Chahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), July 18, 2014 (SPS) - South Africa and peoples of the world pay Friday, July 18th, homage to the anti-apartheid freedom fighter and former president of the Republic of South Africa, late Nelson Mandela, who died at 95 on December 5th, 2013.
18th July, which is Mandela’s birthday, was declared by the UN General Assembly as Nelson Mandela International Day in 2009.
Celebrated under the theme “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day,” this day recognizes Mandela’s commitment to human rights, freedom, dignity and people’s rights to self-determination and independence.
“Nelson Mandela will be remembered not only as a the emancipator of his people and the first President of free and democratic South Africa but also as a beacon of hope and a source of great inspiration to all peoples in the world that are struggling against tyranny and oppression. His lifetime resistance to apartheid and his emblematic journey from prison to the presidency in South Africa showed the world that however brutal the colonial oppression might be, the will of the oppressed people would eventually prevail,” writes the President of the Republic Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, in a letter of condolences to his South African counterpart Mr. Jacob Zuma, date back to 6th December 2013, following the passing away of Nelson Mandela. (SPS)
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