Well wishes pour in for Mbeki on his birthday

References to his tenure prominent

Birthday wishes poured in for former president Thabo Mbeki who celebrated his 75th birthday yesterday.

Mbeki shares a birthday with music legend Sir Paul McCartney, who also turned 75.

Among those who wished Mbeki well on social media were former public protector Thuli Madonsela and Zelda la Grange‚ former personal assistant to the late Nelson Mandela.

Wishing Mbeki well on Twitter‚ La Grange said: “Happy birthday frm President Thabo Mbeki. If only we knew then‚ what the future would hold… You taught us an expensive lesson. But Tk u Sir.”

Madonsela tweeted: “Happy birthday President Mbeki. Blessings in years ahead.”

The South African government also sent a message to wish him well.

In a statement‚ Cope said South Africans were enormously beholden to the “huge role this statesman‚ Thabo Mbeki‚ has played in the liberation of our country”.

The ANC in Gauteng tweeted: “Today we wish former President Thabo Mbeki a very revolutionary birthday and may he see many more. Long live Comrade Mbeki – long live!”

ANC yethu Sonke @todayANC tweeted: “A Happ Birthday to South Africa’s best President‚ Mr Thabo Mbeki.”

“Happy 75th birthday Thabo Mbeki. When you were president‚ the economy grew on average 4.5%.

“Now we only dream of those days‚” Khaya Dlanga said in a tweet.

Another tweet‚ from Ipaleng @ipaleng‚ read: “#ThaboMbeki. Happy bday one of the cluefull intellectual leader of our times.”