Violence Against Women
Source: Xinhua
South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday urged people to keep Nelson Mandela's legacy alive while paying tribute to Mandela who died this month one year ago, calling for continued efforts in building a society where peace, tolerance, justice and human rights are upheld.
In delivering a speech in honor of the former South African President Mandela at the foundation named after him here, Ramaphosa said Madiba's legacy guides both the present and the future.
"To millions across the globe he was a moral icon and yet he would be the first to acknowledge, he was not without fault. He had the courage to make mistakes and wisdom to admit them," said Ramaphosa. "As we seek to build on his legacy, we should reflect on how the principles that Madiba espoused and relentlessly pursued can shape our moral framework and guide our actions."
Mandela, popularly known as Madiba, was South Africa's first black president. He died on Dec. 5, 2013 at age 95, attracting millions of people from the world over to mourn his death.
In the speech, Ramaphosa called on people not only to talk about Mandela's legacy but to live his value. "For Nelson Mandela morality was not theoretical. It was practical. It was the means by which people could improve their condition. It was the means by which we could change the world."
While highlighting Mandela's 67-year fighting for making the world a better place rather than personal gains, Ramaphosa urged South Africans to carry forward Madiba's vision of establishing an equal society where both the rich and the poor could equally benefit from the country's wealth.
He vowed that his government will do all it can to ensure that public resources are not wasted or benefit only the few. He also called on businesses operating in South Africa not only to seek profits but also contribute to an equal society where the country' s wealth is equitably shared.
Ramaphosa lashed out at those who perpetrate violence against women and children and asked all to stand up against such practices.
On the country's economic and social challenges, Ramaphosa said the country will overcome in the same way it defeated apartheid.
"South Africans have demonstrated a tremendous capacity to overcome even the most intractable of problems," he said. "By working together, by holding true to the values that Madiba embodied, by drawing inspiration from his life, we will be able to properly honor his memory and complete the long walk that he began. "