CAPE TOWN — South Africans should take a moment to send their thoughts and prayers to ailing former President Nelson Mandela, ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga said yesterday.
Sapa
In his opening remarks in the budget vote debate on the presidency, Motshekga described Madiba’s poor health as “painful”.
“Millions across the world share our love for Madiba and I am sure that he is kept in everyone’s prayers. We wish the family much strength during this difficult time,” Motshekga said.
Reference was made to Mandela’s 100 days speech to Parliament in 1994.
“Down the years, human society has pitted itself against the pestilences of poverty, disease and ignorance. Progress has been achieved while reverses have also been sustained.
“It is incumbent on South Africa to be in the company of those who have recorded more success than failure,” Mandela said at the time. Motshekga said it was because of Mandela’s vision that MPs should debate the presidency’s budget in a way which was in the public interest, and lived up to the mandate given to public representatives by millions of South Africans.
