SA MARKS 27 YEARS SINCE MANDELA’S RELEASE

South Africa recently marked the historic release of the late former President Nelson Mandela, who was released from prison on 11 February 1990.

“Twenty-seven years ago, the world watched as Nelson Mandela was released from prison on 11 February  1990, twenty-seven and a half years after he was arrested on 5 August 1962.

“A  towering  figure,  his  fist  in  the  air,  he emerged  from  the  gates  of  Victor  Verster Prison in Cape Town, signifying the end of an  era  and  the  beginning  of  another.  The first sight of him followed by his address at
Cape Town City Hall, served as a moment South Africa stood together in hope.

“Although the huge crowds gathered at the Cape Town Grand Parade led to delays in him appearing  on the balcony, the people waited  patiently  to  hear  Mandela  speak. His historic address from the balcony of the City Hall gave the world a glimpse into the values and character of a leader that would guide South Africa into its new chapter.

“His long-time friend and comrade Walter Sisulu presented Mandela to the impatient crowds, after which Madiba delivered what would be his first speech as a free man,” the Nelson Mandela Foundation said.

“Just as the moment Madiba stepped out of jail gave us hope for a just and unified South Africa, our memory of it should stir in us a determination to address challenges of inequality, poverty and social exclusion we face today.

“On the 13th February 2017, we will return to Orlando East at what was then Donaldson Orlando Community Centre, where Madiba used to train in the 1950s. There, we will launch the Nelson Mandela Centenary Programme to mark 100 years since his birth.

“We at the Nelson Mandela Foundation believe that as a society, if we apply Madiba’s humility, tact and penchant for dialogue, we can face the challenges that threaten South Africa.

“As we reflect on an unforgettable South African moment, let us be sure not to see it in isolation. The #27for27 Campaign calls on us to reflect on our past, engage on the present and imagine the future the way we would want to see it.”

Source: SAnews.gov.za

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