Speech: Deputy President commemorates the passing of Mandela

Last year on this day, December, President Jacob Zuma informed a shocked and traumatised nation that we had lost our founding father.

It was a moment of profound loss, not only for the people of South Africa, but for many across the world. Our country was plunged into a period of mourning and sadness.

Despite that sadness and a feeling of loss we were able to gather our strength to celebrate Madiba’s life.

As we commemorate the first anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s passing we have an opportunity to reflect on our collective memories of the father of our nation and the founding father of our democracy. This moment calls upon us all to pause and reflect on the life of South Africa’s greatest son. As we reflect we need to spare a moment to think about the profound impact that Madiba has had on all of us as individual South Africans, on us as a nation and indeed on people around the globe. We are commemorating the passing of a life President Barack Obama said no longer belongs to us but belongs to the world and to the ages.

Moment of silence at the Nelson Mandela National Day of Remembrance at Freedom Park #RememberMandela pic.twitter.com/XaqAhGyWk8

— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) December 5, 2014

Today we gather our memories of Madiba as we confirm that our memories of him will endure for a lifetime. As the people of South Africa we would like once again to thank many people across the globe who mourned Madiba with us and sent messages of condolence; many who organised and attended memorial services, and multitudes who embraced Madiba as though he were their very own. We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the heads of state and government and leaders from various fields who travelled to South Africa to pay their final respects to this extraordinary human being. Today we recall how the people of South Africa came together as one to mourn the passing of a person who, more than anyone else, represented our shared desire for a better future. In life, Madiba led us on the road to reconciliation. In death he has shown us the way to unity and nationhood.

Also Read: Remember Mandela: Life after politics and his last days 

We commemorate the passing of Nelson Mandela not to satisfy any requirement of protocol or convention. We do so because he embodied that which is best among our people and that which is best among humanity. We are reflecting on a life that transcended the fault lines of our humanity. It is a life that took under its care millions of South Africans who were oppressed. It is the life of a man who appropriated the pain of millions of South Africans – he took the humiliations and the dignity they were stripped of and made them his own.

#RememberMandela – May his legacy keep inspiring our nation & the generations to come! https://t.co/OXgpCB1KLJ pic.twitter.com/hj2FDk15MA — Topbilling (@SABC3Topbilling) December 5, 2014

With the weight of that burden on his shoulders, he worked to free us all and in a way made black and white embark on the journey to reconcile with each other; to forgive past transgressions and hatred; accept democracy, embrace human rights, non-racialism, non-sexism and begin the task of the long and arduous odyssey to become a nation of diverse cultures, religions and races.

A nation that speaks in many tongues but that should finally have one voice that melds into a chorus of unity. A nation that is united under one flag, with a unifying coat of arms and singing one national anthem.

Also Read: Top tweets in memory of Madiba

Though we no longer feel his physical presence, his spirit continues to inspire us. It continues to fortify us.

It enjoins us to continue to strive for peace, freedom and justice.

It motivates us to fight discrimination, oppression and exploitation wherever they may manifest.

It helps illuminate our way as we navigate the path we must necessarily travel towards a united non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society.

Nelson Mandela taught us that the human spirit is indeed capable of triumph over adversity.

We take a moment to remember a wonderful man. We will always be committed to fulfilling his legacy! #RememberMandela pic.twitter.com/Ne8DKWPLeQ

— Real Concerts (@RealConcerts) December 5, 2014

He taught us honesty. He taught us that leaders must see themselves as, and behave like, servants of the people.

He followed the advice of his fellow African revolutionary, Amilcar Cabral, who wrote, “Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies? Mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories”

For progress to be made, it is necessary to turn those ideals into reality. It is necessary to theorise, to strategise, to persuade, to unite, to mobilise and to struggle tirelessly and relentlessly.

As we reflect on the challenges of the present – on poverty, unemployment and inequality – we are reminded that it is only through united action that we will succeed.

It is only through building inclusive social partnerships that we will prevail.

It was the bonds of friendship and solidarity built across the continent and across the world that established a global movement to isolate racist South Africa.

It was the mobilisation of a broad front of our people in all their formations, united around the leadership of our movement that assured our victory over the forces of oppression and exploitation.

Our workplaces are increasingly fractious. Our body politic is increasingly polarised. Faced with such challenges, there are many who would despair.

There are many who would abandon entirely the effort to build a new nation, and retreat to an insular and sheltered existence.

Not the people of South Africa. We are the children of Mandela. We are the sons and daughters of Luthuli, Sisulu, Tambo, Ngoyi, Dadoo, Mabhida, Charlotte Maxeke, Hani and Slovo.

We have learnt valuable nation building lessons at their feet. We are following in their footsteps.

We must confront that which divides us and pursue that which unites us. We are building an economy that will benefit all as we expand both physical and social infrastructure.

We will continue to make all efforts to equip our people with the knowledge, skills and capabilities to succeed and to thrive.

We are making dramatic efforts to overcome disease. Our life expectancy is improving. We are determined to eradicate hunger.

He was our teacher and our mentor. He never gave up on the struggle to free us all and unite us into one nation. He was forgiving conciliatory and tolerant. He was acutely aware of our fault lines as a people.

He was aware of our weaknesses and failures but acknowledged that despite the rage, the resentments and noise that sometimes engulfs us he understood that we are all frail and vulnerable and could only succeed if we reach out to each other and join our hands in striving for the ideals he inspired us to reach for.

He taught us to build the nation based on respect for each other, no matter what our differences; tolerance of others, no matter how our prejudices may be; compassion for the weak and poor; above all perseverance in the face of adversity; fortitude in the face of fear; forgiveness in the face of humiliation, and humility in the knowledge that we are all equal – that to be one with one another we have to be at peace with ourselves.

As we gather here, a year later, to remember our beloved father, we are bound to recall that only through a collective effort of progressive humanity can we ensure global peace and security.

His long walk is over, but ours is ongoing. He has passed the baton to us and every day we need to prove ourselves equal to the task of liberating ourselves and others from hunger, poverty, from hopelessness, from inequality and from unemployment.

He has led us to the top of a great hill. We have rested for a moment to view the glorious vista that surrounds us.

But there are many more hills to climb, and we dare not linger, for our long walk is not yet ended. With Madiba’s spirit as our lodestar we dare not fail.

We thank the Mandela family for giving Madiba to the people of South Africa and the world.

Thank you Tata. Ulale ngoxolo Madiba. We will always remember you.

I thank you.