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Belated Friday Rant: Nelson Mandela Memorial Service

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This has bothered me for a while now.

We all agree that Nelson Mandela ascended into a universal icon – a steadying hand that bound all of us together regardless of political affiliation. In his last years he rose above petty party politics as a revered elder statesman.

A while ago our local municipality defended their spending on the memorial service held for Nelson Mandela on 13 December 2013 as justifiable. As ratepayers we are not going to begrudge any send off for a man of such great stature – even if the national spend on the memorial and funeral makes the spend on Nkandla look like pocket change.

BUT, and this is where I feel a little bit as if I have just straightened up after being bent over for a long while, the utterances from the municipality went a little bit too far when it was vehemently denied that the 13 December 2013 memorial service at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was apolitical and not just a big fat advertisement for the ruling party.

I am going to prove our municipality as big fat liars with three images:

  1. The first one is from the 10 December 2013 memorial service and shows a podium DEVOID of any party political banners along with Obama and some other lesser known interpreter.
  2. The second one depicts President Zuma at the funeral of Nelson Mandela on 15 December 2013 – notice that the podium is DEVOID of any party political banners.
  3. The third image shows the podium at the Port Elizabeth memorial service on 13 December 2013, depicting MC Putco Mafani – notice the PROLIFERATION of party political banners.

What a way to cheapen the memory of a great man!

Mandela Memorial Obama
1. Barrack Obama speaks at the Nelson Mandela Memorial in the FNB Stadium, Soweto
December 2013
Mandela Funeral Zuma
2. Jacob Zuma at the funeral of Nelson Mandela in Qunu, Transkei on 15 December 2013
3. Putco Mafani at the Port Elizabeth memorial service for Nelson Mandela on 13 December 2013
3. Putco Mafani at the Port Elizabeth memorial service for Nelson Mandela on 13 December 2013
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.