News

Nelson Mandela meets Rwandan President Paul Kagame

Madiba greets fellow African leader

20 March 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Dialogue for Justice

March 20, 2009 – Nelson Mandela met with President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, during a courtesy call at his office in Houghton today.

Nelson Mandela meets Kenya's Deputy Prime Minister

Madiba meets Uhuru Kenyatta

20 March 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Dialogue for Justice

March 20, 2009 – Nelson Mandela met with Kenya's Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta today.

ALI Fellows and the Promise of Leadership

Poem and parable get discussion flowing among network members

19 March 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Dialogue for Justice

Mar 19, 2009 – Members of the African Leadership Initiative (ALI) met near Johannesburg today in a closed session, a precursor to the Nelson Mandela Foundation's Promise of Leadership conference, to discuss the way forward for their organisation.

ALI, which forms part of the Aspen Global Leaders' Network, focuses on creating networks to effect change. This is done by using the influence of powerful individuals and leaders who form part of the ALI classes.

Foundation to host Promise of Leadership conference

Promise of Leadership dialogue brings together Africa’s leaders

12 March 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Dialogue for Justice

March 12, 2009 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation Centre of Memory and Dialogue is to bring together a range of past, present and future leaders to tackle the dynamic and challenging issue of "The Promise of Leadership".

In our two days of dialogue sessions on March 20 and 21 we hope to build on the fresh excitement that has emerged internationally for leaders who are accountable and inclusive and who lead in the interests of all their people.

Foundation receives Madiba portrait by Marlene Dumas

Dutch ambassador hands over gift to Nelson Mandela

10 March 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

March 10, 2009 – One of South Africa’s most prominent artists, Marlene Dumas, today gifted Nelson Mandela with a portrait of him as a younger man.

The portrait, handed over at a small ceremony at the Nelson Mandela Foundation today by Dutch ambassador Rob de Vos on behalf of Dumas, who resides in the Netherlands, has the handwritten message “Would you trust this man with your daughter?” across the bottom.

Barack Obama thanks Nelson Mandela for his letter

US President honoured by Madiba’s congratulations

9 March 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

March 9, 2009 – Nelson Mandela has received a letter of thanks from United States President Barack Obama thanking Mr Mandela for his “words of encouragement”.

Mr Mandela sent a letter to the US President at the beginning of the year congratulating him “on taking office as the President of the United States of America”.

Coming together to find solutions

Foundation hosts consultative forum to promote social cohesion

2 March 2009 | Category: Dialogue for Justice

March 2, 2009 – The aim of the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s community dialogue programmes is to promote social cohesion by creating a safe place in which members of a community can come together to discuss the challenges they face and find sustainable solutions.

It was fitting, therefore, that the Foundation created a space at its buildings today for organisations to discuss the challenges facing certain communities in South Africa after the recent xenophobic attacks.

Foundation warns public of email scam

“Nelson Mandela Foundation/Fifa World Cup Lottery Draw” a hoax

27 February 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Feb 27, 2009 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation would like to alert the public that there is an email lottery scam doing the rounds.

People are being sent an email which informs them that their “email address has been selected as one of the winners of the Nelson Mandela Foundation/Fifa World Cup Lottery Draw”.

Anthony Sampson honoured at Nelson Mandela Foundation

Sampson family hand over his South African library to the Centre of Memory

20 February 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Publications

Feb 20, 2009 – The autobiography of the late Anthony Sampson, The Anatomist, was launched at the Nelson Mandela Foundation last night. The event marked not only the publication of Sampson’s memoirs but also the handing over of Sampson’s library of South African books to the Centre of Memory.

Born on August 3, 1926, in Billingham, England, Sampson is regarded as one of the greatest journalists and writers of his time.

Note on Valentine’s Day

Madiba reflects on Valentine’s Day

13 February 2009 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Feb 13, 2008 – In c. 1995 Nelson Mandela responded to a query from a young South African.

Here is an extract from his response:

“It will probably shock many to discover how colossally ignorant I am about simple things the ordinary person takes for granted. Having been born and grown up in a rural environment with parents who could neither read nor write, one hardly ever heard about Valentine’s Day.