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The Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Telkom join the nation in mourning the passing on of Nelson Mandela.
Chairman of the Board, Mr Jabu Mabuza, said: “The announcement of Mr Mandela’s death has had a deep and profound impact on members of his family, on his countless friends and comrades, on the citizens of South Africa, and on people across the globe. It is with a heavy heart that we offer our condolences to his immediate family and to the wider family of South Africa. May you all gather strength and courage as we mourn the loss of the Father of our Nation.”
Mr Mabuza said that words were inadequate as a means of paying tribute to a man of the stature of South Africa’s universally loved, admired and respected former State President.
“The only way for us to pay adequate tribute to Mr Mandela is through our thoughts and our actions. We should reflect on his achievements, attained despite the circumstances of his life. We must remember his values, his sense of dignity and his respect for every human being. And we must all act in a manner that continues the tradition of demonstrating humanity towards others, of reaching out to those who are most in need, and of committing ourselves to be of service to the people.”
“In this way, we will ensure that Mr Mandela’s memory lives on.”
Group CEO Mr Sipho Maseko said the company’s employees shared the grief of Mr Mandela’s family and the entire country.
“We pray that his family is blessed with the fortitude they will need to face these enormously difficult times,” said Mr Maseko.
“We all feel like we have lost our father. But we must constantly remind ourselves of what we have gained from Mr Mandela. We are all here today, living in a free country, because of the unshakeable beliefs of people like him. He was an exceptional leader, one who was willing to die for what he believed in. His name will always be associated with the concept of ethical leadership, applied consistently, regardless of personal sacrifice.
“Let us all continue to believe in what Mr Mandela stood for throughout his life, and continue to treat each other in a manner that befits these beliefs. In this way, the Nelson Mandela that we have all come to know with pride will never die, but will live forever in our hearts, in our interactions with each other, and in the achievements of our nation,” said Mr Maseko.