/ 23 September 1999

Madiba’s office flooded with mail

Former president Nelson Mandela’s Houghton, Johannesburg, office was flooded with 20000 postcards and letters on Wednesday from South Africans wishing him well for his retirement. The SA Post Office launched a campaign after Mandela retired from active politics in June, to give the public the opportunity to express their sentiments to him. Postman Johannes Lombard pedalled in on a trademark red bicycle to hand Madiba an additional wad of fan mail. Mandela also invited Lombard, stationed at the Yeoville depot and who has been a pedal-pushing postman for 33 years, to attend a braaivleis with him. The bulk of the massive mail delivery was from children.