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Pullout Pullout Madiba 90th birthday special

A tribute to a peoples hero, statesman and leader “Long Walk to Freedom”

ou can see that “there is no easy walk to freedom Extracts from Historical Statements anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow (of death) again and again by in celebration of before we reach the mountain tops of our desires. his 90th birthday – 18 July 2008

“Dangers and difficulties have not We, the people of South Af- deterred us in the past; they will not rica, feel fulfilled that humanity has frighten us now. But we must be pre- taken us back into its bosom, that we, pared for them like men in business who were outlaws not so long ago, who do not waste energy in vain talk have today been given the rare privi- and idle action. The way of prepara- lege to be host to the nations of the tion (for action) lies in our rooting out world on our own soil. all impurity and indiscipline from our organisation and making it the bright We thank all our distinguished and shining instrument that will cleave international guests for having come its way to (Africa’s) freedom.” to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a com- “No Easy Walk to Freedom” mon victory for justice, for peace, for Presidential Address (1) by human dignity. Nelson R. Mandela to the ANC (Transvaal) Congress – 21 Sep- We trust that you will continue tember 1953 to stand by us as we tackle the chal- This is an extract from the Presi- lenges of building peace, prosperity, dential address by Nelson Man- non-sexism, non-racialism and democ- dela to the ANC Transvaal Con- racy. Never, never and never ference. He was elected as ANC Transvaal President early in 1953 We must therefore act to- again shall it be that but had been served with a ban- gether as a united people, for na- this beautiful land will ning order and the address was tional reconciliation, for nation build- therefore read on his behalf. ing, for the birth of a new world. again experience the oppression of one by I hate race discrimination most Let there be justice for all. intensely and in all its manifestations. I another and suffer the have fought it all during my life; I fight Let there be peace for all. indignity of being the it now, and will do so until the end of my days. Even although I now happen Let there be work, bread, skunk of the world. to be tried by one whose opinion I hold water and salt for all. in high esteem, I detest most violently the set-up that surrounds me here. It During my lifetime I have “” Let each know, that for each the makes me feel that I am a black man dedicated myself to this struggle Nelson Mandela’s statement body, the mind and the soul have been in a white man’s court. This should not of the African people. I have fought from the dock at the opening of freed to fulfil themselves. be. I should feel perfectly at ease and against white domination, and I have the defence case in the Rivonia The sun shall never set on so glo- NAUGURATION AS PRESIDENT at home with the assurance that I am fought against black domination. Trial Never, never and never again rious a human achievement! OF THE DEMOCRATIC REPUB- being tried by a fellow South African I have cherished the ideal of a Pretoria Supreme Court – shall it be that this beautiful land will LIC OF UNION who does not regard me as an inferior, democratic and free society in which 20 April 1964 again experience the oppression of God bless Africa! BUILDINGS entitled to a special type of justice. all persons live together in harmony one by another and suffer the indig- STATEMENT OF THE PRESI- Pretoria, 10 May 1994 and with equal opportunities. It is an The revulsion of the world nity of being the skunk of the world. DENT OF THE AFRICAN NA- Compiled by; Geeta Daya, & ‘Black man in a white court’ ideal which I hope to live for and to against is growing and TIONAL CONGRESS, NELSON Shaune van Wyk, Nelson Mandela’s First Court achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal the frontiers of white supremacy are Let freedom reign. ROLIHLAHLA MANDELA, AT HIS Source: ANC website: www.anc.org.za Statement – 1962 for which I am prepared to die. shrinking. Mozambique and Angola

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are free and the war of liberation gath- only I have suffered during these long, Botha, speaking in parliament, black domination. I have cherished the the victory of the struggle for a united, rations. The struggle for democracy ers force in Namibia and Zimbabwe. lonely, wasted years. I am not less life- offered Mandela his freedom on ideal of a democratic and free society democratic and non-racial South Af- has never been a matter pursued by The soil of our country is destined to loving than you are. But I cannot sell condition that he ‘uncondition- in which all persons live together in rica is within our grasp. one race, class, religious community be the scene of the fiercest fight and my birthright, nor am I prepared to sell ally rejected violence as a politi- harmony and with equal opportunities. or gender among South Africans. In the sharpest battles to rid our conti- the birthright of the people to be free. cal weapon’. It is an ideal which I hope to live for Tribute is also due to the honouring those who fought to see nent of the last vestiges of white mi- I am in prison as the representative of and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an non-aligned countries and this day arrive, we honour the best nority rule. the people and of your organisation, This was the sixth offer of re- ideal for which I am prepared to die. movement and the peoples of the rest sons and daughters of all our people. the African National Congress, which lease reported to have been of the world for their own sterling ef- We can count amongst them Africans, The world is on our side. The was banned. made to Mandela. Previous of- NELSON MANDELA’S ADDRESS forts in pursuit of the common cause. Coloureds, Whites, Indians, Muslims, OAU, the UN and the anti-apartheid fers were conditional on his go- TO RALLY IN CAPE TOWN ON What we must once more urge, is that Christians, Hindus, Jews - all of them movement continue to put pressure on What freedom am I being offered ing to live in the ban- HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON all these forces should maintain their united by a common vision of a better the racist rulers of our country. Every while the organisation of the people tustan. He rejected them all on 11 February 1990 unity around the perspectives con- life for the people of this country. effort to isolate South Africa adds remains banned? What freedom am I the grounds that he rejected the tained in the UN and Harare decla- strength to our struggle. being offered when I may be arrested and all who collabo- These questions will arise rations on South Africa. How fast we It was that vision that inspired on a pass offence? What freedom am rated in their establishment and because when this august body, the progress towards liberation will de- us in 1923 when we adopted the first At all levels of our strug- I being offered to live my life as a fam- maintenance. United Nations, first discussed the pend on how successful we are in our ever Bill of Rights in this country. That gle, within and outside the country, ily with my dear wife who remains in South African question in l946, it was efforts to sustain that united resolve same vision spurred us to put forward much has been achieved and much banishment in Brandfort? What free- Mandela’s response to the lat- discussing the issue of racism. They the African Claims in 1946. It is also remains to be done. But victory is cer- dom am I being offered when I must est offer was read on his behalf will be posed because the spur to the STATEMENT AT A SPECIAL the founding principle of the Freedom tain! ask for permission to live in an urban by his daughter Zinzi to a mass establishment of this Organisation MEETING OF THE UN SPECIAL Charter we adopted as policy in 1955, area? What freedom am I being of- meeting in Jabulani Stadium, was the determination of all humanity COMMITTEE AGAINST APART- which in its very first lines, places be- WE SALUTE ALL OF YOU! fered when I need a stamp in my pass Soweto, on 10 February 1985. never again to permit racist theory and HEID fore South Africa an inclusive basis for ‘UNITE! MOBILISE! FIGHT to seek work? What freedom am I be- practice to dragoon the world into the citizenship …. ON! BETWEEN THE ANVIL OF ing offered when my very South Afri- I stand here before you not as deathly clutches of war and genocide. New York, 22 June l990 … In 1980s the African National UNITED MASS ACTION AND can citizenship is not respected? a prophet but as a humble servant of Congress was still setting the pace, THE HAMMER OF THE ARMED you, the people. Your tireless and he- And yet, for all that, a racist For we must, together and being the first major political formation STRUGGLE WE SHALL CRUSH Only free men can negotiate. roic sacrifices have made it possible tyranny established itself in without delay, begin to build a better in South Africa to commit itself firmly APARTHEID!’ Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. for me to be here today. I therefore our country. As they knew would hap- life for all South Africans. This means to a Bill of Rights, which we published Herman Toivo ja Toivo, when freed, place the remaining years of my life in pen, who refused to treat this matter creating jobs, building houses, provid- in November 1990. These milestones This message was Mandela’s never gave any undertaking, nor was your hands. as a quaint historical aberration, this ing education and bringing peace and give concrete expression to what call after the he called upon to do so. tyranny has claimed its own conclave security for all. South Africa can become. They speak of 1976. It was published by the On this day of my release, I extend of victims. It has established its own of a constitutional, democratic, political ANC on 10 June 1980, with an in- I cannot and will not give any my sincere and warmest gratitude brutal worth by the number of children SPEECH BY NELSON MAN- order in which, regardless of colour, troduction by OR Tambo, Presi- undertaking at a time when I and you, to the millions of my compatriots and it has killed and the orphans, the wid- DELA ANNOUNCING THE ANC gender, religion, political opinion or dent of the ANC at the time. the people, are not free. those in every corner of the globe who ows and widowers it can claim as its ELECTION VICTORY sexual orientation, the law will provide have campaigned tirelessly for my re- unique creation. for the equal protection of all citizens I cherish my own freedom Your freedom and mine cannot lease. Carlton Hotel, Johannesburg, dearly, but I care even more for be separated. I will return. We also salute the front- 2 May 1994 NELSON MANDELA’S AD- your freedom. Too many have died In conclusion I wish to quote my line states of Southern Af- DRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF since I went to prison. Too many have ‘I AM NOT prepared to sell the birth- own words during my trial in 1964. They rica and the rest of our We have fought for a democratic CAPE TOWN, GRAND PARADE, suffered for the love of freedom. I owe right of the people to be free’ are true today as they were then: continent for their own enormous constitution since the 1880s. Ours has ON THE OCCASION OF HIS IN- it to their widows, to their orphans, to contribution to the struggle against been a quest for a constitution freely AUGURATION AS STATE PRES- their mothers and to their fathers who On 31 January 1985 the State ‘I have fought against white apartheid, which has brought us to adopted by the people of South Africa, IDENT have grieved and wept for them. Not President of South Africa, P W domination, and I have fought against the point today when we can say that reflecting their wishes and their aspi- Cape Town, 9 May 1994

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