JOHANNESBURG, As South Africa observe Nelson Mandela Day on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that Madiba’s greatest quality was his humanity.
He told the crowd gathered at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg Tuesday for the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture delivered this year by former United States president Barack Obama on Tuesday that Mandela ensured that under his leadership, the ruling party, the African national Congress (ANC) became a global leader in the fight for human rights.
Ramaphosa received a rousing welcome at the stadium along with Obama and former first lady, Grace Machel.
Ramaphosa said Mandela always remained conscious of his human flaws and frailty. As we reflect on an extraordinary life, we are bound to acknowledge that the greatest trait of this son of the African soil was really his humanity,” added the president.
“He was hailed as a global icon and he is memorialised in many parts of the world, his likeness adorns our national currency, yet his most enduring accomplishments was to teach us what it means to be human. As South Africans we are proud to say he was one of us.
Source: NAM News Network