Entertainment Africa
Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norway’s former prime minister, joins Richard Branson and Graca Machel, widow of former President Nelson Mandela, on a walk to commemorate what would have been Mandela’s 99th birthday in Cape Town, South Africa, July 18, 2017.
Former Irish President Robinson and international business tycoon Sir Richard Branson were among the luminaries in attendance for the march.
Led by Mandela’s widow Graça Machel, the Elders – accompanied by a large group of local resident – had gathered at the Cape Town City Hall, where Mandela made his first speech on his release from prison in 1990. They were set to walk to the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Machel took to the podium and said “thank you so much for your presence here”, before leading the crowd in a song wishing Madiba, who died in 2013, a happy birthday.
The Elders are a group of global leaders founded by Mandela and made up of former heads of state, peace activists, and human rights advocates (including Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, Desmond Tutu, Graça Machel, Jimmy Carter, Hina Jilani, Mary Robinson, and Ernesto Zedillo among others). This year, they also celebrate a decade since its founding year.
Former Irish President Mary Robinson and international business tycoon Sir Richard Branson were among the luminaries in attendance for the march.
Machel said the march was aimed at commemorating ten years since the founding of the Elders who had been brought together by Mandela. “He brought together women and men, wise people, who could become a moral voice which we need more and more,” she said, adding that the Elders were “here to stand up for the values of peace, justice, equality and health”.
Credit: News24
Credit: Youtube
