Former South African president Nelson Mandela is healthy and even more vigorous at 91-years-old, Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive Achmat Dangor said from New York on Saturday.
”He is so vigorous for his age. The momentum we are trying to create here we hope will continue. This is part of the way we will make sure that this annual event becomes more significant,” Dangor said on South African Broadcasting Corporation television.
Dangor is in New York for the inaugural Mandela Day concert, which is designed as a call for people to honour Mandela’s inspiration, not as a public holiday, but by dedicating 67 minutes of their time to goodwill.
The star-studded event will include Stevie Wonder, Loyiso, Wyclef Jean, Aretha Franklin, Will.I.Am, Jesse McCartney, Cyndi Lauper, Zucchero, Josh Groban, Baaba Maal, Angelique Kidjo and the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Actors and actresses Morgan Freeman, Queen Latifah and Sharon Stone will also be among the invited guests.
Dangor said all the funds raised would be used to contribute towards the upliftment of communities, an ideal Mandela strived for.
In an interview with the SABC, Mandela’s old friend Mac Maharaj said that prison taught Mandela to be strong.
”He knew that prison was intended to destroy us. But Mandela made sure that his dignity was never taken from him.
”He swore that he will never cooperate with those warders,” Maharaj said.
Another friend, Tokyo Sexwale joked that even at 91 when Madiba struggles to walk, he refuses to use a wheelchair.
”To Madiba the long walk [to freedom] continues,” he said.
Zuma pays tribute
Meanwhile, South African President Jacob Zuma paid tribute to Mandela.
”I just come from spending time with Madiba. We were eating cake. He was reminiscing about all the things he did,” Zuma told a group of elders on Saturday.
Zuma was speaking in Ivory Park where he spent the day with the elderly, highlighting government services to them.
”Volunteering has always been in Madiba’s nature. We are united today by one objective, and that is to honour Madiba. It is important that we all celebrate regardless of our political affiliation and race,” he said.
Zuma said there was an appreciation throughout the world of how Mandela taught reconciliation.
”He loved even those who persecuted him. Even when he was released after 27 years, he taught reconciliation and forgiveness. He taught that the only way to achieve personal freedom was to release hatred from your heart,” said Zuma.
Zuma said Mandela was surrounded by his family and members of the ANC’s national executive committee at his Houghton home in Johannesburg.
In paying tribute to South Africa’s elderly, Zuma said it was important to celebrate with the old.
”They are the reservoirs of knowledge. It is sad that today there are many households that are headed by grandmothers. They have replaced parents who in some cases have died. And, the grants they receive end up looking after those grandchildren,” he added.
Zuma also said Mandela had outlined the way that the world should live.
”We must continue to work together against racism, sexism and xenophobia.
”We must also improve on service delivery issues that we have prioritised over the past five years,” Zuma said. – Sapa