24 June 2008
As indicated in its January 8th Statement 2008, the ANC will commemorate the 90th birthday of former ANC President Isithwalandwe Nelson Mandela during the course of the year.
A number of activities have been organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and others to mark this milestone.
For its part, in addition to participating in these activities, the ANC will hold a mass rally to pay tribute to Madiba on 2 August 2008 at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane, Gauteng.
The objectives of the rally is to honour Madiba and pay tribute to his contribution to the struggle for a non-racial, democratic society, and reinforce the values and political tradition that he represents.
Madiba was born on 18 July 1918. He is therefore only slightly younger than the ANC itself. In many respects, his personal history is a history of the struggle of our people. He has been a leading figure at all crucial moments in the history of the movement over the last six decades, including the:
Therefore, as we celebrate Madiba's 90th birthday, we also celebrate the achievements of our movement and people.
As we honour Madiba, we also honour the other heroes and heroines of our nation who contributed so much to the achievement of democracy.
Madiba is the embodiment of the values and traditions of our movement, a champion of democracy, non-racialism, non-sexism and human rights for all. This therefore provides an occasion to further inculcate these values and traditions.
It is an opportunity to focus on the strategic tasks we need to undertake to advance towards for the achievement of the vision for which Madiba has committed his life, the vision of the Freedom Charter and a caring society.
These tasks include the ongoing project of nation building, in particular the defeat of the demons of racism, sexism, tribalism and related intolerances, like xenophobia. This project must not only address people's attitudes towards one another; it must also address the material conditions under which people live.
Madiba has been a life-long champion of the "principles": that form the core of the movement's current organisational focus: unity, renewal, action. It is therefore, befitting that the ANC celebrate his birthday, under the theme: Unity, Renewal, Action.
We call upon our people to join us in celebrating the life and legacy of the person of the stature of Madiba.
Issued by
ANC Communications
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