6 December 2013: Mayor Charles Standers on behalf of the City Council and Citizens of George today offered his deepest condolences to the family of former President Nelson Mandela who passed away yesterday.
He said that South Africa has lost the greatest son of the soil. “The rainbow nation has lost it’s father. Today, we are a nation in grief and it is with profound sadness that we say: Rest in peace Tata Madiba, we will never forget you. “
He urged the citizens of the region to join hands as we mourn the passing of Madiba and in celebrating his life, we are to remind ourselves of the principles and values of importance to him: Reconciliation, Humanity, Dignity, Courage, Peace and unity in all we do.
The Mayor today at 12h30 laid a wreath in memoriam of Nelson Mandela in front of the George Civic Centre on York Street and this was followed by a memorial service attended by councillors, municipal officials and members of the public.
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE MAYOR
6 December 2013
Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,
Program Director
Citizens of George
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
OBSERVE A MINUTE OF SILENCE TO REFLECT ON THE PASSING AND THE LIFE OF FORMER PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA
Today, as we mourn the lost of the greatest son of the South African soil, Nelson Mandela, we do it in our immovable Hope anchored in our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, our Redeemer and our Rock. We give thanks unto our God for the blessed life and gifting He has bestowed upon Madiba.
Today, we as a nation are united in grief and echo the thoughts of millions around the globe as we celebrate Tata Madiba’s life.
As Executive Mayor and on behalf of the City Council and Citizens of George, I want to convey our deepest sympathy with the entire Mandela family and prayer for Gods strength and courage to overcome the pain of this great and almost indescribable loss. It was Nelson Mandela that brought us together and it is in our togetherness that we also bid him farewell. We owe it to ourselves and to this great nation to take forth his values and principles of humanity, dignity and compassion. As we are gathering to pay our last respects, let us do it with the same dignity and respect that he personified.
Whilst we are calling upon the Name of our Lord, The Great I am, let us ask Him to encourage, renew and uplift the nation and especially the family.
In the words of the late Nelson Mandela let us know that “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
Let us join hands as we mourn Madiba’s passing and celebrate his life.
In God we move, in God we trust, in God we are fulfilled, in God we overcome, in God we have peace, in God we have courage, in God we find our refuge.
God bless us all.
Democratic_Alliance_Statement_by_Helen_Zille
