Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 18-07-2017
As Mandela Day kicks off across South Africa and across the world on what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 99th birthday, his friend and struggle stalwart Dennis Goldberg has told Radio Islam he misses Madiba’s companionship.
Nelson Mandela International Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July 2009 via unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly.
It was inspired by a call Madiba made a year earlier, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now”.
Mandela Day is more than a celebration of Madiba’s life and legacy; it is a global movement to honour his life’s work and to change the world for the better.
By devoting 67 minutes of their time – one minute for every year of Mandela’s public service – people can make a small gesture of solidarity with humanity and a step towards a global movement for good.
Goldberg says there’s no question about Madiba’s greatness.
“His true greatness in my belief is his ability to analyse situations together with his great comrade Oliver Tambo and other of that generation to find ways forward to mobilize people.”
Goldberg says he misses Madiba a lot.
“I miss most his warmth and his friendship and I love it he used to call me boy because I was 15-years younger and I called him Nel. There was an affection and affectionate relationship and a large part of admiration and I really miss to serve the commander in chief.”
The Nelson Mandela Foundation says the celebration of Mandela Day aims to serve as a global call to action for people to “recognise their individual power to make an imprint and help change the world around them for the better”.
0 Comments