Nelson Mandela, supported by his wife, Graca, attended his son Makgatho’s Mandela’s memorial service at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Makgatho (54), Mandela’s only surviving son, died of HIV/Aids on Thursday last week.
Also in attendance at the service were Treatment Action Campaign members, the former president’s ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and Makgatho Mandela’s son from his first marriage, Mandla.
In his sermon, Reverend Mvume Dandala, said ”that the first step to victory against Aids is not only to know one’s adversaries but to name one’s adversary”. His statement was met with murmurs of agreement from the audience.
Dandala exhorted churches and community members to ”gird up our loins” in response to the challenge of HIV/ Aids.
”Africa has to be freed of the grave clothes of HIV/Aids,” he said.
In his tribute to Makgatho, the son of Walter Sisulu, Lungi Sisulu said Makgatho ”never said a word in anger to anybody” and that he was ”very small in stature but he had this look that told you ‘don’t mess with me’.”
”He was extremely intelligent,” Sisulu said, reminding the audience that, at the age of 42, Makgatho Mandela studied for and completed a law degree at the university of Natal.
Sisulu added that Makgatho was a ”victim of a disease that doesn’t choose, no matter how educated or wealthy you are”.
A song performed by the all-male group Solly Moholo in praise of Madiba, had the congregation cheering and clapping, and Manuel swaying in his seat.
ANC Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe said that ”Justice Makgatho’s death serves as a challenge to us to redouble our efforts to overcome the Aids pandemic”.
Makgatho’s body will arrive in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, his family said earlier on Tuesday.
He is to be buried in Qunu on Saturday.
Makgatho was born in Orlando, Soweto on September 8, 1950. He went to Swaziland in 1962 and returned to Johannesburg during the early 1970s to complete his schooling at Orlando High.
In 2001 he joined Standard Bank as a legal consultant. – Sapa