Post date: Jul 18, 2012 5:50:40 PM
QUNU, SOUTH AFRICA (JULY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) - Former president Nelson Mandela quietly celebrated his 94th birthday surrounded by family at his homestead in Qunu on Wednesday (July 18).
As President Nelson Mandela quietly celebrates his 94th birthday with family in his home village President Jacob Zuma joins millions of people across the country and the world in offering his well wishes.
Mandela had lunch with his wife Graca Machel, his ex wife Winnie Mandela, grand children and great grandchildren in his home.While Mandela enjoyed his day South African President Jacob Zuma joined millions of people across the country and the world in wishing the former President a happy birthday.
In a pre-recorded video, Zuma praised Mandela for his contribution to South Africa and pledged that the ruling ANC would continue to fight poverty, unemployment and inequality.
Zuma also urged South Africans to heed Mandela's call to make the country a better place for the underprivileged.
Various organisations and ordinary people rolled up their sleeves across the country to help the needy and change the world for the better, by painting schools, visiting old ages and orphanages. Others built houses for the poor.
"The movement that is celebrating it's centenary throughout 2012. We make a commitment to where Madiba left off, we will continue the long walk to confront poverty, unemployment and inequality. We have also recently gathered last year in Kliptown in Soweto at the Social Cohesion Summit where we began the process of developing a national strategy on social cohesion and nation building based on the values of unity, non racialism and reconciliation and human compassion. Values that are so dear Madiba. We hope that all those who share these ideals will contribute to the process that we began in Kliptown in honour of Madiba. We urge all our people to also personally to contribute to by doing good deeds as called upon by Madiba to make our country and the world a better place for all. Happy birthday Madiba. The whole nation loves you dearly," President Zuma said in his video message.
Many people gave 67 minutes of their time doing good deeds to honour the struggle hero for his 67 years of political activism.
Mandela has been in poor health since he was hospitalised a year ago with respiratory problems, and has not appeared in public since.
His last public appearance was in July 2010 at the final of the World Cup in Johannesburg Soccer City stadium.
Mandela, who's affectionately known as Madiba moved back to Qunu last month in the Eastern Cape, where he was born and raised.
On Tuesday (July 17) former United States president Bill Clinton arrived in Qunu to surprise Nelson Mandela ahead of his 94th birthday.