Obama to deliver Madiba lecture

THE NELSON Mandela Foundation announced on Monday that former US President Barack Obama will deliver the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture of the late South African statesman at Ellis Park Stadium in Joannesburg.

“The Nelson Mandela Foundation is honoured to announce that President Barack Obama accepted our invitation to be the speaker at this year’s 16th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture to take place in Johannesburg on July 17, ahead of Madiba’s birthday,” the Foundation’s chief executive, Sello Hatang, said.

The announcement was made at the launch of Nelson Mandela Day which will also serve as a countdown to Mandela’s centennial birthday on July 18.

The United Nations declared July 18 International Nelson Mandela Day.

Annually, on this day, people across political divides in South Africa and other parts of the world devote 67 minutes doing charitable work.

The 67 minutes signify the 67 years Madiba dedicated to the service of others.

Mandela would have turned 100 this year.

The former president died in 2013 aged 95.

The choice of Mandela and South Africa are freighted with symbolism for Obama at a time when his political legacy is being dismantled by his successor, President Donald Trump, who crudely disparaged African countries and complained about laws that would protect immigrants from those places.

“It gives him an opportunity to lift up a message of tolerance, inclusivity and democracy at a time when there are obviously challenges to Mandela’s legacy around the world,” said Benjamin J Rhodes, a former speechwriter for Obama.