Decade of Democracy General April 1, 2004

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In this address, Nelson Mandela talks about the anniversary of ten years of democracy in South Africa. Though they still face many challenges, they now have the weapon of democracy at their side. He ends by reminding his people of their responsibilities towards building a better country.

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There could have been no more appropriate way for South Africans to celebrate the first decade of democracy than going to the polls in this period. Nothing else symbolised the birth of our non-racial democracy so vividly as those wonderful election days in April 1994. The nation came together in the physical act of voting on those days; it is proper that we marked a decade in the life of democratic South Africa by once more coming out voting for our national and provincial legislatures.

We had many challenges and obstacles in our national life over this past decade and the problems ahead remain large and daunting. Too many people in our country are still suffering the hardships and deprivations of poverty. One of the root causes of that poverty is the absence of jobs; nothing can be more of an assault on a person

Courtesy of Nelson Mandela Foundation

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Nelson Mandela: Message from Mr N R Mandela for the Global Convention on Peace and Nonviolence in New Delhi

January 31, 2004 (about 20 years ago)

In this message, Nelson Mandela talks about a world in conflict. He congratulates the Global Convention on Peace and Nonviolence as a timely initiative in helping make this the century of compassion, peace, and non-violence.

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Source: Nelson Mandela Foundation