Citizens of Makana will unite with the rest of the country as we mourn the passing of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
President Jacob Zuma announced last night that the beloved founding President of our democratic nation, has died. He made the announcement on national radio and television shortly before midnight, telling a shocked nation that Mandela had passed away peacefully in the company of his family at his home around 8.50pm on Thursday 5 December 2013.
Citizens of Makana will unite with the rest of the country as we mourn the passing of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
President Jacob Zuma announced last night that the beloved founding President of our democratic nation, has died. He made the announcement on national radio and television shortly before midnight, telling a shocked nation that Mandela had passed away peacefully in the company of his family at his home around 8.50pm on Thursday 5 December 2013.
Zuma said, “Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.” He said, “Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss.”
Madiba will be accorded a State Funeral and all flags of the Republic of South Africa will be lowered to half-mast from today, 6 December, and will remain at half-mast until after the funeral.
There were fears for Mandela’s life earlier this year when he spent almost three months in hospital with a recurring lung infection. He was later transferred to his home in Houghton, Johannesburg when his condition appeared to have stabilised.
In the ensuing weeks, the Presidency issued a series of almost identical statements saying that Mandela was in a serious but stable condition, while the international and national media camped outside his house on a permanent vigil.
The next edition of Grocott’s Mail will carry a full supplement celebrating the life of the man who dedicated his whole life to the people of this country and taking a closer look at his connections with Grahamstown.
We invite readers to write in and share with us their feelings about the passing of our beloved leader, and let us know if you had a personal experience with him.
You can send your condolences to Grocott’s Mail’s SMS line at 082 049 2146 or email them to online@grocott’s.co.za. We will post them on this website, which will carry news and information about the mourning period and funeral of Nelson Mandela.
Hamba Kahle, Tata.
