Lenasia - South Africa is where it is today due to the contribution of former President Nelson Mandela and those who fought with him, says Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
“Today we are who we are amongst others because of the leadership of Tata Madiba and those who fought together with him,” said Minister Mapisa-Nqakula on Saturday.
This as South Africans and the world today celebrates Nelson Mandela’s birthday as it was declared by the United Nations in 2009 as Nelson Mandela International Day.
The Minister joined the world in dedicating 67 minutes of her time to the Mandela Day which is an initiative dedicated to giving back to those less fortunate, the vulnerable and marginalised in society.
Speaking after cleaning one of the rooms at the Lenasia Military Base hospice, in Johannesburg, the Minister said that South Africa’s first democratically elected president was a selfless man who stood for the poor.
“Madiba stood for the poor, he stood for the oppressed, he stood for reconciliation of those who were warring parties before and therefore Madiba was symbol of forgiveness,” said the Minister.
The former President, said the Minister, was also a symbol of nation building, adding that the visit to the hospice was to show support for the people at the hospice.
“We are doing this in honour of Tata Madiba because irrespective of who you were and what you stood for and whatever condition you were in, if he felt that it was necessary for him to come and hold hands with you, to visit you he would do just that,” said the Minister.
The hospice is run jointly by the Department of Defence and Military Veterans and some non-profit organisations.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula also took the time to plant a lemon tree at the hospice naming it “Rolihlahla”, which was former President Mandela’s birth name. The name is in isiXhosa which means “pulling the branch of a tree”.
“For all those who continue to contribute to what we are doing in this hospice, please remember whenever you walk in and you look at this tree it should serve as a reminder that your contribution is Madiba’s contribution,” explained the Minister.
Minister Mapisa-Nqakula also donated blankets to the hospice.
This year marks the second year since Mandela died in December 2013. This year Mandela Day is being celebrated for the 7th year running in celebration of his extraordinary life. - SAnews.gov.za
