MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Greetings, from a rather sad South Africa

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As most of you know I moved to South Africa in 1995 from the U.K. for 2 years, 2 years became 6. My contract finished and I decided to stay on in South Africa and have been organising holidays ever since.

I have yet to have a guest who isn’t blown away by the Country and most importantly the hospitality and friendliness of everyone they meet.

I organise many once in a lifetime trips and as soon as they get home, many request us to plan the next trip for them. It’s always good to know that our clients have enjoyed their stay in South Africa and want to return.

We have had the privilege and honour to have one of the greatest legends in South Africa, namely Nelson Mandela also known locally as Tata Madiba. Sadly we have lost this legend after a long battle with illness. He will however still be with us in spirit and the change that he has brought upon this country will live on as his legacy.

I have been asked on many occasions, how the death of Madiba would affect this country and personally I feel that he has made such a positive impact on this nation that we can only go forward and this is all thanks to his work.

The country as you can imagine is a in a state of shock and mourning, and this will always be remembered as the day that we have lost our Tata Madiba.

To me, the saddest thing is to contemplate what more he could have achieved if he had not been jailed for 27 years for his conviction to fight apartheid and its injustices.  One of his statements made by himself in the docks at his trial still stays to me to this day, he stated: “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

This world icon worked tirelessly even after the achievement of democracy in South Africa to continue improving lives. Even as he retired from politics, his attention shifted to social issues such as HIV and AIDs and the wellbeing of the nation’s children.

Rest in Peace Tata Madiba!

The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement – Nelson Mandela

Colin Dilland
Managing Director, East Cape Tours

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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.