‘Keep Mandela’s dream alive’

WW4 — Women pray during a mass commemorating late South African President Nelson Mandela yesterday in Soweto, near Johannesburg. South Africans crowded into churches, mosques, temples and synagogues to remember Mandela, encouraged by their president to celebrate a life that transcended race and religion

JOHANNESBURG. — The Mandela family yesterday asked all South Africans to help them keep former president Nelson Mandela’s dream alive.“Though he answered to the name father, husband, granddad, son and statesman, we all understood ultimately that Tata remains an inspiration not only to us but to the nation,” General TT Matanzima told reporters in Johannesburg.

“We know and know too well that you the people of the world will not fail Mandela.”
He was reading a statement on behalf of the Mandela family. He was accompanied by Mandela’s grandson Ndaba Mandela.

“We hope you will join us with all the passion, fever, prayer and support… (to) keep his dream alive.”
The family thanked all religious communities for holding prayer services for the anti-apartheid icon yesterday.

“Our burden and pain and sorrow is being lessened by the outpouring. Both our mothers, Graca Machel and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, express their conviction that Nelson Mandela like a flower will continue to blossom in all your hearts forever,” Matanzima read on behalf of the family. — Sapa.