Dear Mr Mandela ...
Welcome to the official Nelson Mandela 85th Birthday Message Book, page 6
Nelson Mandela turned 85 on 18 July 2003 - and you, and you, and you ... sent him 17 842 birthday messages via the official Mandela 85th Birthday website.
A selection of your messages has been published in this Book. See the box on the right for the full list of pages.
Veels geluk met u verjaarsdag Mnr. Mandela. Mag u nog lank vir Suid-Afrika gespaar bly. Baie dankie vir die wonderlike voorbeeld wat u vir ons is. Dit is 'n voorreg om in dieselfde tyd as u te leef.
Baie liefde,
Louette Visser
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Ubukho bakho ehlabathini bulivumba elimandi; buzisa isidima kwabahlelelekileyo; burhwaqelisa oongalo-nkulu. Sekunga singolulelwa imihla yakho de sibe siqingqe ngokwaneleyo. Inga imini yakho ingazala zizo zonke izinto ozinqwenelayo. Min'emnandi kuwe,
Tata.
Lubabalo Mrwebi
Cumakala, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Dear Tata! You are an icon of peace, unity and reconciliation.
May God add more years on your life and energy!
Duvha la mabebo lavhudisa!
Humphrey Mutangwa
Berea, Gauteng, South Africa
Tata! what else do we want? We were very blessed to have somebody like you. Happy birthday and wish that the Almighty prolongs your life with us. All the best to you. Love.
Mandla Magudulela
Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
Ntatemogolo Madiba. O dirile tlhe rra rona. O re segetse motlhala o re tla o salang morago. A masego le pholo e e edileng di go atele.
M.Kgantsi
Mafikeng, North West, South Africa
Dear President Mandela, happy birthday and thank you for all you have done. There is no gift anyone could give to you, that would even come close to the gift you have
given us. Thank you and a very happy birthday.
Cheryl
UK/South Africa
Happy birthday Madiba! I hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for building this great nation - I am prouder every day that I am a South African! Viva Madiba Viva!
Claire Mowatt
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
May you have an excellent day! And thanks for everything you have done for us! As a white South African I hope I can raise my children in this wonderful country and tell them and teach them and show them what you have done! From me and my wife a very happy birthday!
Charl Smit
Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
Happy birthday and many more years to live. You are a blessing to me. Be blessed.
Bonakele Dlamini
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Dearest Madiba. May God's favour shine upon you each and every day for being the
architect of transformation in South Africa. Happy birthday. I pray that there will be many more.
Anri Cronje
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
You may or will never know that I wished you a Happy Birthday, but you will know that I am one of those people you wonder "who wished me a Happy 85th Birthday". You are so close, yet so distant. Happy birthday Tat' uMadiba and carry on being a Happy person.
Nolitha Bikitsha
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Happy birthday, Madiba! May the Lord bless you and take care of you, may He be kind and gracious to you, may He look on you with favour and give you peace. Enjoy the day!
Pieter and Carien Kruger
Cradock, Gauteng, Eastern Cape
Happy 85th birthday, Tat'uMadiba. You are an inspiration to us even in your late ages. May the Lord God grant you long life and health. May the young generation take example from
you. We love you, Tata.
Sabelo Mthethwa
Alan Manor, Johannesburg, South Africa
Tata! No words can define how the nation feels about you. The whole world must no longer use a dictionary to define the meaning of peace and unity among diversity of nations in the world, rather they must read and learn about you. May the good Lord keep you alive forever! Happy birthday Tata!
Humphrey Mutangwa
Parktown, Gauteng, South Africa
Happy Birthday Madiba! It is a real blessing for me to have witnessed your release from jail, your leadership, your wisdom and humility. I hope you livelong enough for my 3-year-old son to witness the same.
Titus Shihlomola
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Dear Madiba, have a joyous 85th birthday, though keep some for the 90th and 95th! Your energy, principled and love for our country will inspire me for as long as I
live.
Melissa Fourie
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Dearest Madiba, I witnessed your release from prison on German TV with a group of friends and I have to say that these moments have been some of the most emotional in my life. You have been and still are a true inspiration to all of us who believe in a better and just world for all mankind. You have set an unmatched example of humaneness and outstanding leadership. Thanks for being with us and please do stay around for many more years! Happy birthday and much love!
Uwe Schulz
Münster, Germany
Happy birthday xhego ... ngikunqwenellea ubomi obude!
Zinhle Makhaza
Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa
You are a father, a grandfather and everything to us. We love you and pray to God that he keeps you for many more years. Happy 85th birthday to you, you are an inspiration to us and you make us proud to
be South Africans!
Margaret Maesela
Kew, Johannesburg, South Africa
Happy Birthday Tata, May God give you many more years.
Gcotyelwa Mkaza
East London, Eastern Cape
Dearest Tata, Ke ho lakaletsa bophelo bo botle ka letsatsi la lahao la matswalo. E ka Modimo a ka ho okeletsa matsatsi, SA is truly blessed to have someone like you. Happy 85th birthday!
Gwen Moloi
Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa
I say halala Madiba. May the Lord and the spirits of the departed great leaders of the continent spare you for many more. I have never met you in person, but it was through your gallant fights and subsequent suffering that today I am even able to send this message from a laptop on the 12th floor of a tall building in Johannesburg. I salute you Madiiiiiiiiiiiiiiba.
Motlokwa Siluma-Mmekoa
Naturena, Johannesburg, South
Africa
Happy birthday, tata. God has blessed you with numerous gifts that you used for his work. You are still a pillar of strength to all in Africa.
You are an example to me and my family. Enjoy your day.
Clint Le Roux
Kibler Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Liewe Madiba, Mag God u nog baie seën in hierdie pragtige land, mag u gesondheid geniet en nog verder vir die mense rondom u inspireer met u ongelooflike gesindheid van liefde en vrede. En mag ek eendag die voorreg hê om u te ontmoet. Baie Geluk!
Lita Spreeth
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Thanks for every sacrifice you have made to change our beautiful country. Happy birthday tata. South Africa loves you. Please live for ever.
Mzoxolo Welemva
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Happy birthday Mr Mandela.
You feel the fortune of your years
For
all your children's love.
This day must bring you happy tears
And thoughts that joyful music prove.
Amid the passions of the sea
This day must bring you happy tears.
Where you in silent grace can be
You feel the fortune of your years.
Linda and Dominic Mohomane
Dawn Park, Gauteng, South Africa
Angel father. There are angels walking on this earth disguised as fathers to the nation. Happy birthday to one of them. I know an angel when I see one. Mini emnandi tat'uMandela, wanga uThixo anga kugcina kunye nefamily yakho.
Vuyelwa Vava
Randburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Mr Mandela, Happy birthday! You are an inspiration and I admire your humility. May this day and year be everything you want it to be.
Diana Strydom
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
When you were in Robben Island and Pollsmoor prison your spirit was also
with us. I grew up not knowing you but believed for so many years that you would come back to lead your nation. It is your spirit that assisted many of us to understand what is meant by liberation and we dedicated ourselves to fight for it. Now you are back with us ageing gracefully. You will be 85 years old but that is not the end as we await another 85 years from you. Happy birthday, Madiba, you are a father of all nations, of the world.
Kindest Regards
Khulu Duba
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Dear Mr Mandela. Happy birthday and may you have many more. You are an inspiration to all of South Africa and the world. Thank you for showing us that peace is a state of mind that can be achieved even under the most trying circumstances. We all love you very much and wish you all the best for the coming year and the many years thereafter.
Debbi Hamer
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Madiba, an
angel, such a pure and powerful instrument of God!! May He bless you, keep you, strengthen you and may He find it OK to lend you to this world for some more years to come ... if that's also OK with you! Words cannot express the gratitude you deserve for all the wonderful things that you made possible. God bless you! Happy birthday Madiba, Happy birthday Madiba. Happy birthday. (x2)! Take it away!
Allister Bogart
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
I would like to wish you a wonderful birthday Tata. I think it is only befitting for someone who has sacrificed so much of his life for the freedom of his people to be honoured not only nationally but internationally as well. I hope we, the current youth, take a leaf from the example you have set, an example of selflessness and patriotism, and make South Africa the type of country it is supposed to be, an example of democracy.
Kenneth Solomons
Alexandra,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Madiba, As a child I was taught to fear you and what others claimed you represented. The ignorance of youth. You liberated me just as you liberated this country and its people. For that I will always hold you dear. I wish you a happy birthday and may we, as your very extended family, have the pleasure of celebrating many, many more.
Mark van den Broek
Pretoria, South Africa
Ntate, wishing you another 85th birthday, thank you so much for making us one. May God bless you.
Mosimanegape Mangope
Lehurutshe, South Africa
Dear Mr Mandela, Wishing you a wonderful 85th birthday, and may God continue to hold you in the palm of his hand. Thank you for your leadership and for inspiring each and every citizen of not only South Africa but of the world.
Meg Borelli
Johannesburg, South Africa
Happy birthday TATA Madiba! We, the youth, cherish today because of your sacrifices in life. You opened doors for us. May Our Lord Be With You On Your Special Birthday.
Praise Maja
Lebowakgomo, Limpopo, South Africa
Happy Birthday Mhlonipheki. You are a blessing to the world, we will all be led by your example. Showers of Blessings.
Yolisa Mayongo
Berea North, Johannesburg
Dear Dr Mandela, In my view you are the greatest son Africa has ever produced, if not the world! Have a great day and God bless you.
Johan Otto
Northcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa
Happy Birthday Mr Mandela! May God bless you today, and all that follows! Thank you for showing me that if you want to change a person permanently, you should change his thinking - not his behaviour! And that in life, it is good to keep one's heart
a little softer than one's head... Best wishes!
Sonja Vorster
Umtata, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Madiba - Wishing you life to the fullest. May the years to come fulfill all your dreams. God bless.
Annelise Manickum
Hurlingham Manor, Johannesburg, South Africa
If it wasn't for your 27 year stay on Robben Island, I wouldn't be in front of this computer wishing you a happy birthday. South Africa is what it is today because of your beliefs. Thank you Madiba. Ga gona ya tshwanang le wena.
Lesiba Matjila
Temba, Gauteng, South Africa
You are the greatest statesman. I am glad to have lived during your time. My wish to you is that you should see more glorious years, happy birthday madiba.
Simon Koes Madumo
Mabopane, Gauteng, South Africa
May you have many more years in the sun,
setting a beautiful example for all.
Cheryl-Anne Potgieter
Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa
Tata Madiba, you put forward the challenge of Freedom and Aids for all South Africans and the whole world to see and understand. Now we are sure that there are no easy answers, no quick fixes, no magic bullets. But that everyone has a role to play. You are a really strong leader. I wish you all the best on your 85th birthday. May God help you see many other more years. Love
Naledi Mokgobo
Botshabelo, Free State, South Africa
May all of us, as a nation, learn to follow in your footsteps. Happy Birthday Madiba
Bamba
Kenilworth, Cape Town, Western Cape
To South Africa's Father, Mr Mandela. Madiba, I would like to congratulate you on this your 85th birthday. May you receive the love, peace and fulfillment you so richly deserve. To a man
who takes the time to greet the public and spend time chatting to them, even though all he wanted was to buy a book to read on a Saturday afternoon, I wish you all the best. May you continue to be the man the world has come to respect and cherish. God Bless!
Michael Zandt
Bern, Switzerland/Johannesburg, South Africa
You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there. Happy Birthday Tata!
Tumisang Tyamzashe
Pretoria, South Africa
Happy birthday Cde Madiba. Through your sweat and sacrifices you have given us an opportunity for a good life free from our miserable past. We wish you a long life and an ever-lasting happiness - O gole o lekane le tlou.
Mpho Lekgoro and Juliet Lekgoro
Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa
Mr President, May I take this moment to wish you a
happy birthday and may you have many more.
Ncedo Mlamla
Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa
I wish I could wish you another 85 years of life. We continue to admire your courage. A luta continua
Neville Alexander
Lotus River, Western Cape, South Africa
In a world and times of terrible cynicism and despair, how deeply it warms my soul to know that your love, humanity and dignity are here. That human beings can transcend their own shallow wants for their fellow man, and through humanities' shared love for you, the warmth and pride you bring to people, I am truly humbled and thankful. Many years Madiba, may that spirit show the way to a better world.
Keith Smith
Bangkok , Thailand
Papa Mandela, I wish you a very happy happy birthday. May this day bring you the joy of life and the peace of mind that you've always wished for. Happy
birthday and may God strengthen you to help bring total peace to our impoverished continent Africa.
Aaron Cole Kpehe
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Happy Birthday Tata!!!
Thomas Phetla
Pretoria, South Africa
Nelson Mandela, baie geluk met jou verjaarsdag. Mag die Here jou seëen. (You're the best!)
Ria van Kraayenburg
Middelburg, Mpumalanga
Happy Birthday Madiba, Happy Birthday. Thank you for spending more than 27 years behind bars for my freedom. I am in my middle 20s and could not have asked for more from such a great person as yourself ... You are my hero. Go well comrade and be blessed with many more years. Have a great birthday, great leader Mandela.
Ricardo Harry
Cape Town, South Africa
Happy birthday, Mr Mandela - may the future hold lots of love, happiness and prosperity. Thanks
for being such a wonderful person. If everybody could be like you, this would be a wonderful world to live in! Enjoy your special day! Love
Hester van Rensburg
Rietfontein, Pretoria, South Africa
To a wonderful man, with a heart of gold, a smile of joy and a life of wisdom. You have done what many others will never in their lifetimes come near to doing. My God bless you with many more years of good health and may your life be a guide for our young South Africans to follow. With love and best wishes
Julie Marjoram
Tzaneen, South Africa
May God bless you on your birthday! God is a God of peace and He dearly loves you.
Hester Meyer
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Many happy returns to a great man. May the Lord Bless you for many more happy birthdays. Would love to meet you and shake your hand on this your 85
birthday.
Robin Kleu
Cape Town
In the beginning there were great prophets and saviours, but in this time of ours there is no saviour, Nelson Mandela!!! HOLA O RE PHELELE!! Your presence is a huge difference. Happy birthday!
Ts'eliso Mokhesi
Mapoteng, Lesotho
As Sir Alan Paton wrote in his autobiography, Journey Continued, "In all complexities of life, it was given to each individual to see his appointed duty in society and to fulfill it accordingly". NELSON, you have played your part. Happy Birthday Madiba.
Vuyisile Ngesi
Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa
U sal altyd vir my die President wees en dit is hoe ek U altyd sal aanspreek en van U sal praat. Daar is net een wens in my lewe en dit is om U te kan ontmoet want ek dink U is ‘n wonderlike mens. Daar is nie woorde wat kan beskryf hoe wonderlik U is nie. Dankie vir
alles wat U vir Suid-Afrika gedoen het en baie geluk met U verjaarsdag. Kyk asseblief mooi na U self asook na die gesondheid want Suid-Afriika is nie gereed om U ooit te verloor nie. Baie Liefde
Cathy Mostert
Gordon's Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Your moral and political convictions have endeared you to millions of people around the world. In a continent filled with self-serving leaders with little regard for the welfare of their people, you are clearly a breath of fresh air. I have had the privilege of meeting you but I was so star struck that I didn't take a picture with you! You are still around for a long time yet - my day will come. Happy birthday motho wa batho.
Terence Dambe
Gaborone, Botswana
Happy birthday Mr Big Man, hope you have a great one, and many more to come :)
Matt
Pretoria, South Africa
You are a true
inspiration to us all. Thank you for all that you have done and gone through to get us to a place of growing tolerance and acceptance. I hope we continue upwards and outwards for the rest of our days. Happy Birthday to you Madiba!
Toni Abrahams
Cape Town, South Africa
Happy birthday tatomkhulu. Ngatsho uyonwabele imini yakho.
Lukhanyo Baleni
East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Happy Birthday Madiba. You are the first true trans-national icon since biblical times. May uQamatha bless you waya-waya.
Johannes O Nhlapo
Johannesburg, South Africa
Ingqonyela Yesizwe. Happy 85th Birthday Madiba Omkhulu. We are all grateful of the selfless efforts you made in our country and to the world in general. Persons of your calibre do not deserve to die. Umhlaba ngokubanzi ukothulela umnqwazi ngenxaxheba yakho
engahexiyo.
Mceleni Maphem
Pretoria, South Africa
Dear Madiba - Wishing you a very happy 85th birthday! You continue to be an inspiration to us all. Thank you for giving me renewed hope in the human spirit.
Penny Bosman
London, UK
Dear Madiba, Happy 85th Birthday. We the children of South Africa want to thank you for everything you have done for us. God Bless you!
Dwayne & Roxanne Keane
Cape Town, South Africa
Happy Birthday to the man who changed me from being proud to be white to being proud to be an African. May God bless you and extend you days!
Jackie Hume
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Happy Birthday Madiba. May GOD grant you many more healthy, happy years.
From the Ismail Richards family
Newclare, Johannesburg, South Africa
Dear
Madiba, Happy 85th birthday. Thank you for making a difference in South Africa. May the Good Lord spare you for another 85 years.
Natalie de Waal
Cape Town
I would like to say happy birthday to you TATA ukhule ungakhokhobi and please don't go before I shake your hand because it has been my dream for a long time.
Siyabulela Badla
Pretoria, South Africa
Happy Birthday Tata. May your strength and wisdom keep on uniting and inspiring nations for many more years to come. U khule u khule!
Kgothatso
Gauteng, South Africa
Dear Zondwa - Happy Birthday and a long-lasting life.
Jack Jaza
Gauteng, South Africa
Tata, you have survived all kinds of weather. You brought freedom to all of us in South Africa and the world. You taught us humanity, to forgive and to be tolerant with
each other. You taught us to be proud, responsible Africans. Uyiqhawe lamqhawe. Today I stand proud to say I am a full citizen of South Africa and the continent because of your sacrifice to all your children to live a better life. On this special occasion, I would like to wish you a happy 85 birthday. Ukhule ungakhokhobi Madiba. Enkosi!
Papa Mbongo
Yeoville, Johannesburg, South Africa
Tata - South Africa could not have survived without you and we wouldn't have been proudly South African for that matter. Happy Birthday, may your wisdom and spirit live on. Ukhule Khule!
Veronica
Gauteng, South Africa
Happy Birthday Madiba! You are an inspiration to all of us, especially those of us displaced in the UK. I'm so proud to be associated with you as a fellow SA citizen. And cannot wait to return to South Africa and contribute to its economic progress. Thank you for being the most amazing
humanitarian figure in the world. Love
Nicola Connell
London
Happy Birthday Mr Mandela. I hope you have a wonderful day and many more years to come. I hope your day is filled with happiness. For all the great and wonderful things you did for us in South Africa, I hope you have many more successful years to come and to be the incredible man we all love and know.
Dianne Hunt-Kemp
London
In 1992, a young white (SA) man described Mandela as a saint. Then I didn't understand what he meant, now having read about this man, having seen him on TV, I agree with the young man entirely. Nelson, I wish you many years of a healthy and peaceful life.
Kwaedza Mwendamberi
Zimbabwe
Imini Emandi Kuwe Tata. Thank you for making me proud to be a South African! Enjoy your day with your family and friends.
Rhian
Holdsworth
London
Happy birthday Madiba. Enjoy the rest of the years to come.
Lorraine
Johannesburg, South Africa
E ka Modimo a ka o ekeletsa matsatsi a ho phela a o fa le bohlale ba ho pholosa lefatshe.
Joseph Moreleba Ramodikoe Masilo
Lenasia, Johannesburg, South Africa
Congratulations on the journey still continuing!
Karen Oosthuizen
Gauteng, South Africa
Dear Madiba, Happy Birthday! Your life inspires me. Thank you for all that you have done for our beautiful country. I wish you many more years to come. Lots of love,
Robin Hager
Cape Town, South Africa
I wish you a very happy, blessed 85th birthday Madiba! It is my pleasure to have my birthday on 18 July as well. I am just 23 years younger than you! Have a wonderful day! God bless.
Marsha
Green
Langebaan, Western Cape, South Africa
We love you "madala". We wish you'll stay with us forever! Happy birthday.
Bruna Viola and Maria Mojapelo
Pretoria, South Africa
Happy birthday Tata, hope you see many more. Because of you, I'm proud to be South African. Viva
Busi
Pretoria, South Africa
I wish you many more years but I wish to rewind all the ages for you to be 18 years. Tata you are a great person from God. I don't know what we will do without you Dada. Enjoy your birthday and nice day.
Molatelo Mohale
Ekurhuleni, South Africa
Happy 85th birthday Living Legend. We are proud of you and happy that you were born in our country. We won't mind if God gives you another 100 years (this time no prison) because your life is an investment to mankind. You are our hope. When we think of you words vanish
and love and joy overflow in our veins. Long live the true son of mankind.
Ndivhuwo Phidza
Lwamondo, Limpopo, South Africa
Baie geluk met u 85de verjaarsdag. Mag dit 'n wonderlike dag wees en dankie vir dit wat u alles vir ons land Suid-Afrika gedoen het.
Muller-gesin
Goodwood, Cape Town, South Africa
I wish you a happy birthday Tata.
Sam Seitsiro
Bothaville, Free State, South Africa
Geluk met jou verjaarsdag Madiba. As almal in ons land soos jy was, was RSA beslis die beste plek op aarde. Dankie vir Alles en lekker verjaar.
Dr. Koos Myburgh
Bloemfontein, South Africa
I thank you for serving the whole nation with determination and keen interest. People must stop engaging you in exhaustive activities and give you peace of mind on your retirement period. See many more years to
come!!!
Humphrey Mutangwa
Tshidimbini Village, Limpopo, South Africa
Thank you tata Madiba for your sacrifice and the love you have shown to the entire South African nation. I am very grateful for all. May the Almighty God be with you when you celebrate your 85th birthday. We can only carry on from the foundation you have built for us and not destroy what you have accomplished for us. Ndiya bulela vela-ba-mbentsele, sophisho ...!
Jayson Tjaros
Johannesburg, South Africa
Happy Birthday Madiba! Thank you for all the sacrifices you made for us and our country. You are truly a gift from God. May He grant that your years to come be full of blessings and happiness. Love, your grateful countrymen
Ben & Taryn Gaunt
Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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The Nelson Mandela 85th Birthday Message Book:
