Former President Nelson Mandela’s widow Graca Machel has called on South Africans to honour Madiba’s legacy by making a difference in their communities no matter how small or big.
Machel was speaking at the launch of the Massive Mandela Masterpiece at Zonderwater Correctional Centre in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The Madiba blanket portrait was knitted together mostly by inmates.
It’s been called the largest portrait blanket in the world. It bears Madiba’s face in honour of his upcoming centenary birthday.
“Each one of us has to choose his or her way of making a difference that we can make our country a safe country, make a country where everyone has food on their table, to make it a country where every sick person can be treated. We can! We are millions of South Africans with minds, hearts and hands to make a difference, this is the best way to living Madiba’s legacy,” says Machel.
While appreciating the 27 Blankets’ efforts to honour Madiba, Machel says it was still a difficult time for the Mandela family due to the recent departure of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The 27 Blankets founder Carolyn Steyn says: “With this massive blanket we celebrate the centenary of the birth of our beloved father of the nation, Tata Nelson Mandela. As we honour his legacy and memory we remember and pay tribute to Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela for her enormous contribution to our country and its people.”
The portrait is made up of over 4000 blankets knitted by inmates who are inspired by Madiba’s legacy.
Muzi Kunene and inmate say, “Among us are career criminals who want to change and who say they will never change but there are those who have seen the error of their ways and want to change.”
Madiba would have turned 100 years on July 18 this year and he remains celebrated as the father of the nation.
