South Durban pays tribute to Tata Madiba

Ivor Aylward, Bluff Ratepayers Association:

If only everybody had as forgiving a heart as Nelson Mandela had when he came out of jail. With such a forgiving heart, he changed a lot of people in this country and the world. When he was released, the majority in South Africa thought it was pay back time, but it was not so because of this man who never showed any resentment and led South Africa to a peaceful democracy with so many odds against him. I salute Mandela.

Duncan Du Bois, Ward 66 councillor:

His chief legacy was his statesmanship. From that flowed his conciliatory and accommodating humanism. One stand-out example of that was his visit to Betsy Verwoerd in Oranje in 1995. The historic implications of that visit exemplified the essence of his legacy.

Simitha Bechan, SDCEA:

Mandela was and always will be a great man. He has fought for this country and it is because of him that we are living in a country that is not racially segregated. Mandela is an icon and an inspiration not only for SA but for the entire world. It saddens me to say that a hero has fallen.

Harry Etheridge, Sodurba:

I believe Nelson Mandela’s legacy to be love, peace and reconciliation to create a “foundation of immense proportions”. What he fought for he did so in love, his battle against oppression was done to bring peace and he did amazing work in reconciliation. His legacy is now with us and we have an awesome responsibility to build on an incredible foundation set in place by an amazing man. It is a gift of a foundation of immense proportions that we have been given to build an amazing “skyscraper” nation. The foundation is in place, the future is before us, may we rise to the challenge before us, with all that has been given freely to us by God, using an incredibly gifted man, Madiba.

Gavin Hegter, Montclair CPF:

Even though we knew that this time would come, it is still a shock. As the world mourns the loss of the father of our nation, Tata Madiba, I believe we need to reflect on his dreams for our country. On so many occasions he brought the people of our country together as a nation. I can only hope that his passing will remind our people of what he stood for and that we can stand together again to heal our country and build the South Africa that he sacrificed so much to build.

Vanessa Wilesmith, Durban South Lion Club:

Nelson Mandela was a great source of inspiration to the Durban South Lions Club as our members firmly believe in education. A quote from Mandela: “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

Claire Hodgkinson, Crow:

Madiba was a true inspiration and visionary who, through the chaos and turmoil of the time, was able to foresee a brighter future for South Africa and its people. Here at Crow we intend to honour this great man and his legacy of freedom for all by re-pledging our commitment to giving our wildlife a second chance at a free, safe and sustainable life.

Pat Bayley, Angels of Mercy:

Through the work of the Angels of Mercy Care Centre I have seen the wonderful fruits of the man, Nelson Mandela’s work. I have seen the love and care given and received by people who are different from each other in so many ways. My hope and prayer is that in honour of his passing, we would continue on the road he began.