News

Foundation publishes second Malibongwe booklet

Centre of Memory and Dialogue celebrates Malibongwe Dialogue success

28 October 2008 | Category: Dialogue for Justice

Oct 29, 2008 – Following the success of the Malibongwe Dialogue, held on August 22 this year, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has published the second Malibongwe igama lamakhosikazi booklet.

A result of a collaboration between the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Dialogue, the National Youth Commission and the Department of Arts and Culture, this dialogue was aimed at charting a way forward for the participation of women in the economy. The event was attended by more than 250 participants from business, government and civil society.

Billy Nair passes away

Madiba writes to Nair shortly before his death

23 October 2008 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Oct 23, 2008 – Veteran anti-apartheid activist and former political prisoner, Billy Nair, passed away on Thursday, October 23, at St Augustine’s Hospital in Durban. He was 78 years old.

Incarcerated for 20 years on Robben Island for sabotage as an Umkhonto weSizwe operative, Nair was held in the same section of the prison as Nelson Mandela and the other Rivonia Trialists.

Madiba’s sympathy with family of Nzimeni Elliot Mfaxa

Treason Trialist dies at age of 83

21 October 2008 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Oct 21, 2008 – One of the former 1956 Treason Trialists who took part in a reunion with Nelson Mandela in March this year, has passed away.

Nzimeni Elliot Mfaxa passed away on October 16 at home in Tyutyu Village, outside King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape, after an asthma attack. He was 83.

Black Wednesday remembered

Xolela Mangcu marks the 31st anniversary of this historical event

16 October 2008 |

Oct 17, 2008 – On October 19, 1977, the apartheid regime declared illegal 19 Black Consciousness organisations, banned two newspapers and detained scores of activists. That day is now commemorated in South Africa as “Black Wednesday” and is also marked as National Press Freedom Day.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation asked political commentator Xolela Mangcu to mark the 31st anniversary of Black Wednesday by analysing an essay on Black Consciousness written by Nelson Mandela on Robben Island in 1978.

Madiba mourns the death of Esther Barsel

Friend and comrade of Mr Mandela passes away

8 October 2008 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Oct 8, 2008 – Almost three months to the day after joining her old friend and comrade, Nelson Mandela and others, for a 90th birthday lunch, life-long activist Esther Barsel passed away in Johannesburg on Monday, October 6.

Food and comics tell Mr Mandela’s story

A new take on history attracts international attention

1 October 2008 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Publications

Oct 1, 2008 – Nelson Mandela must be one of the best-documented historical figures internationally, with no shortage of reading material telling his heroic life story.

The two most recent authorised additions to a long list of published books about his life, however, take a decidedly different approach to the story of the first president of democratic South Africa.

Launched on July 5 and July 16, 2008 respectively, A Hunger for Freedom and Nelson Mandela: The Authorised Comic Book take a refreshing new look at the life of Madiba.

Madiba receives June 16 commemorative statue

Hector Pieterson’s sister presents statue to Mr Mandela

30 September 2008 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Sept 30, 2008 – Former President Nelson Mandela was today presented with a statue from Antoinette Sithole, the sister of the late Hector Pieterson, the first victim of police bullets in the 16 June 1976 uprising.

The statue, which is based on the famous photograph by Sam Nzima of Mbuyisa Makhubu carrying the wounded 12-year-old Pieterson with Ms Sithole running alongside, includes a new element – that of Mr Mandela standing in front of the group with his arms outstretched.

Engraved on the plinth are the words “Celebrating the truism that each generation stands on the shoulders of the achievements of previous generations”.

Mthatha community conversation

A community counts its losses and talks about acceptance, love and support

25 September 2008 | Category: Dialogue for Justice

Sept 23, 2008 – “This is not the freedom our leaders before us fought for. AIDS is killing us but we seem as if we don’t care. Let’s get together and fight this disease!”

A crowd of 400 people applauded these words from a young woman at the community conversation held in Mthatha on September 3.

Competition winners meet their heroes

Learners meet Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu at awards ceremony

23 September 2008 | Category: Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory

Sept 23, 2008 – Twelve learners from across South Africa, who were winners in a competition about Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu, met their two heroes at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg.

The learners, ranging in age from six to 18, won prizes for their creative expressions in honour of the two struggle stalwarts in their 90th years. Mr Mandela turned 90 on July 18 this year and MaSisulu turns 90 on October 21.

Foundation mourns the death of John Matshikiza

Actor and columnist was a constructive critic and friend

16 September 2008 |

Sept 16, 2008 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation has learned with great sadness of the death, on Monday night, of author, journalist, playwright and actor John Matshikiza.

“John was a friend of the Foundation who supported our work and would often offer advice, as well as criticism, where necessary,” said Verne Harris, Memory Programme Manager at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.