Pretoria - Former President Thabo Mbeki says the passing of world icon Nelson Mandela signals the end of an historic era characterised by the heroic deeds of his generation.
“President Mandela and his generation discovered the mission of their generation. They were at all times faithful to it, as a result of which they fulfilled it,” said Mbeki in a statement.
He said Mandela’s departure “demands of those of us who remain, South Africans and all Africans on the rest of our continent, that we commit ourselves selflessly to address the many challenges we face”.
“As we mourn President Mandela’s passing, we must ask ourselves the fundamental question - what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa, a people centred society free of hunger, poverty, disease and inequality, as well as Africa’s renaissance, to whose attainment President Nelson Mandela dedicated his whole life?”
Mbeki said Madiba’s death was a sad moment of grief for the stateman’s family.
He passed away at the age of 95 on Thursday, 5 December. - SAnews.gov.za
