Chairperson, what can I say in one minute about this great man? The eighteenth of July is a very special day on our national calendar. It is the day when the first democratically elected President of the Republic of South Africa, our struggle icon, Tata Nelson Mandela, celebrates his birthday.
In this parliamentary debate on Dr Mandela, I take this opportunity to belatedly wish Madiba a happy 94th birthday. Possibly one of the greatest moral and political leaders of our time, Madiba championed reconciliation among South Africa's deeply divided races with considerable ease. He premised our young rainbow nation on the principles of respect, selfless service to others and ubuntu.
Madiba was generous in spirit and he tried to give back as much as possible. To honour him, we should lead our people with integrity and work together to change South Africa for the better. Dr John Maxwell explains the principle of integrity, adherence to which would make every day Mandela Day, as follows: "Integrity commits itself to character; our personal gain ..." [Time expired.]