ANC leadership to visit Madiba’s gravesite on 11 February
Mandela Residence, Qunu – The Mandela family was deeply honoured today to welcome the top six ANC leadership to President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s homestead at Qunu.
The visit formed part of the ANCs leadership’s walk about throughout South Africa meeting communities, visiting regents and paying respect at the gravesites of past presidents of the African National Congress.
Nkosi Dalibhunga always regarded the ANC as his political home and his homestead at Qunu was always open to the movement and its leadership. In keeping with this tradition we were instructed by Mamu Nosizwe (Graca) to receive and host the delegation led by newly elected ANC President Cde Cyril Ramaphosa.
On the occassion of their visit we want to express our congratulations to the ANC on a successful 54th National General Conference and reiterate our well wishes and congratulations to the new leadership on their election. We look to them with great expectation to lead South Africa into a new horizon filled with hope, optimism and possibilities for renewal.
This leadership has an immense responsibility to restore the greatness of the ANC and we as a family fully support them in this task.
We are cognisant that on their shoulders rests the hopes and aspirations of our nation. The poor masses of our country look to this leadership to fulfill the mandate bestowed upon them and ensure that we address the issues of poverty, under-development and unemployment that confront us in our villages, informal settlements and urban centres.
We also express our sincere appreciation and delight that the ANC has declared 2018 to be the Centenial Celebrations of President Mandela and Mamu Albertina Sisulu, whom Madiba’s first wife Evelyn Nomathamsanqa Ntoko Mase was first cousins with Cde Walter Sisulu. We pledge to work with the ANC leadership in making the Centenial Celebrations a resounding success and one that reflects the values, life and legacy of these two great stalwarts of South Africa.
In keeping with the request of the ANC top six leadership during their visit to the Qunu homestead to visit the gravesite of President Mandela the family has agreed to observe the protocol and traditions and therefore will go to Nkosi Dalibhunga’s resting place and inform him and the ancestors of the visit of the entire ANC leadership that will take place on the 11th February 2018 which will be hosted by the family in Qunu. This will afford all of the family members scattered around the country to be present to receive and host the honoured guests. In accordance with tradition we shall also slaughter an ox in honour of the visit of ANC leadership.
We express our well wishes to the ANC and its leadership for the 106th birthday celebrations of the movement to be held in East London. We wish the ANC every success and look forward to participate as we welcome in the Centenial Celebrations.
Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela, chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and grandson of famed South African President Nelson Mandela. Member of Parliament (MP) South Africa National Assembly. All articles by Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela
