ID :
13011
Sat, 07/19/2008 - 10:18
Auther :
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http://m.oananews.org//node/13011
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Mandela turns 90, urges people to remember less fortunate
M Subramoney
Durban, Jul 19 (PTI) South Africa's first black President
and the nation's greatest statesman and icon, Nelson Mandela
Friday on his 90th birthday in a recorded message asked the
people of the country to remember the less fortunate.
In his special birthday message, Mandela said he knows
that people would be expressing their best wishes "for a
retired old man" but he want people to remember his three
legacy organisations - Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson
Mandela Children's Fund and the Mandela-Rhodes Foundation -
that are continuing his work.
Mandela, who is celebrating his birthday with family and
friends at his ancestral village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape
province of the country, recorded the message in the backdrop
of the messages of goodwill continuously pouring in from all
over the world and South Africa.
Calling on the the nation to uphold moral values and
discipline as demonstrated by Nelson Mandela throughout his
struggle for South Africa's liberation, President Thabo Mbeki
in his message expressed gratitude to Mandela for steering the
nation through its most turbulent times to a stable, free and
a non-racial society.
African National Congress (A.N.C.) president, Jacob Zuma
described Mandela as an astute leader and the most charismatic
President that their party has ever had.
"He is a kind of man, who is not afraid to debate and
very powerful to persuade. A father figure in the true sense,
a leader who was not afraid to lead, one man who loved the
A.N.C. in a manner that we have never seen before. We owe a
lot to Madiba," said Zuma.
F W de Klerk, last white president of South Africa, in
his special message said that it was a great pleasure for him
to congratulate Nelson Mandela on his 90th birthday.
"He is the most famous South African who has ever lived
and is universally regarded as one of the greatest figures of
the 20th century", Klerk said, adding, he was born to be a
leader.
"He achieved his present status through the wisdom,
introspection and knowledge of his fellow men that he
acquired during the hardship of 27 long years of
imprisonment," he said, describing the attributes of the black
leader.
Terming his current relationships with Mandela as a
friend, Klerk candidly said, "Now he and I are both retired
from active politics - and I am honoured to be able to call
him my friend." PTI AS
Durban, Jul 19 (PTI) South Africa's first black President
and the nation's greatest statesman and icon, Nelson Mandela
Friday on his 90th birthday in a recorded message asked the
people of the country to remember the less fortunate.
In his special birthday message, Mandela said he knows
that people would be expressing their best wishes "for a
retired old man" but he want people to remember his three
legacy organisations - Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson
Mandela Children's Fund and the Mandela-Rhodes Foundation -
that are continuing his work.
Mandela, who is celebrating his birthday with family and
friends at his ancestral village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape
province of the country, recorded the message in the backdrop
of the messages of goodwill continuously pouring in from all
over the world and South Africa.
Calling on the the nation to uphold moral values and
discipline as demonstrated by Nelson Mandela throughout his
struggle for South Africa's liberation, President Thabo Mbeki
in his message expressed gratitude to Mandela for steering the
nation through its most turbulent times to a stable, free and
a non-racial society.
African National Congress (A.N.C.) president, Jacob Zuma
described Mandela as an astute leader and the most charismatic
President that their party has ever had.
"He is a kind of man, who is not afraid to debate and
very powerful to persuade. A father figure in the true sense,
a leader who was not afraid to lead, one man who loved the
A.N.C. in a manner that we have never seen before. We owe a
lot to Madiba," said Zuma.
F W de Klerk, last white president of South Africa, in
his special message said that it was a great pleasure for him
to congratulate Nelson Mandela on his 90th birthday.
"He is the most famous South African who has ever lived
and is universally regarded as one of the greatest figures of
the 20th century", Klerk said, adding, he was born to be a
leader.
"He achieved his present status through the wisdom,
introspection and knowledge of his fellow men that he
acquired during the hardship of 27 long years of
imprisonment," he said, describing the attributes of the black
leader.
Terming his current relationships with Mandela as a
friend, Klerk candidly said, "Now he and I are both retired
from active politics - and I am honoured to be able to call
him my friend." PTI AS
