The General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Rev Dr Molefe Tsele, and his staff would like to wish the former President Nelson Mandela well on his 85th birthday, and wish him many more returns.

In a statement released last night, the SACC described Madiba as a symbol of justice, peace, reconciliation, and all that represented by righteousness.

Dr Tsele said the SACC, representing more than 20 million Christians in this country, was proud of Madiba, and his work of reconciliation in the midst of so much injustice that was part of the South African way of life. "We are grateful to you Madiba, and the leadership you gave, and you continue to give, to this country and the world at large. Humble, and not self-seeking, yet forthright in your denunciation of evil and injustice, your life has been an embodiment of the Christian values of which the Council espouses.

"In the midst of poverty, hopelessness, death, and broken places, you continue to generate a sense of hope, urging all South Africans to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, and never to allow adversities to stand in the way of achieving the goal of total victory.

"Thank you Madiba for holding firmly onto those altruistic values, and for being a symbol of hope for all South Africa, including those whose views you do not share. You continue to teach us to be able to live with differences and to accept diversity and otherness. As the community of believers, we are indebted to you. Thank you for your leadership style imbued with wisdom that would avoid scorched earth policy, helping us to restore our humanity as South Africans. Thank you Madiba for your wisdom. Thank you for sharing with this nation your humanity. You remain a great friend of the ecumenical movement. May God bless you, and continue to use you for the creation of a better and more tolerant society."

Issued on behalf of the SACC by Fr Joe Mdhlela, 083 641 1281