On 18 July we will encourage our communities to reach out to each other across the racial and class divides in honour of the reconciliation project that embodies our own Nelson Mandela. If all we do on this day is to reach out to even one member of a community that is different from our own, we as South Africans will have succeeded in honouring this icon of our people.
We ask our leaders across the country today: How are we emulating his ways of humility - where he was prepared to listen to people, prepared to respect the courts of this land, and prepared to respect the institutions of our democracy? His honest and genuine manner of reaching beyond his party is what we must carefully study, if his legacy is to be observed. Sometimes we feel it is sorely missing. His ability to see criticism not as an attack on the soul of his party is something many of us are yet to learn.
To Madiba, Cope says: May you see many more birthdays. You are an inspiration to all of us to defend the Constitution for which you fought and sacrificed so much to bring into being. Your wisdom and leadership will always light the way for many across the entire universe. A global day named after you is a well-deserved accolade for you and, in turn, the people of South Africa and Africa. You are proof that this continent is the mother continent and the future of all humanity. May you live long! [Applause.]