By Buffalo City Reporter
18 July2008

MESSAGES wishing South Africa’s first citizen Nelson Mandela well on his 90th birthday are pouring in from all over the Eastern Cape.

Born in the Eastern Cape village of Qunu in the Transkei in 1918, Mandela will be celebrating at a private party in the place of his birth with 500 relatives and friends. However, that has not stopped people and businesses from being part of the party as newspapers throughout the provinces were inundated with letters and adverts wishing him a happy birthday.

Mandela's birthday also marks his 10th wedding anniversary, to Graca Machel.

Also wishing Madiba well are Buffalo City’s Alderman John Badenhorst and Municipal Manager Gaster Sharpley.

Badenhorst said that none of the leaders of the 20th century, including Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi, could be compared to Mandela.

“Important as they are, they cannot be compared to Nelson Mandela and the life of ideals and action on the basis of those ideals lived by our beloved icon. He is the perfect embodiment of the ANC virtues of non-racialism, non-sexism and democracy ideals which he is prepared to die for,” said Badenhorst

Sharpley said that Mandela was a good example of reconciliation. “We should listen to you [Mandela] when you say forgive, love, care, share… Is it too much for a complex world of email, sms, Broadband and computers or are we driving ourselves into a lonely, cold mental wilderness? Don’t give up on us. Happy Birthday Tata, Happy birthday icon, we love you.”