Nelson Mandela Family statetment, SABC Aucklandpark Johannesburg

13 December 2013

Tomorrow Saturday 14 December 2013 marks the beginning of our father Nelson Mandela’s final Long Walk back to Qunu, his  resting place. In this difficult journey of our father back home our elders Mama Graca Machel, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, others family and elders of our clan will be at his side.

Once more, as the Nelson Mandela family we extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Jacob Zuma and the government of South Africa for the excellent arrangements made to enable the people of our country, Africa the rest of the world to honour our father in a befitting and dignified manner.

The various memorial and prayers services, concerts, public lectures, messages of support and condolences in various media-television, radio, print and social media remain a source of great inspiration to Mama Graca Machel, Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the entire family of Nelson Mandela during this difficult hour.

We drew further inspiration and courage in the long queues of thousands of our people, who braced the cold and wet weather conditions to pay their respects to this icon and leader of the nation at the seat of government at the Union Buildings in Pretoria from Wednesday-Friday 11-13 December 2013.

Madiba is certainly at peace having been bid farewell by the people he so dearly loved, sacrificed and was prepared to lay down his life for- the people of South Africa in their various formations, young and old, black and white, labour and business, religious and non-religious, rich and poor. This is a constant reminder to all of us that Madiba belonged to the people and it is only correct that he was returned to the people before his journey back to Qunu.

Even though Madiba has passed on we remain critically aware that he lives on in each one of us as a nation. We are of the conviction that his teachings, ideals, values, a deep and burning desire to serve our people will continue to guide each one of us and the nation as whole and to remain a shining light in efforts to better the lives of all our people.

We are confident that  Nelson Mandela will continuously grow in the hearts of our nation forever!

As we prepare for the committal of his mortal remains in his final resting place in Qunu on Sunday 15 December we shall do so strengthened by the prayers and thoughts of a nation, continent and the world in mourning with our family.

In conclusion, we wish to draw strength from the writings of  Nikolai Ostrovsky  when he said “Man's dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once, and he must live it so as to feel no torturing regrets for wasted years, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past; so live that, dying, he might say: all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world──the fight for the Liberation of Mankind”

Madiba will indeed rest in peace knowing he dedicated his entire life to the just cause of the liberation of all our people, black and white, from the shackles of oppression and exploitation, even at a great personal cost.
I thank you

For more info: General Temba Matanzima
072-234-4049
Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela family statement

11 December 2013

Johannesburg - Today the mortal remains of our father and leader of our people, Nelson Mandela, lie in state at the Union Buildings, Pretoria.

It is indeed at this very seat of government that our father took the Oath of Office in the presence of thousands of our people and international dignitaries in 1994 to usher in the dawn of peace, freedom and democracy in South Africa.

It is accordingly a fitting tribute that the nation returns him to the seat of government on his way to his final journey to his resting place at Qunu.

As he lies in peace at the Union Buildings, Madiba would be happy to know he is surrounded by thousands of South Africans, whom he loved and served - or served with - in the prosecution of the just struggle for democracy, and in laying the foundations in 1994 for a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic South Africa.

We are humbled that millions of South Africans who loved him, stood by him through his trials and tribulations, supported him as he ascended to power and witnessed the progress of his physical frailty during his last days, can now join us in bidding him farewell.

As the Mandela Family, we take this opportunity today to extend our gratitude to those who honoured Madiba with their presence during the National Memorial Service at FNB Stadium, Johanesburg, yesterday.

Around the country and the world, millions of people followed yesterday’s proceedings through television, radio and online and social media from their homes, in community centres, at public viewing areas, in their offices and elsewhere.

Through your prayers, reflections, thoughts, cards and flowers, tweets and messages recorded in books of condolence across the country and the world, you have indeed made this an extraordinary week for all of humanity.

We were particularly humbled by the fact that thousands of people braved cold and wet weather to honour Madiba and stand by us.

We are grateful today, as we were yesterday, for the messages of support that were whispered to us in private, as well as for the stirring tributes that were orated publicly.

While this presented us with some emotional difficulty and sadness, we were also comforted by the knowledge that we were surrounded by loving, supportive friends, comrades, ordinary South Africans, an affectionate nation, and the international community.

Under these conditions, it is a source of consolation and strength for us to have shared Madiba with people of our country, Africa and the world as we embark on this difficult last mile to his resting place in Qunu.

Our mothers, Mama Graca Machel and Mama Winnie Mandela, are strengthened by the knowledge that as they begin to prepare to accompany Madiba on his Long Walk to Qunu, South Africa, Africa and the world are at their side.

It is our conviction that on this last mile, this nation will pull together and bid farewell in the most dignified and disciplined manner possible that Madiba would have expected of us.

For more information, contact General TT Matanzima

Cell: 072 234 4049