Umjindi pays tribute to the global icon
The service was also graced by the former speaker of Umjindi municipality, Ms Monica Zulu, Ehlanzeni circuit manager, Mr Musa Lenkwati, Municipal Manager, Mr Pat Msibi and the director of community services, Mr Comfort Makhanya.
BARBERTON – Despite the heavy rain fall on Monday evening, ordinary people,church leaders and politicians came in numbers to be part of the prayer service of honouring the father of the nation, Dr Nelson Mandela.
Delegates from different organizations such as South African Communist Party (SACP), Congress of South African Trade Union(COSATU) and South African National Civic Organization(SANCO) shared the stage, voicing out different views about Mandela’s departure as some alluded that Mandela was not only the father of the nation, but he was a Global Icon.
Many residents who were attending the prayer, wore black clothes and held candles as a symbol of mourning.
Delivering the keynote address at the prayer, member of the National Executive Committee in the ANC, Mr David Mahlobo said Mandela was born to be a leader as he sacrificed his personal life, family to free people of this country. That is why they regard him as a global icon. “We were supposed to have a meeting in Johannesburg as the NEC of the ruling party and then we received the bad news. We thought it was a dream as the meeting was cancelled because we have lost a father.Tata was like Jesus. As we all know that Jesus was crucified for our sins and Mandela sacrificed his life for people of this country to be free, we need to work hard to ensure that his legacy lives on.”
He went on and indicated that Madiba was a good leader and a people’s person and called upon the leaders in the province to look up to the icon if they want to take this world to another level. “Kunabaholi abathi banganikwa izikhundla, bazifake enhloko bakhohlwe ukuthi kufanele basebenzele abantu.“Tata was not like that and we don’t want leaders who don’t care about other people. They are focusing on themselves, forgetting that they are occupying those positions for only one purpose, to serve the people,” said Mahlobo.
The executive mayor of Umjindi Local Municipality, Cllr Lazarus Mashaba said: “I have fought a good fight and I have finished my race” that’s what Tata did in this world. We are mourning in South Africa, covered with a dark cloud, not in a way of celebrating his life the good things that he has done. We are gathered to say thank you God for blessing us with Mandela,“ he concluded.
The service was also graced by the former speaker of Umjindi municipality, Ms Monica Zulu, Ehlanzeni circuit manager, Mr Musa Lenkwati, Municipal Manager, Mr Pat Msibi and the director of community services, Mr Comfort Makhanya.
