Desmond Tutu has hailed Nelson Mandela as an “incredible, incredible person” who is still uniting SA from his hospital bed.
|||Cape Town - Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu has hailed Nelson Mandela as an “incredible, incredible person” who is still uniting South Africans from the hospital bed where he is battling for his life.
“Now after a lifetime of service, of giving, even stricken as he is in hospital, Madiba is uniting the nation again, this time in prayer,” Tutu said on Sunday at the launch of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Exhibition at the Civic Centre.
Citing the outpouring of wishes and prayers from all races, Tutu said Mandela was still a bridge across the sometimes bitterly divided nation steered into a multiracial democracy.
“When we look at the photographs around us we remember how special we felt… how incredibly hopeful… a nation united… around Madiba.”
He added: “Although our hearts are heavy, may we have the strength and the good sense to recognise this moment for what it is: an opportunity to reflect just once again on our promise to harness our collective energy.”
With Mandela spending his 23rd day in hospital hospital, Tutu – who, like the former president, is a Nobel Peace laureate – said it was a “sombre moment in the life of our country”.
“We pray for his comfort and his dignity. We pray that we will be ready to commit him into the hands of our loving God.”
Tutu, accompanied by Planning Minister Trevor Manuel, used the launch of the exhibition to tell a story about how he once told Madiba that he was not impressed with his dress sense, especially the “shirts that look like pajamas”.
To which Madiba replied: “That’s rich, coming coming from a man who wears a dress.”
Guests at the launch were entertained by Freshlyground and an impromptu performance by Manuel and Reverend Chris Nissen in honour of Mandela.
Manuel said he was privileged to have worked with the former statesman in the ANC and in government.
Madiba had always been committed to the ANC and that although he supported disciplined mass action, “I could say without fear of contradiction, Madam Mayor, that the faeces flingers could never claim to act in the name of Nelson Mandela or the organisation”.
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille reminded the guests that this was not the first time Mandela had fallen ill.
“When it happened last year and he recovered, I had an idea. I wanted to celebrate Madiba during his lifetime. I wanted to let the people come together to celebrate him while he is still with us and draw on his example of leadership to chart our way into the future.
“So I announced that 2013 would be the year that Cape Town celebrates Nelson Mandela.”
De Lille said the exhibition was just one of the events that the city had planned for the year.
neo.maditla@inl.co.za
Cape Argus