Message from H.E. Koleka Mqulwana, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa in Kenya on the occasion of the unveiling of the busts of Nelson Mandela and Dedan Kimathi

Abstract

Every year on 18 July South Africans together with the international community honour our former president and international icon Nelson Mandela in the celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day. In 2018 the day was not observed as a normal International Mandela Day where citizens’ across the globe donate 67 minutes of their time to performing good deeds, but was used as an opportunity for us to remember the time in which transformation gained traction in our country and celebrate the man who made a meaningful contribution. This saw the decision to observe the year 2018 as the Nelson Mandela Centenary by the Heads of State and Government (HOS/G) of the African Union at the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held on 28 – 29 January 2018. The theme under these celebrations was “Be the legacy: Celebrating the birth of a world icon and a life of service” with the idea is to do something that will benefit those around us.