Family buries hatchet for Madiba
Nelson Mandela will be surrounded by his family when he blows out 94 candles on his birthday cake today.
Despite recent tensions flaring up between members of the Mandela family, there will be a display of unity at the former president's celebration lunch in Qunu in the Eastern Cape.
And a very tight guest list has been drawn up for the icon's birthday celebrations.
The Times understands that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and her children and grandchildren, his current wife, Graça Machel, and his grandchildren from his first wife, including chief Mandla Mandela, will attend.
Among the politicians invited to the lunch are Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and Julius Malema.
Nelson Mandela Foundation spokesman Sello Hatang said: "The Mandela family is gathered in Madiba's home town and they have prepared special celebrations. that will be apart from public celebrations."
Even former US president Bill Clinton visited Mandela in Qunu yesterday, though it is not known if he wi ll attend today's birthday celebrations.
He will, however, attend the opening of a container library at No-Moscow Primary school in Qunu.
Hatang confirmed Clinton's attendance at the Nelson Mandela Museum, saying: "Bill Clinton is present in the Eastern Cape to celebrate Tata's birthday and he will also deliver a speech on the legacy of Nelson Mandela's life."
Madiba's birthday will be celebrated across the world.
In South Africa, several schools, NGOs, individuals, organisations and celebrities will make use of the 67 minutes dedicated to making a change on Mandela Day:
- NGO Cheesekids is encouraging residents of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to take part in cleaning up their communities.
- Bikers for Mandela Day will ride for Madiba. Their journey will start at Montecasino and end in Pretoria.
- CYCaline is an initiative started by a group of Grade 11s. They will cycle from Johannesburg to Durban, with the aim of creating ubuntu among themselves and spreading it to every place along their journey.
- Wits University has planned a plant-a-tree day in local schools to contribute to the environment.
SHARE YOUR OPINION
If you have an opinion you would like to share on this article, please send us an e-mail to the Times LIVE iLIVE team. In the mean time, click here to view the Times LIVE iLIVE section.Inyaniso
Posted 335 days agoYou are the world's greatest, long live..!
i_stub_born
Posted 334 days agoBut if Mandela could say again that joining the struggle not to be poor was and is immoral and corrupt......that the ANC has to clean the cesspit of cadres and cronies and actually govern a country and tell exactly everyone, unions included, where they have to put the struggle of the past and work in the present..........that licking the poor's bottom while having a mansion in Sandton or a Disneyland-castle in Nkandla, and that to deliver services it is not necessary and rather criminal to own a Boeing 777...........
Then we will hear: "Shame!......the poor old man is delirious already and is talking of silly old men things".........
nkosipeter
Posted 334 days agoToday's ANC is morally bankrupt.
swona1
Posted 334 days agoi_stub_born
Posted 334 days agoInyaniso
Posted 334 days agoYou must asked Hellen Zulu..
POST94
Posted 334 days agoI am glad you're ignoring the theatrics of Comrade Mama Winnie: hell had no fury like a jilted woman. Your continued respect and support of the incumbent ANC President is exemplary.
Tlatlaristo
Posted 334 days agoHappy birthday Tata. But surely you did not achie this greatness all by yourself. You were shaped and guided by the principles of the ANC.
i_stub_born
He must have been born/educated with good and real principles.......
Tlatlaristo
i_stub_born
He (Fakir) also said that it would be stupid of the ANC not to take advantage of Mandela image.......but also would be unethical............
Ït would be stupid not to do it, but it would be unethical.......THAT sums up the ANC members and cadres' principles, conduct and credo.......THAT is WRONG !!!!.......
Then again, you might be right, and the existence of people who know the difference of right and wrong and actually choose to do the right and not to do the wrong is but a mirage.........
Tlatlaristo
i_stub_born
Maxi
Not only ANC should take advantage of Mandela's image. All of us South Africans must start asking ourselves what we have done to take heed of Mandela's wishes. Have we done enough to reconcile and unite as a nation? Are we doing enough to rid ourselves from division and segregation? Have we asked ourselves when are we going to call each others they or others as if we are not one nation?
South Africa cannot be united by only ANC but the whole nation should take part as we are the major role players. If we cannot reconcile and forgive each other it will be a betrayal to Madiba. We must fight to rid ourselves off these no go areas based on racial lines.
.
i_stub_born
To make money or personal gains out of the fame of somebody as the ANC and some relatives of Mandela are doing, is unethical. It is wrong !!.
To follow the example of someone's deeds or life and to follow his principles whenever it is the right path, is a thing all must do. I agree on that.
Mandela was not "shaped" by the ANC as much as Mother Theresa was not "shaped" by the catholic church. Actually it is the other way round.
Read Tutu's: "If Madiba knew, his heart would bleed – Tutu" at the City Press...
UDFSupporter
Posted 334 days agoTlatlaristo
Posted 334 days agoMicaParis
Posted 334 days agoThe commission noticed that one of the men (Comrade Tata Dr Nelson Mandela) did not sing.
"Why are you not singing?" ask the Legendary the grade Comrade Chief Albert Luthuli??
"I'm not crazy! Said the Nobel peace prize winner Comrade Mandela, Why? Ask another Nobel peace prize winner Comrade Chief Albert Luthuli! Well because I am the only sane one here! The whole lot are ill." Said Mandela! What are they suffering from? Ask Chief Luthuli. They are suffering from three perpetual different illnesses apart from being lunatic which are Corruption, Greed and High Sex Libido!!! Said Tata...Happy Birthday Madiba...Alluta Continua You will only remain ''One'' in a million many scattered ''currently useless rotten'' ANC Cadres!!
Tlatlaristo
MicaParis
Tlatlaristo
manga2
Posted 334 days agoMicaParis