Madiba, 90 years of love

Nelson Mandela is celebrating his 90th birthday in his Transkei Qunu home today - 18 July 2008! Today this humble servant of humanity is with his family the people who made him what he is today. His wife Graca Machel said ahead of this day: The world needs symbols. The world needs to highlight the best values we can find in certain human beings. Mandela is one of those. Former South African president and co-winner of the 1993 Nobel peace prize, FW de Klerk rated Mandela as one of the greatest figures of the last century. He is the most famous South African who has ever lived and is universally regarded as one of the greatest figures of the 20th century.

Mandela’s statesmanship and humility opt him to become the first recipient of the ICOC HOPE Unity Award in 1995. The Unity Award, resembles a hand holding a bundle of sticks tied with a cord mounted on an octagon shape for its base. This original idea came from Pat Gempel, former director of Development for HOPE worldwide. Steve Johnson, former ACES World Sector leader, was responsible for the design, while the hands of Jackie Perreault Gonzales sculpted a magnificent work of art. Pat’s idea based on an old fable tells of a father who handed his children a bundle of sticks tied with a leather cord and gave them the command, “Break it.” Strong as they were, none of them could manage the task and they handed the bundle back to their father. He then untied it, handed each a single stick, and said again, “Break it.’ This they easily did. With an air of gravity and a pause to help drive the point home, the father advised his children, “Unity gives strength.”

Madiba warmly received the honors bestowed on him from an ICOC delegation consisting of Dr. Mark Ottenweller, director of HOPE for the Poor in South Africa, Kip McKean, Bob and Pat Gempel on August 10th 1995 at his official residence in Pretoria. Roger Lamb recorded the event for KNN and the video was shown during the World Missions Leadership conference held in Johannesburg during the period of 9-13 August 1995.

The spirit of Mandela is unbreakable. How do you break love? Nelson Mandela made a profound speech to the court during his opening statement of the Rivonia trial in April 20th 1964. He valued death as an ally in order to achieve an ideal for freedom for all South Africans. During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to the struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.

The day, February 11th 1990 Mandela walked free!

Instead of being a bitter man hardened by prison life he showcased to the world his famous Madiba smile! Through those bitter 27 years on Robben Island Mandela made every effort during tough negotiations leading up to the end of apartheid rule in 1994 to add to his faith goodness. The former National Party leader, FW de Klerk, acknowledged his working relationship during negotiations with Mandela went through hardship. He was a hard, sometimes remorseless negotiating partner and our relationship was often severely strained. Nevertheless, whenever the situation demanded it, we were able to overcome our differences and take concerted action to defuse the crisis as they arose. After his inauguration, Nelson Mandela used his personal charm to promote reconciliation and to mould our widely diverse communities into an emerging multicultural nation. This, I believe, will be seen as his greatest legacy.

And to goodness, Madiba added knowledge. And to knowledge self-control; and to self-control, perseverance. And to perseverance, godliness. And to godliness, brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness, 90 years of love.

Graca Machel is right: The world needs symbols. Perhaps the triumph of Madiba’s dedication to humanity is in the manner he is a living symbol of hope to the world. And perhaps, Mandela’s story will always remain a triumph because this man was in no position to freely give what he had freely received until his release!

Today, 13 years ago, those men from the ICOC delegation, who visited this champion of peace, must learn from an old fable when a father handed a bundle of sticks tied with leather cord and gave them the command, “Break It.”

I think that father (tata) is Nelson Mandela!

Madiba we salute you! Happy Birthday!

Sarel de Wet
Proudly South African