South Africa's Nobel Co-winners Mandela, de Klerk in Hospital
Anita Powell
JOHANNESBURG South Africans continue praying for the health of former
president Nelson Mandela, who remains in critical condition in a Pretoria
hospital. On Tuesday, though, another former South African president went
into the hospital for heart surgery. F.W. de Klerk shared a Nobel Peace
Prize with Mandela for their joint effort to bring a peaceful end to the
racist apartheid system and establish democracy.
South Africa has three living Nobel Peace laureates. On Tuesday, two were in
the hospital.
The foundation of former president F.W. de Klerk, who served as South
Africas last apartheid president, announced the 77-year-old would be fitted
with a pacemaker Tuesday in Cape Town.
His successor, anti-apartheid icon Mandela, has been in a Pretoria hospital
since June 8. The 94-year-old has been in critical condition for more than a
week.
Good wishes abound
On Tuesday, the office of current President Jacob Zuma issued a statement
wishing de Klerk a swift recovery.
We wish the former president well during this difficult time," said
presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj. "Let us keep him and his family in our
thoughts and prayers, says President Zuma.
On Tuesday, members of the ruling African National Congress [ANC] held a
prayer meeting for Mandela outside their headquarters in downtown
Johannesburg, in a building named after South Africas first-ever Nobel
Peace laureate, Chief Albert Luthuli.
Hundreds of well-wishers sang songs and prayed for the anti-apartheid icon.
ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe reserved his highest praise for
Mandela, who he said was South Africas greatest leader. He said de Klerk
played an important role, though, citing the historic day that he legalized
the ANC, which had been banned.
I think the apartheid regime discovered as a regime that it cannot govern
on their own. And therefore, whether it was de Klerk, or [former President]
P.W. [Botha], or whoever, at that moment, the moment had come for South
Africa to change because apartheid was falling apart. I wish he can also
recover quickly. Hes a fellow South African, hes played his role, 7th
February, 1990 made a huge difference, said Mantashe.
Acknowledging gratitude
Prayer meeting attendee Evelyn Khumalo, 61, said Mandela changed her life in
immeasurable - and tangible - ways. For example, she said, she now gets a
government pension. She said both men were responsible for South Africas
transformation.
Im getting a pension now. I eat their money! My children are going to
school [for] free," said Khumalo. "Theres nothing to worry [about]. The
problem is how to use the money that Mandela gives us. You know, de Klerk I
love, because he give Madiba a chance to be a president, so thats why we
are. I feel sorry for him. He must be better. Because as of 1994, he decided
to give Madiba, so the freedom is ours.
Store worker Max Leteane, 47, said both men hold a special place in his
heart.
Mr. de Klerk, you are an icon. And Im very sorry for you to be in
hospital. Its a sad thing for me. Im wishing you well, come back, he
said.
In some ways, the two men could not be more different - one represented the
old apartheid guard, the other a multiracial South Africa.
Yet in another way, the two icons could not exist without the other. De
Klerk signed orders to release Mandela from his life term in prison.
Mandela, in turn, negotiated patiently with de Klerks National Party to
bring apartheid to an end.
In 1993, when a right-wing assassin slew firebrand ANC leader Chris Hani, de
Klerk asked Mandela to address the nation on television and urge calm.
At that moment, many South Africans say, it became clear who their new
leader would be.
Mandela was elected the nations first black president in 1994, in the
nations first all-inclusive elections. For his deputy president, he chose
de Klerk.
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
_______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
[email protected]
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including
attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way.
---------------------------------------
