After participating in the final farewell given by the ANC in Waterkloof, we gathered the necessary documentation and headed for the O.R. Tambo Airport.
The Johannesburg Airport carries the name of another great fighter against Apartheid. In the same way as all the citizens love Mandela, Tambo is in the hearts of all the ANC. He led the ANC while Mandela was in prison. The "young lions" led by him confronted Apartheid. As the commemoration of Foreign Relations says "O.R. Tambo, patriotism, integrity, humility and passion."
At six in the afternoon we arrived in East London, in the province of Eastern Cape. From there we went to the newspaper the Daily Dispatch and its director. They gave us information about the death of Steve Biko.
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We are thousands of people who have participated in the farewell acts that reflect the social plurality the country. If there has been something special and remarkable about these days, it is without a doubt, the gratitude shown by the citizens to Madiba. In different places on the streets, in the shops, in the offices, and why not, in that which was the symbol of Apartheid, the Union Buildings, the presence of Mandela and the messages of gratitude are uncountable. There are thousands of citizens who, coming from all parts of South Africa, are filing by his coffin and giving him their final goodbye.
The previous days we were in the stadium of Soweto and in Luthuli House. Yesterday we had the opportunity to be with his relatives in the house of Madiba, in Houghton. There we took part in the religious act that is celebrated everyday; in it there were present representatives of five different churches and hundreds of citizens. A farewell filled with hymns as well.
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Today has been a very long day. After yesterday's mass act, today we came to the Luthuli House in Johannesburg. There, after signing the book of condolences of the ANC, we met with the Commission of Foreign Affairs.
After expressing our condolences and gratitude and commenting on yesterday's ceremony, we made a brief review of the latest events about the situation in the Basque Country (the abolishment of the 197/2006 Doctrine, the situation of the political prisoners, the blockage in which the Spanish government wants to maintain the resolution process, etc.). We also spoke about the situation in South Africa. Next year they will celebrate elections and that will condition the situation of the country.
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We met today in the Soweto stadium with delegations who had come from all over the world. Big and small, all in solidarity with the people of South Africa. To give homage to the figure of Nelson Mandela and to thank him for all that he did. Also, to thank him for his strong attitude that he showed in favour of the resolution of different conflicts in the sphere of international politics. A strength covered by a velvet glove. He did so in Indonesia, when in the framework of East Timor, with very kind words he asked the Indonesian president to release Xanana Gusmau and expressed support for the resolution of the conflict (at that time the Indonesian government was financing the electoral campaign of the ANC). For this reason, among others, Xanana Gusmau is here today. Or when, also with kind words, he didn't pay attention to Arafat when he was pressured by the King of Morocco who asked him to not support the Saharans. The SADR is today diplomatically recognised by South Africa, not however by Madrid. For that, today the Polisario Front came here today. In the Irish conflict: in spite of his having a very good relation with the Queen of the United Kingdom and with the British government, on his first trip to London he underscored the need for dialogue, expressing his support for the process that would come later. Martin McGuinness is here today. He always spoke out in favour of the Palestinian cause and in spite of admiring a book by David Ben-Gurion, this didn't make him vary his support for the rights of the Palestinian people. Abu Mazen is here today. Shortly after leaving prison he visited Cuba, and there he praised their revolution and Fidel Castro, as well as recognising the great support given by the Cuban people. For that Raul Castro is here today.
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