{"id":26091,"date":"2013-12-06T16:39:32","date_gmt":"2013-12-06T14:39:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/12\/south-africans-called-to-celebrate-mandelas-life\/"},"modified":"2013-12-06T16:39:32","modified_gmt":"2013-12-06T14:39:32","slug":"south-africans-called-to-celebrate-mandelas-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/south-africans-called-to-celebrate-mandelas-life\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africans called to celebrate Mandela\u2019s life"},"content":{"rendered":"

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South Africans have been urged to spend the next 10 days mourning the passing away of former President Nelson Mandela, but also celebrating his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are invited to pay your respects at the various places where there will be books of condolences,\u201d Deputy President of the ANC Cyril Ramaphosa told the crowds who have gathered outside Madiba\u2019s home in Houghton.<\/p>\n

Ramaphosa encouraged people to continue laying flowers and other objects in remembrance of Madiba.<\/p>\n

Since news of Madiba\u2019s death spread across the country, various people have gathered at the house to light candles, holding pictures of the struggle icon and singing struggle songs.<\/p>\n

A national week of mourning has been declared and Madiba is to be laid to rest in Qunu on 15 December. A memorial service will be held at FNB Stadium on 10 December.<\/p>\n

President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by members of the ANC\u2019s National Executive Committee, visited the Houghton residence on Friday afternoon to offer their condolences to his family.<\/p>\n

Ramaphosa said the country would remember Madiba and the wonderful deeds he committed to free the country and its people.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can regard ourselves as a fortunate nation and we should be eternally grateful for that. We should emulate what he stood for and follow in his footsteps,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Ramaphosa added that various Heads of State were going to descend on the country to bid farewell to Tata \u2013 proof that the world held him in high esteem. \u2013 SAnews.gov.za<\/p>\n

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