A WORLD OF CONDOLENCES FOR MANDELA

South African missions abroad, and government offices at home, opened condolence books for people to pay their respects to Mandela following his passing away in Johannesburg on 5 December.

President Jacob Zuma was recently presented with 4 850 books of condolences for Nelson Mandela, sent by South African embassies around the world and government offices around the country – and the books, along with thousands of message cards, are still coming in.

Zuma paged through some of the books as Mandela Month got under way in South Africa, where July is dedicated to national humanitarian service in honour of the great man.

Mandela's birthday, 18 July, has been designated by the United Nations as International Mandela Day, when people around the world are urged to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time to doing work in service of humanity.

"I wish to thank all the people of South Africa and also the people of the world for taking their time to sign condolence books and to pay tribute to our beloved world icon, Tata Madiba, and to comfort his family," Zuma said in a statement. – Source: www.southafrica.info

Read more: http://www.dirco.gov.za/dircoenewsletter/newsflash122-10-07-2014.html

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