Nelson Mandela remembered on 1st death anniversary

• Xinhua

PRETORIA: Hundreds of South Africans, liberation war veterans, government officials and members of the Mandela family gathered at the government offices at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, at a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s death.

Mandela’s family, led by his wife Gracha Machel and Mandla Mandela, laid the first wreathes at the foot of Mandela’s massive statue just outside the Union Buildings.

This was followed by liberation war veterans and Mandela’s great grand children all wearing white T-shirts.

Delivering her speech on behalf of the Mandela family, his wife Gracha Machel thanked the world icon for choosing her.

“My singular privilege was for him choosing me to be the shoulder he would lean on at the sunset of his life. On the day of his passing I was not able to think because I was numb,” said Machel.

“Today I see him tall and pride as all people receive him. I will forever be grateful that he chose me,” Machel said.

Machel also gave a hint on what happened during Mandela’s last moments at his Houghton home in Johannesburg.

She said that Mandela was surrounded by both the Mandela and the Machel family when passed away.

“We could see in his face the tranquility and peace indicating that he was saying, I leave in peace and I want you to live in peace,” said the former president’s widow.

Machel also urged the world and South Africa to carry on Mandela’s legacy in whatever way possible. “Mandela’s legacy is huge. It covers all of us and no one can claim a single ownership of it.”

“It is up to each one of us to take the stage and do what you think you can afford to honor his legacy. His legacy is the goodness to save others, which is present in every human being,” Machel said.

She called on South Africans to honor Madiba by fighting the challenges of racism, inequality, poverty and unemployment.

Ahmed Kathrada, one of the liberation war veterans who was tried for treason together with Mandela and went on to spend time with him at the Robben Island prison, also gave a moving speech at the wreath laying ceremony.

“Madiba was charismatic, courageous and a democrat. He treated every one of us equally. He fought for freedom and for that freedom he was prepared to die,” the comrade-in-arms said.

“We will always be able to remember him as a father and family man,” added Kathrada.

He explained how Mandela gave them courage in prison and during the many trials they went through and described him as a man who gave it all for the nation.

Different speakers at the wreath laying ceremony also called on the nation and citizens of the world to dedicate their lives in serving their nations as Mandela did.

Mandela died on December 5, 2013, after spending 67 years of his life fighting for political, economic and social freedom of others. He was buried at his rural home in Qunu, Eastern Cape Province.