Condolence books keep Madiba's spirit alive

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Pretoria – Hundreds of South Africans have been gathering at the Union Buildings to pay their respects to former President Nelson Mandela by writing a message in the condolence book.

Speaking shortly after writing his message in one of the two books set out for the public to write their messages of condolences at the Union Buildings, Rob Mamafa said his act of signing the book was a drop in the ocean for the enormous contribution the first democratically elected president of South Africa made.

He said Madiba’s contribution and sacrifice was immeasurable.

The Mamafa family were among those who queued on Saturday to pay their respects to the former statesman by signing the condolence books set out by government.

Mamafa said when he heard the news of Madiba’s passing, he woke his wife. “It was a huge shock,” he said, as his wife and three children joined him.

“We try to teach our children about what Mandela meant and having lived through the Apartheid era and now….  They might not fully grasp it now but they will fully understand [later],” he said, of his three children who are 10, 6 and 4.

“He made us proud to be South African,” said Zane Smit, who was queuing with her dog on a leash.

Nearby, bunches of flowers adorned pictures of Mandela while messages of condolences were placed on the pillars at the Union Buildings.

“A man everybody looked upon. He sat in his cell thinking about the future he had to fight for freedom not for himself but for us all,” reads a letter from Reitumetse Poo, pasted on the pillar.

The funeral of the late former statesman will take place in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, on 15 December. - SAnews.gov.za