ANC praying for a Madiba miracle
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Durban - The ruling party is praying for a miracle and hoping that former president Nelson Mandela recovers, ANC KwaZulu-Natal deputy chairman Willies Mchunu said on Friday.
“As he sleeps in that sick bed we are saying arise tata (father), wake up. Come and lead us, the whole world cries for you,” Mchunu said at the Durban city hall, where a prayer meeting for Mandela was held.
He said Mandela had brought a miracle to South Africa. He hoped he would bring another miracle by recovering.
“He is a great man, none is so great as him,” Mchunu said.
He called for the nation to unite and pray for Mandela and his family.
“It will take time for people to get used to (the fact) that Mandela is old. At some stage we will have to accept that life has a limit in this world.”
A time would come when the country would have to let go of Mandela, he said.
“When that time comes we must celebrate his life, we must not mourn.”
About 100 people took part in the prayer meeting. The group sang gospel and African National Congress songs. People, some dressed in ANC regalia, held posters with Mandela's picture and the words: “We wish you well Madiba”, “Our prayers are with you” and “We love you comrade Mandela”.
Attending the meeting were eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo, KwaZulu-Natal social development MEC Weziwe Thusi, Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Ela Gandhi, traditionalists, and religious leaders.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal was expected to hold other prayer meetings during the weekend. - Sapa