Happy Birthday to Madiba
RICH AND POOR, OLD AND YOUNG, HONOUR FREEDOM S PATRIARCH
FORMER president Nelson Mandela united South Africans from all walks of life from his hospital bed in Pretoria yesterday.
Rich, poor, black, white, young and old rubbed shoulders outside the Mediclinic Heart Hospital.
They all had the same message “Happy birthday Mandela”. The streets surrounding the hospital were flooded with people and the spirit of ubuntu.
People bumped into each other and apologised, they called each other brother, sis-
We should sing and dance for him, it will lift his spirit
ter and comrade.
Others hugged and held hands as they sang “Nelson Mandela gave us a miracle”.
Schoolchildren from around the country visited. Senior citizens said they were hurting that he was in hospital – while the youth believed singing and dancing would make him better.
Elizabeth Philips, 63, of Gogo on Tours in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, said she was upset because a hospital was “an unpleasant place to stay for so long”.
Gogo on Tours is a group of elderly women who tour the country for fun.
“We are here to wish Tata a very happy birthday. Above all, we want him to get well. “He has done so much for us. It hurts us to see him in hospital and may the Lord heal him.”
Wearing a T-shirt with Mandela’s picture on it, Sani Kaka, 19, said: “It’s all about being with Mandela in spirit and being there for him.
“He is a great man, he is like Superman without the uniform. He fought a massive war and won without a single weapon. Happy birthday to him.”
Lizette Wana, 36, from Kinshasa, said:
“We love Mandela too much. He fought for all people, not only for South Africans. We pray for him all the time.”
Thabo Ntuli, 17, from the Christian Progressive College, said he preferred to sing and dance for Mandela.
“I think we should stop stressing and fearing that he might die.
“We should sing and dance for him, it will lift his spirit. I choose to be positive.”
Kaizer Chiefs’s Itumeleng Khune also made an appearance as did artists Ntando and Zahara.
Ntando said: “I wish Tata a happy birthday. I know that the circumstances are not good at the moment, but he has so much love around him. We love him.”
President Jacob Zuma was also one of the visitors to the hospital.
He was accompanied by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
The presidential band played the national anthem before Zuma entered the hospital. A moment of silence was observed before the singing of a birthday song for Mandela.
“Madiba remains in hospital but his doctors have confirmed that his health is steadily improving,” a presidential statement said.
Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, city manager Jason Ngobeni and chief of metro police chief Steven Ngobeni signed a giant 2mhigh birthday card for Madiba.
Mandela’s grandchildren offered people at the hospital
I would like to assure all of you that he is making
progress
food and cake.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela also came out, to say thank you to the people.
In the morning, Mandela’s daughter Zindzi assured the nation that her father was making tremendous progress.
Zindzi was speaking at the Union Buildings where her father was one of the first citizens to receive the new smart-card ID.
“On behalf of the family we would like to thank everyone for their support.
“Though I am not a doctor, I would like to assure all of you he is making tremendous progress.”