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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 06 Aug 2008 Title: Birthday cards still pour in for Madiba -------------------- By Nthambeleni Gabara Johannesburg - Birthday cards for Nelson Mandela's are still pouring in, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation. According to Sahm Venter of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, this week they received the latest batch from school children across the country. She said since the beginning of his birthday celebrations last month, the former state President has received at least 50 000 birthday cards, telephone calls and email messages from around the world. Mr Mandela, whose birthday was on 18 June, celebrated his 90th year. On Tuesday Mr Mandela visited an exhibition of all the thousands of hand-drawn birthday cards at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg. He was accompanied by his wife, Graca Machel and his personal assistant, Zelda la Grange. "Mr Mandela smiled and laughed as he inspected the cards and reading messages written in English, Afrikaans and IsiXhosa from children all over South Africa," said Ms la Grange. In one of the cards, a child said both he and his mother loved Mr Mandela "very much". Another boy congratulated him for turning 90 and added that if he was lucky, he would be able to get "a letter from the Queen" when he turned 100. The card that drew the most laughter from the former Robben Island prisoner was one where the child added to the birthday message a plea: "please put me on TB" followed by a cell phone number. Another child wrote "thank you for making South Africa nice for us," Mr Mandela also received several birthday gifts from the 45 staff members of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Staff members wrapped Mr Mandela and his wife with a cream coloured king-sized blanket. "I am very happy indeed that I have spent my 90th year with you. "Nothing is more important than to be loved by your colleagues. You have given me joy and strength which I never imagined I would have," said Mr Mandela to the staff members. - BuaNews |
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