Wednesday marks what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday and his granddaughter is calling out people who said her grandfather was a sell-out, according to The South African.
Ndileka Mandela spoke to a crowd before Wednesday’s #Mandelwalk and pushed back on criticisms that he was too forgiving of pro-apartheid groups before he became the first Black president of South Africa in 1994 and that he didn’t do enough for liberation efforts.
“I think that when people are seeking relevance or can’t deal with their own shortcomings, they take a shot at him because he’s no longer there to defend himself,” she said, according to South Africa’s Eyewitness News (EWN). “It really stinks, especially in light of what he sacrificed. He could not bury his mother and for people to come and say that, it really stinks (sic).”
Tributes have poured in from leaders and celebrities from around the world in honor of his birthday.
Mandela Day is about taking action to change the world for the better. In these young people, I see Madiba's example of persistence and hope. They are poised to make this world more peaceful, more prosperous, and more just. pic.twitter.com/GJDuOs1hkH
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 18, 2018
"It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor…that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation." – Nelson Mandela #Mandela100 pic.twitter.com/Dj62BPEkkv
— Malala (@Malala) July 18, 2018
Nelson Mandela was tireless in his pursuit of equality and justice for all. As we celebrate #Mandela100, let’s resolve to do everything we can to create the world he dreamed of. #MandelaDay pic.twitter.com/HUDuRrgX7R
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) July 18, 2018