DAILY SUN FRONT PAGE
Daily Sun (July 18 2013) - GEORGE Bizos gets tears in his eyes when he talks about the times he shared with Nelson Mandela, his friend of more than 50 years. Overwhelmed by emotion, the fierce apartheid activist said they first became friends when they were students together at Wits University. But one particular moment that stands out was when Mandela was sworn in as the country's first democratically elected president and the aircraft, which had symbolised apartheid for so long, saluted him with a flyover.
"The aircraft were saluting the black president," remembered Bizos as he fought back the tears. He said he has missed many of his friend's birthdays.
"Even before he was sentenced to Robben Island I was unable to attend some of his birthday celebrations because I needed a permit to go into the township," he said. Later, Bizos celebrated with Madiba at parties organised by his wife Graca Machel. "I'm sorry I won't be there but my sorrow is a sorrow of all South Africans and the whole world."...
MADIBA'S grandson Mandla Mandela is glad the former president disappointed those who didn't believe he would see his 95th birthday. Mandla, who is Chief Zwelivelile at Mvezo in the Eastern Cape, said this birthday was the most important for the broader Mandela family and the world. "The fact that my grandfather is with us to this day makes me proud of his fighting spirit.
"As he has constantly emphasised to all of us in the family, we should recommit ourselves to serving our communities. It is this spirit of giving and sharing that will change our world. It is this changed world that will make Madiba smile, always."
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