Mandela’s death anniversary marked
Print Edition
SOUTH Africans yesterday began marking one year since the death of Nelson Mandela with services, blasting of vuvuzelas and a cricket match to honor his enormous legacy as an anti-apartheid icon and global beacon of hope.
Mandela passed away at the age of 95 last year after a long illness.
An interfaith service kicked off the day’s events in Pretoria at the Freedom Park building dedicated to the country’s liberation heroes.
Veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the base of a 5-meter statue of a smiling Madiba, Mandela’s clan name.
“The body gave in but Madiba’s spirit never, never changed, it was always the same until the end,” Mandela’s widow Graca Machel said before laying a huge wreath of white flowers with pale pink roses at the base of the statue.
“Madiba is, in spirit, the same even today,” said Machel. “I know Madiba is smiling, Madiba is happy because he is amongst the family he chose to build.”
Fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu called on South Africans to emulate Mandela’s example.
“Our obligation to Madiba is to continue to build the society he envisaged, to follow his example,” Tutu said.
“A society founded on human rights, in which all can share in the rich bounty God bestowed on our country.
“In which all can live in dignity, together. A society of better tomorrows for all.”
Later in the day, bells, hooters, vuvuzelas and sirens chimed, honked, blew and wailed for three minutes and seven seconds — followed by three minutes of silence: a six-minute and seven-second dedication to Mandela’s 67 years of public service.
A long list of other events were set to take place into the weekend and beyond dedicated to Mandela, including motorcycle rides and performances.
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