#Unite4Mandela

Herdboy, lawyer, freedom fighter, political prisoner, president, elder statesman and global icon are just some of the labels associated with him.

But at the same time as Madiba’s family, friends, comrades and, indeed, the world at large, wait with bated breath for that final inevitable farewell, rifts in the extended Mandela clan dominate the headlines.

The #Unite4Mandela campaign in the lead up to the Mandela Sports Day is a prime opportunity to remind all peoples of Mandela’s shining example of personal sacrifice in the service of greater humanity. It is this, along with his courage in the face of adversity, which is among the traits that have INSPIRED sportspeople the world over.

With the current coverage that is tending to spread fear and insecurity, this campaign celebrates the universal message of UNITY that Nelson Mandela has always lived for.

This concept is already inherent in the fact of the Springboks and Bafana Bafana both playing international matches at FNB Stadium on the same day, but it must be driven home to their respective constituencies and the South African public even harder in all communications emanating from this campaign.

Thus the public must be shown the FACT of UNITY in real living colour, in the form of the diverse principals appearing together on the same stage at the same time.

Their stated rationale for their respective involvement in this campaign must centre around Mandela’s gifts of Unity, Reconciliation, Forgiveness, Self-Sacrifice, Humility and Inspiration, and the necessity to celebrate these ideas on a national and global scale.

The need to celebrate these values is not only a South African concern, but given the social and economic upheavals wracking many other parts of the globe, these are the words and ideas that must pepper all conversations leading up to the big event on 17 August.

Sport As A Unifying Force In Society

From his days as an amateur boxer in Soweto in the 1950s to his participation in soccer matches on Robben Island during his prison years, Nelson Mandela has always been an avid sports lover.

Throughout his presidency, he understood the power of sport to UNIFY a nation and demonstrated his support for the national SOCCER and RUGBY teams by attending important matches.

• When the Springboks beat New Zealand in the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, they attributed much of their victory to ‘Madiba’s Magic.’ Unifying the nation and propelling them to super human performance.
• When Bafana Bafana thrashed Tunisia in the 1996 African Cup Of Nations, it was Mandela’s spirit that infused their winning form.
• Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has called on South Africans to once again show unity and strength on August 17.
• Football and Rugby fans are encouraged come out in their droves to attend the inaugural Nelson Mandela Sports Day on August 17, an event which will see both Bafana Bafana and the Springboks play matches at FNB Stadium in Soweto.

The Unprecedented Nature Of This Event

• An initiative of the Ministry of Sports, the unprecedented nature of this event is in keeping with Mandela’s vision of sport as a unifying force in society.
• The first time ever the nations two biggest sporting codes FOOTBALL & RUGBY will stage two big internationals on one day in the same arena.
• On the day, Bafana Bafana will play a friendly against Burkina Faso, and the Springboks will take on Argentina.
• A music concert featuring a number of top local, continental and international artists will follow the two matches.

Inspiration To Sportspeople the World Over

• In the years after he stepped down as president, Mandela’s shining example of personal SACRIFICE in the service of greater humanity, his courage in the face of adversity, are among the traits that have inspired sportspeople the world over.
• For this reason the Ministry of Sports will be calling on local and international sports champions to donate (in symbolic sacrifice) at least one of their medals towards the creation of a giant artwork dedicated to Mandela that will for ever immortalize his contribution to sports excellence the world over.
• Once completed, it is hoped that this artwork will stand as a testament to the mutual affection between Mandela and the world’s sporting fraternity for generations to come.

A Place Of Collective Memory To Preserve And Share His Legacy

• A crucial element of Mandela’s charisma was his gift of being able to focus on people as unique individuals, and not as members of a particular race or class. He treated his prison guards the way he treated his servants, the way he treated any of the global icons who passed through his doorway – with the same measure of humility, respect and kindness. He didn’t only talk about Ubuntu, but lived it fully in his interactions with people.

The interactive website (The Legacy Lives) will be launched specifically for this event and will serve as a platform for people to share their personal memories of interacting with Mandela in person, and so keep his timeless values alive for generations to come