Youth mobilise for Mandela Tribute Walk
HOUGHTON - The African Youth Coalition led a tribute walk that saw hundreds of people meeting at the Gautrain Station in Rosebank to walk to Nelson Mandela's Houghton home on 6 December.
According to the coalition’s interim chairperson, Menzi Mbatha, the Mandela Tribute Walk was organised through social media.
Mbatha said he and the other members of the coalition had initially expected around 50 people but he was pleasantly surprised to see so many people show up.
“The turnout was great considering that all marketing was done through social media,” said Mbatha.
He also expressed his excitement saying that people who attended the walk were a reflection of the new African continent as the crowd was filled with people from all races.
The mourners carried lit candles and placards reading “Long Live Mandela” and “1918 – Forever”.
“We wanted to mobilise people to share in the moment of celebrating the life of Mandela,” said Mbatha.
Describing the late global icon as the world’s brightest star, Mbatha added, “I am so glad to see so many fellow Africans were as inspired by Mandela as we are.”
A member of the youth coalition, Vivian Casaletti, said the purpose of the walk was to follow in the footsteps of Madiba and to demonstrate how, even though his life had come to an end, his light would keep shining bright within all the people of South Africa.
“His light remains and it is because of him that people from all walks of life can come together to share in this moment,” said Casaletti.
Fellow walker Jill Grogor said she was delighted to see so many people come out to pay tribute to the former statesman.
On arrival at Mandela’s Houghton home, the crowd was greeted by Mandela’s grandsons Mandla and Ndaba, who came out to accept the candle and thanked the nation for its support.
The mourners said they planned to drive to Pretoria on 13 December to get a chance to view Mandela’s body as it lay in state, for the final day, at the Union Buildings.
