Nelson Mandela

Family 'humbled' by Mandela messages

20 June 2013

Nelson Mandela's great-grandson, Luvuyo Mandela, says the family is humbled by the messages of support they have been receiving since South Africa's former president was admitted to hospital in Pretoria.

On Thursday, the 94-year-old elder statesman began his 13th day in the hospital, where he was admitted on 8 June with the recurrence of a lung infection that has now seen him hospitalised four times since December.

"We are humbled by the message of support, and we appreciate the time you spend thinking about him and his health," Luvuyo told SAnews after the launch of the 2013 International Nelson Mandela Day in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

"As a family, we say thank you very much for sending him your blessings."

Luvuyo is the grandson of Thembekile, Nelson Mandela's son from his first marriage to Evelyn Mase. Thembekile was killed in a car accident in 1969.

Regarding Mandela Day, the 27-year-old Luvuyo said: "As people we must keep doing the good. On the Day we come together as a community of people, we take care of each other, so I urge people to help those who do not have the capacity to do it for themselves - it is worth doing it."

Department of International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela said they would be sending one of the Rivonia Trialists, Andrew Mlangeni, to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly session commemorating Mandela Day.

"We are sending Tata Andrew Mlangeni to go and speak on this day," Monyela said. "Mlangeni is one of the surviving Rivonia Trialists, he knows Mandela as they have served prison terms on Robben Island together."

Monyela urged South Africans and the people of the world to continue to "make every day a Mandela Day" by doing things that made a difference in their communities.

Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory CEO Sello Hatang said: "There is no greater respect and honour than making sure that we care for our communities.

"If the international community can participate and make a difference on Mandela Day, we should take the lead as South Africans."

In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared Mandela's birthday, 18 July, as International Nelson Mandela Day.

On Mandela Day and through the month of July, South Africans and people all over the world are encouraged to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time to community work in honour of the 67 years that Mandela gave in service and sacrifice.

Source: SAnews.gov.za

Print this page Send this article to a friend

South African Government Online   •   South African Tourism   •   South African National Parks   •   Wines of South Africa
South African Broadcasting Corporation   •   South African Airways   •   JSE   •   Business Unity South Africa

Site published for Brand South Africa by Big Media Publishers