Prince Harry visits the Nelson Mandela Foundation as Madiba’s tribute month begins

During the final stop of his South African tour, Prince Harry met Graça Machel at the Nelson Mandela Foundation and delivered a moving address, as the world marks the second year since Madiba’s passing. 

His visit to the Foundation on 3 December 2015 also afforded an opportunity to tour its Centre of Memory and archives, and reflect on the legacy Madiba left the world. 

“It is not for me to try put into words the impact that President Mandela had on South Africa, or a generation across the globe. I was fortunate enough to have met Madiba a number of years ago, and I have treasured that memory ever since,” Prince Harry said.

Click on the video to view Prince Harry's full speech.

The Chairman of the Foundation, Prof Njabulo Ndebele, said while we recall the memory of Nelson Mandela, it is not a time for sentimentality.

"The memory of Madiba enjoins us to face history squarely with rigour, particularly in the face of increasing assaults on his legacy only 21 years after a free and democratic South Africa came into being,” he said, referring to recent events like the #FeesMustFall campaign.

“It is the mandate and duty of the Nelson Mandela Foundation to promote Mandela's legacy. But we do not expect that that legacy will always be praised. What we do think and deeply believe is that his legacy does play a vital and fundamental role in unfolding of South Africa's future," he said.

“We do believe that our deep respect for it is shared by many in this country, and in the world over.”

Click here for the full transcript of Prof Ndebele's tribute speech.

Other upcoming events over the commemoration period include:  

5 December - Letters from Mandela, Market Theatre, Johannesburg

The Foundation is partnering with the Market Theatre to host an artist tribute event called “Letters from Mandela”, with music, dance and recitals inspired by Madiba’s letters. Letters from Mandela aims to find some of the warmest moments of Mandela: the man, the father, the comrade and the son of the African soil. James Ngcobo is the artistic director of the production.

12 December - Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk, Pretoria

The Foundation has partnered with the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng to co-host the second Nelson Mandela Remembrance Walk in Pretoria. The walk covers the route from 1 Military Hospital to the Union Buildings, which is now part of the City of Tshwane’s Heritage Route.

15 December - Imagining Futures, Johannesburg 

The Foundation will host a dialogue titled “Imagining Futures”. Panelists include:

• Boitumelo "Tumi" Molekane, rapper and poet;
• Trudi Makhaya, Rhodes Scholar and business woman; and
• Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, student leader