Nelson Mandela

Millions to sing, pray for Mandela

16 July 2013

The Department of Basic Education and active citizenship initiative Lead SA have called on schools around the country to sing Happy Birthday and to pray for Nelson Mandela at 8am on Thursday 18 July - and have invited the rest of South Africa to join in.

"The changes we enjoy today are the fruits of the toil of towering icons the stature of Tata Madiba," Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said in a statement on Tuesday. "It can only be a privilege for every learner and every citizen to observe in song and reflect in prayer the 95th birthday of our former president, Nelson Mandela."

Motshekga also appealed to all radio and television stations to play the Happy Birthday song at 8am on Thursday. The song can be played and downloaded here.

Mandela remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital in Pretoria, where he was first admitted on 8 June with a recurring lung infection.

Lead SA and the Department of Basic Education have rallied South African school children for the past two years to sing for Madiba, with millions of school children having participated.

"We decided to do it again for Madiba. We appeal to the nation to rally behind this call and to sing Happy Birthday," Lead SA's Yusuf Abramjee said on Tuesday, adding: "Everyone is also urged to say a prayer for Madiba and his family at their own discretion.

"The idea is not only to wish Madiba well but also to rally the world in service to the community. Let's turn every day into a Mandela Day."

Abramjee said said schools should also use the opportunity to reflect on Madiba's legacy on Thursday. "Let’s follow Tata's example of serving others," Abramjee said.

Sello Hatang, the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, said: "Our children's education has a special place in Madiba's heart, and is at the centre of our legacy work and mandate to contribute towards a sustainable future through the promotion of social justice.

"Initiatives such as these display a passionate wish to see Nelson Mandela's legacy being kept alive and made available to the world."

SAinfo reporter

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