Wits apologises for Mandela obituary

Nelson-Mandela-006Johannesburg — The University of the Witwatersrand sent out an apology yesterday for an accidental obituary of former president Nelson Mandela. The obituary was titled Hamba kahle Tata Mandela and dated 31 July 2013. In their apology, the university said: “The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, extends its sincerest apologies to the family members, friends, fellow South Africans and global citizens for an obituary related to the death of former president Nelson Mandela that was not published or issued by the university.”

Wits said it had prepared a statement which was hidden on its system but a “technical made this available via the search function on Google”.
The university said that it did not publish the statement nor publish it on its website.

“The university regrets the mishap and will take all the necessary steps to get to the root of the technical error and to ensure that the responsible departments are held accountable for this incident.”

Mandela is spending a 13th day in a Pretoria hospital where he is being treated for a recurring lung infection.

Meanwhile, Mandela’s foundation has vowed to press ahead with upcoming 95th birthday celebrations, as he spends a 13th day in hospital.

On Madiba’s 18 July birthday, various charity organisations and businesses will paint schools, hand out food parcels and books, and run a 67km relay marathon in the spirit of Mandela’s 67 years of activism and public work.

Mandela spent 27 years in jail and walked free to become the country’s first black president after the first democratic elections in 1994.

“We see this as an opportunity for people to rise above Madiba’s hospitalisation,” said Sello Hatang, the foundation’s CEO.

Mandela has devoted his life to promote education and HIV/Aids activism, wanted people to carry on his good work, his great-grandson Mbuso Mandela said.

“His idea for me was just to continue the legacy which he put forth to myself and to the rest of the nation, which is humility and education,” said the 22-year-old.

Local and global celebrities have also endorsed a call by the UN, which declared the icon’s birthday International Mandela Day, on people to do 67 minutes of good deeds.

“I too will also be giving my 67 minutes to make the world a better place, one small step at a time,” said British billionaire Richard Branson in a video clip played at this year’s International Mandela Day launch in Johannesburg.

Mandela’s birthday celebrations will be all the more poignant as he battles a persistent pulmonary condition.

He was hospitalised on 8 June in Pretoria with a lung infection, and the presidency has described his condition as serious but improving.

But the UN insisted on his living legacy, instead of the ailing man.

“People are focusing more on his passing away rather than his recovery,” said UN country representative Agostinho Zacarias. “We at the UN would like to focus on his recovery and a quick recovery, and wish him well.”

Former US president Bill Clinton said following Mandela’s example starts with small actions. “In doing so we can inspire more and more people to live as Mandela has: With the belief that tomorrow does not have to be like yesterday,” he said in pre-recorded message.

Another great-grandson, Luvuyo Mandela (27), said Madiba would have been proud to see people echo his goodwill in their deeds.
“How would he respond? With his world-famous smile,” said the younger Mandela. — AFP

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