By More Matshediso
Pretoria - South African President Jacob Zuma on Friday reflected on the contribution and role that the late first democratic President of the country, Nelson Mandela, played in the fight against apartheid.
He said the 5th of December is a day of reflection on the road travelled since the dawn of freedom in 1994 and the contribution of President Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC) collective to the building of a new democratic and free South Africa.
President Zuma, who addressed the China-South Africa Business Forum Meeting in Beijing today, said President Mandela laid a firm foundation, which enabled today’s government to build a thriving constitutional democracy in a short space of time.
“Because of that foundation we have built, millions of black South Africans have access to water, electricity, health care, education and other services that they did not have access to before 1994.
“President Mandela's vision that inspired us on the road to building a cohesive, united non-racial South Africa, is still very much alive today and continues to shape our vision for our country,” he said.
President Zuma said Madiba will continue to be an inspiration not only to South Africans but the world at large.
President Zuma is in the People's Republic of China on a State visit. - SAnews.gov.za
