded.