BuaNews (Tshwane)
Sholain Govender and Moagisi Letlhaku
18 July 2007
Johannesburg — As a testament to his life of selfless dedication to the struggle for the freedom of all South Africans, former President Nelson Mandela is marking his 89th birthday by launching a global humanitarian campaign.
Although it is many years since he ended his term as South Africa's first democratically elected president between 1994 and 1999, and his official retirement from a high profile public life in 2004, Madiba is still involved in changing the lives of ordinary people for the better.
On his birthday this year, Mr Mandela will join former United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, and other international leaders, in launching the campaign which is a brainchild of entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel.
Mr Branson and Mr Gabriel, who founded an international human rights organization and championed the anti-apartheid cause, aim to create a world council of elders to tackle issues such as conflict, AIDS and global warming.
"All of humanity, from South Africa and the world," said South African Human Rights Commission chairperson Jody Kollapen in praise of Mr Mandela, "are forever indebted to him."
"The manner in which he lives his life and how he treats people, whether ordinary or a king, reminds us of what common humanity is," said Mr Kollapen.
"My birthday wish for him is that he forever remains the strong and humble - gentle giant he is," he told BuaNews.
Amina Cachalia, a leading women's rights activist and a good friend of Mr Mandela, remembers their interaction while Madiba was serving his 27 years behind bars during the apartheid era.
"He wrote me a letter while he was in Pollsmoor prison," recalled Mrs Cachalia, aged 77, wife of late activist Yusuf Cachalia.
"In his letter he asked me to have a party for all the women involved in the struggle."
Mrs Cachalia told BuaNews the letter was sent close to Madiba's 68th or 69th birthday, which fell in 1986 and 1987 respectively. In accordance with the letter, she recalls having gone ahead and hosted a party in honour of him on 18 July of the year in question.
She invited over 50 activists and diplomats who were part of the struggle to celebrate Mr Mandela's birthday at her Fordsburg home, in a celebration she says she will never forget.
After spending nearly three decades of his life behind bars as part of his struggle against apartheid, Mr Mandela remains a hero and a role model to many people around the world.
Events continue to be hosted worldwide in his honour and in celebration of his life.
"The former president has been an inspiration during the time when he took leadership of the country during a trying and transitional period in the history of our country, and we wish him many happy returns," said the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs's spokesperson Godfrey Mdluli.
"We would like to take this opportunity to wish the former president of the Republic of South Africa a happy moment on his 89th birthday."
His celebrations this year also include a FIFA organised match, called "90 minutes for Mandela."
Brazilian soccer legend Pele will be joined by international players Ruud Gullit, Samuel Eto'o and Christian Karembeu on the pitch for this event in Cape Town.
An exhibition aptly called "Making Peace" will be launched by former US President Bill Clinton on Thursday at the Nelson Mandela Foundation offices and the annual children's birthday party will take place next Tuesday.
This party sees children from invited schools being treated to a day of fun and being given the opportunity to meet Mr Mandela.
Johannesburg City Parks is also celebrating the great man by planting 89 tress, each symbolising a year in his life, in Thokoza Park, Soweto.
The symbolic tree planting takes place on his birthday and will be followed by a plaque unveiling by Dr Nthato Motlana, a Trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
"The planting of a tree epitomises strength and longevity and we at City Parks are humbled in enrooting Nelson Mandela's beliefs in making the world a healthier, peaceful and environmentally friendly earth for generations to come," said Geoffrey Cooke, the acting Managing Director for Johannesburg City Parks.
Local pop singer Danny K, who is an ambassador for Mr Mandela's 46664 campaign aimed at raising global AIDS awareness, joined the nation in wishing "South Africa's greatest citizen" a great birthday.
"I hope we will have him in our presence for a very long time and I wish him a lovely and quite day with his family," he told BuaNews.
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