The anniversary of release

South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday hailed Nelson Mandela’s legacy of a non-racial, unified South Africa in a state address that celebrated the 20th year of his freedom from apartheid prison.

The 91-year-old made a rare public appearance at the opening of parliament where Zuma pledged to boost South Africa’s economic recovery.

“As we celebrate Madiba’s release today, let us commit ourselves to building a better future for all South Africans, black and white,” said Zuma, using Mandela’s nickname.

“President Mandela was central in assisting the country to win the rights to host this great event. We therefore have to make the World Cup a huge success in his honour.”

Lawmakers cheered and sang “Nelson Mandela, there is none like you” as the former president took his seat in the chamber, accompanied by his wife Graca Machel, smiling and waving in response.

South Africans heaped praise on Mandela two decades after his release cemented the fall of white minority rule.

Key figures of the anti-apartheid struggle paid tribute at the former Victor Verster Prison from which Mandela was released after nearly three decades.

Hundreds of people re-enacted the historic moment when the black leader, hand in hand with his then-wife Winnie, walked proudly out of the prison with his fist raised high as the world watched.

Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu exhorted South Africans to use the day to remember the long road the country had travelled since February 11, 1990.

“The day Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison our collective spirit soared. It was a day that promised the beginning of the end of indignity.”

With Mandela sitting nearby, Zuma tapped into South Africa’s social challenges that have stymied the government’s progress with promises to improve education, health, crime and housing.

South Africa’s economy was creating work after shedding 900,000 jobs in its first post-apartheid recession last year, he said.

“Economic indicators suggest that we are now turning the corner. Economic acitivity is rising in South Africa, and we expect growth going foward. It is too soon, though, to be certain of the pace of recovery,” he said. “Now is the time to lay the groundwork for stronger growth going foward, and for growth that gives rise to more jobs.”

State support measures to mitigate the economic fallout will not be withdrawn, with 846 billion to be spent on public infrastructure over the next three years, he said.

“The hosting of the FIFA World Cup makes 2010 truly a year of action. We have spent many years planning for this World Cup. We have only three months to go. And we are determined to make a success of it,” said Zuma.

“The infrastructure, security and logistics arrangements are in place to ensure a successful tournament,” said Zuma.

South Africa has made massive strides since Mandela’s release but unemployment remains officially at nearly 25 percent, some 5.7 million of South Africa’s 48 million people have HIV, and there is an average 50 murders a day.

“Here is a man who’s about to be released out of prison after 27 years. He was as cool as a cucumber and younger people would say he’s a cool cat,” said Ramaphosa who was part of the team that welcomed Mandela.

Mandela was also hailed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said the anti-apartheid struggle was the “defining political question of our time”.

AFP