SOUTH AFRICA: ANC leaders re-enact Nelson Mandela's long walk to freedom 20 years after his prison release

Record ID: 455541

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ANC leaders re-enact Nelson Mandela's long walk to freedom 20 years after his prison release
  • Date: 12th February 2010
  • Summary: PAARL, OUTSIDE CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 11, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MARCH FROM INSIDE PRISON ANC OFFICIALS INCLUDING AHMED KATHRADA, EX-ROBBEN ISLAND PRISONER WALKING WITH LINKED HANDS TOWARDS GATE OF PRISON PEOPLE CLIMBING FENCE CHEERING MORE OF ANC LEADERS MARCHING OUT OF PRISON GATES MANDELA STATUE/ ANC LEADERS ARRIVING OUTSIDE PRISON (SOUNDBITE) (English) TREVOR MANUEL, NATIONAL PLANNING MINISTER, SAYING: "Today, the 11th February is deeply etched in our memory. It is the day which Madiba walked through these gates but it is not the day apart from other days, it was the day that was ceased by the ANC, it is the day that Madiba had planned." JOURNALISTS/ CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SPEAKING FROM MANDELA STATUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, ANC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, SAYING: "We are very proud that we had Nelson Mandela to lead us out of this prison and to lead us into freedom to forge a free nation, a nation that is united, a nation that has regained its dignity, a nation that is based on human rights, a nation that upholds the principals of equality and these are the principals that Madiba says he was even prepared to die for."
  • Embargoed: 27th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: History,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACEL33YPV6DUWCUGNIZI2RQXRG
  • Story Text: ANC leaders take part in symbolic walk out of Groot Drakenstein prison to mark release of Nelson Mandela 20 years ago.
    ANC leaders took part in a symbolic re-enactment of Mandela's 'long walk to freedom' on Thursday (February 11) from the Groot Drakenstein prison where Mandela spent his final years of his incarceration.
    National Planning Minister, Trevor Manuel, was at the march and said that the day is significant for all South Africans.
    "Today, the 11th February is deeply etched in our memory. It is the day which Madiba walked through these gates but it is not the day apart from other days, it was the day that was ceased by the ANC, it is the day that Madiba had planned," said Manuel.
    Mandela's release set in motion the country's transformation to democracy which culminated in historic all-race elections in 1994 and his inauguration as the country's first black leader.
    "We are very proud that we had Nelson Mandela to lead us out of this prison and to lead us into freedom to forge a free nation, a nation that is united, a nation that has regained its dignity, a nation that is based on human rights, a nation that upholds the principals of equality and these are the principals that Madiba says he was even prepared to die for," said Cyril Ramaphosa, a member of the ANC Executive Committee.
    Despite problems with unemployment, poverty and crime, much has changed since Mandela was released.
    A strong black middle-class has emerged, a whole generation of schoolchildren born after 1994 -- known as the "born frees" -- have grown up in an multi-racial society and basic services like water and electricity have been extended to millions.
    President Jacob Zuma and former wife of Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, were expected to attend the march but they were not present. Zuma was expected to open parliament later in the day to mark the occasion.
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