25 October, 2011 – Seven months to the day after it started, the Twitter account @NelsonMandela has 50 000 followers.
“We are delighted at reaching this milestone,” said Sello Hatang, Communications Manager at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory. “What this means is that 50 000 people around the world and their thousands of followers get daily tweets of Mr Mandela’s words spoken in a variety of contexts over 60 years. They also receive daily historical dates in Mr Mandela’s life and reliable news updates.”
The Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory opened the Twitter account on 25 March 2011 and has watched it grow from strength to strength as followers from every corner of the world are inspired by his words and example.
While Mr Mandela is now fully retired, his words on peace, justice, equality and democracy as well as some humorous remarks now spread through Twitter and Facebook motivate and encourage people in their own lives and situations.