Beyers Naudé

SPEECH BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AT THE CELEBRATION OF BEYERS NAUDÉ'S 80TH BIRTHDAY

Cape Town, 23 May 1995

Oom Bey and Tannie Ilse; 
Compatriots and friends.

The good book tell us that it is given to human beings to live for three score years and ten, or by reason of strength, for score years. Dr Beyers Naudé has reached his four score years, proving to us yet again that he is a man of strength. His is a strength of body and of mind, and of that indomitable spirit that defied the evil of apartheid to make him a hero of our people. Oom Bey may your years still be long upon this earth.

Beyers Naudé became an outcast amongst the Afrikaners, amongst many whites and amongst the church that he loved. Such is the price that prophets are required to pay. Standing in the tradition of great Afrikaners and Patriots like Braam Fischer, Betty Du Toit and others, his life is a shining beacon to all South Africans - both black and white. It demonstrates what it means to rise above race, to be a true South African. If someone asks me what kind of a person a New South African should be, I will say: Take a look at Beyers and his wife Ilse.

I want this evening, on behalf of South Africans, to thank Beyers and Ilse Naudé for their sacrifice. And I want to use this opportunity to call on all Christians, not least members of the NG Kerk, to take note of the positive contribution of this Afrikaner prophet. The time of conflict in our land is over. We must embrace one another on the basis of justice and nurture the extended family to which we all belong.

It was another great prophet, Martin Luther King, who once said: 'If we do not learn to live together we shall die together.' We have already made our decision in this regard. In last year's election, and the miraculous transition that followed, we decided that we are going to live together. The Church, the Mosque, the Temple and Synagogue, in short, all people of faith, are play their part. Oom Bey and Tannie Ilse paved the way during difficult years; and they remain in the company of our lodestars. Their force of example and message are simple: We must build one another and build together.

It is a fitting tribute to Beyers Naudé that a FESTSCHRIFT should today be launched in his honour. It was a special privilege for me to write the foreword to that book. I join with the publishers, the editors and others who contributed to this volume, in celebrating its launch. Entitled `MANY CULTURES, ONE NATION', the book deals with a vitally important theme in South African politics - cultural diversity and national unity. Our struggle to make sense of the plural nature of a single identity, as a single nation, has only just begun.

I close where I began. Beyers you are eighty years old. We wish you many happy returns. May God bless you and Ilse.

Now - I invite you to drink a toast to a great South African.

Ek versoek u om saam met my 'n heildronk te drink op 'n groot Suid-Afrikaner, 'n seun van Afrika, 'n Afrikaner wat vir die hele land 'n inspirasie was en nog steeds is.

Beyers, ons drink op jou gesondheid. En ons wens jou en Ilse alles van die beste toe vir die jare wat nog voorle. Mag julle die vrede en rus geniet wat julle toekom. En mag Suid-Afrika die soort land word waarvoor julle so hard geveg het, en soveel opgeoffer het.

Baie dankie.

Issued by: Office of The President

Naudé's Pilgrimage of Faith

See book by Colleen Ryan

South Africa:     Sing the beloved country

Most Important S.A. World Cup Eastwood's INVICTUS

Man's Law Comes Second: Tribute to Beyers Naudé

Naudé: an Afrikaner Patriot and a South African Democrat

Beyers Naudé a living spring of hope for racial reconciliation

Beyers Naudé in history :: bringing down apartheid

The TRUE South African - bringing healing to black and white

Beyers Naudé vs. Apartheid - a lone voice in the wilderness

Donald Woods friendship with Steve Biko - an alliance of hope

the faith of faith lost - Ayaan Hirsi Ali bears witness

Olive Schreiner (biographical) - one woman's assertiveness

Faith amidst suffering? from Cry the Beloved Country

Amy Biehl's tragic death - her ideals versus human reality

Nadine Gordimer's South Africa - beauty for ashes

Desmond Tutu: inspired exhortation before his inquisitors

AIDS and HIV are hurting Africa the AVERT effort

omdat hy verkies het om liewer sleg behandel te word saam met die volk van God as om 'n tyd lank die genot van die sonde te hê,
en die smaad van Christus groter rykdom geag het as die skatte van Egipte, want hy het uitgesien na die beloning.

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