In celebration of former president Nelson Mandela’s 85th birthday on Friday, he was handed a book highlighting his speeches and tributes paid to him by world leaders.
The 558-page book, which is a testimony to Mandela’s lasting legacy, was presented to Madiba by Education Minister Kader Asmal in Johannesburg on Thursday.
”Based on selection from Nelson Mandela’s speeches, spanning over 50 years, this book provides a lively, memorable profile of his enduring commitment to freedom and reconciliation, democracy and development, culture and diversity, and the flourishing of all the people of South Africa, Africa and the world,” Asmal said.
The book also highlights Mandela’s ongoing concern with children, education and health. It features Mandela’s own tribute to South African heroes such as Steve Biko, Oliver Thambo and Walter Sisulu.
A smiling Mandela thanked Asmal, saying he never imagined that he would still be treated in such a fashion after not being president for so many years.
Mandela, meanwhile, said this week he would continue to seek funding for schools projects and programmes geared at fighting HIV/Aids.
”I will spend the rest of my days trying to help secure a more educated and healthier South Africa,” Mandela said on Wednesday.
”Education is the most important solution that we can use to change the world.”
Mandela, who was speaking at the launch of a schools development project at the Johannesburg Planetarium, said the stigma around the disease was a major problem in the fight against it.
”The stigma is something we need to fight because that stigma can kill many people,” he said. ”There is no use in hiding.”
Several South African firms have committed R225-million to the Mindset Network schools project, a multimedia initiative that seeks to improve the quality of education in South Africa.
Mandela presented the Mount Ayliff High School, an education institution that is part of the rural schools development programme, with learning materials from Mindset Network.
The Letsibogo Girls High School from Meadowlands in Soweto also received learning materials from the project. The school is among 50 schools that were selected to take part in the Dinaledi project, an initiative aimed at improving results in science and mathematics. – Sapa