Celebrating the centenary of Mandela

NB: Compiled by Jerry Theys from Reuven Old Age Home

SOUTH Africans throughout the country and abroad are celebrating the centenary of one of the world’s greatest leaders, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, who was born on July 18, 1918. Had he been alive today, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday.

Mandela is cherished and held in high esteem not only by his fellow citizens but by kings and presidents, great political leaders, governments, churches and religious organisations throughout the world for his humility, wisdom, leadership, courage and, above all, his sympathetic, compassionate and forgiving nature.

Upon his release from Robben Island after 27 years in jail, there was speculation and predictions that a civil war based on revenge would erupt in South Africa and that killings, violence, destruction and chaos would result. And yet the opposite occurred.

Through good leadership of the ANC, Mandela asked all South Africans, black and white, to forgive one another and to join hands and move forward to live in peace and harmony in this beautiful country of ours, which is blessed with an abundance of natural resources.

Mandela said while in prison: “When I walk out of prison, my mission is to liberate the oppressed and the oppressor. For me, to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects our human dignity and to enhance the freedom of all. A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. One can never be free when you take away another’s freedom. The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.”

Mandela was a fearless leader who was prepared to die for the ANC’s principles and beliefs. This fearlessness was expressed during the Rivonia Trial when he boldly said: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Mandela’s most burning desire was that all South Africans would open their hearts, stretch out their hands and open their pockets to aid the millions of South Africans who go to bed hungry, who are without suitable shelter, education and employment and who continue to live in misery.

Only then would we be free and enjoy the fruits of our land and its abundant fortune of love, peace and happiness.

We wish to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to God for having bestowed upon us this extraordinary leader so much wisdom, courage, resilience, determination, humility and love.

As South Africans it is only fitting that we pledge to emulate his incredible qualities and characteristics.

Important dates and facts

• Mandela held honorary degrees from more than 50 international universities and was the chancellor of the University of the North.

• He was inaugurated as the first democratically elected state president of South Africa on May 10, 1994, and led the country until 1999.

• Mandela and Oliver Tambo formed the first black law practice in South Africa.• Mandela was one of the 156 activists arrested for high treason in 1956.

• In 1964, Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.

• 1952 saw Mandela elected as president of the ANC Youth League and the Transvaal Region and later deputy president of ANC.

Mandela’s political activities

• On Robben Island, Mandela was a source of strength to all the political prisoners. He was the central figure in the organised political education classes.

• During the ’70s, former president PW Botha offered Mandela a remission of sentence if he recognised the Transkei and settled there. Mandela refused the offer.

• In the ’80s, former president Botha made a second attempt by offering Mandela his freedom if he renounced violence. Again Mandela rejected the offer, saying the government must end its violence against his people.

• The ANC was formed in 1912. Later the ANC Youth League was formed by Mandela, Sisulu and Tambo.

Mandela’s marital status

• Mandela married his first wife in 1940. Her name was Evelyn Mase. They had two sons, Makgatha and Madiba, and two daughters, the first named Makaziwe, who died shortly after birth, and the second, also Makaziwe. The couple later divorced.

• In 1958, Mandela married Winnie Madikizela, a social worker at the Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. The couple had two daughters, Zenani and Zindziswa. Their marriage ended in 1997.

• At Mandela’s 80th birthday he married Graça Machel from Mozambique, the widow of the late Samora Machel.

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