LESOTHO: SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA IS GIVEN HERO'S WELCOME ON VISIT TO LESOTHO.

Record ID: 170821

  • Title: LESOTHO: SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA IS GIVEN HERO'S WELCOME ON VISIT TO LESOTHO.
  • Date: 13th July 1995
  • Summary: MASERU, LESOTHO (JULY 13, 1995) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/SV BASOTHO MEN WEARING TRADITIONAL BLANKETS GUARDING HORSE IN GARDEN AT STATE HOUSE (2 SHOTS) 0.11 2. SV SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA RECEIVING STALLION FROM LOCAL BASOTHO MAN AND KING MOSHOESHOE II 0.17 3. GV/SV GRAVEYARD WHERE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) MEMBERS KILLED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE FORCE (SADF) DURING RAIDS IN 1982 AND 1985 WERE BURIED (2 SHOTS) 0.25 4. SLV PAN MANDELA LAYING WREATH 0.44 5. GV/PANS CROWD PACKED INTO STADIUM (3 SHOTS) 0.54 6. LV MANDELA INTRODUCED TO CROWD/ PEOPLE CHEERING 1.13 7. SV MANDELA SAYING "BECAUSE OF YOUR SACRIFICES AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING SOUTH AFRICA IS FREE TODAY, FREE TO HELP IN RECONSTRUCTION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION" (ENGLISH) 1.34 8. GV CROWD LISTENING 1.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 28th July 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MASERU, LESOTHO
  • City:
  • Country: AFRICA Lesotho
  • Reuters ID: LVAC87OAHEGNCYVC1BHARCCD4QMH
  • Story Text: South African President Nelson Mandela was given a hero's welcome from the Basotho people on Thursday (July 13), the second day of his official visit to the small mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

    A group of Basotho men wrapped in traditional blankets braved the early morning cold to guard a present for the South African president - King Moshoeshoe II presented him with an eight-year-old stallion called Tiger from his personal stables.

    President Mandela later laid a wreath at the foot of a statue built in honour of former Lesotho King Moshoeshoe I, before visiting the graves of African National Congress (ANC) activists killed during the Apartheid years by South African military raids on the capital, Maseru.

    About 20,000 people cheered and shouted their welcome for Mandela at a rally in Maseru.

    Amidst shouts of "Viva Mandela" the president took the stand and addressed the crowd, praising the contribution made by the Basotho people to South Africa's liberation.

    "Because of your sacrifices and your understanding, South Africa is today free. Free to make its own humble contribution to the reconstruction and development of our southern African region.

    Free to join hands as an equal partner with our neighbouring states to bring peace and prosperity to our peoples," he said.

    The packed stadium listened as Mandela promised prosperity in the face of unity.

    The 30,000 square km (11,600 square mile) state of Lesotho was excised from South Africa by the British in 1868 to protect the Basotho people from Boer expansion and was given independence in 1966, as apartheid reached its peak in South Africa.

    Lesotho, rich only in water, depends on South Africa for most of its income and imports.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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