Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday said the nation would continue to be inspired by former president Nelson Mandela.
Wednesday would mark the 25-year anniversary of Mandela's release from prison. He was imprisoned for 27 years.
“We continue to be inspired by this teaching of forgiveness and national reconciliation as the cornerstones of the society envisaged by our forebears,” Zuma said in a statement.
“This day... marked a giant leap in the long walk to freedom, not just for Nelson Mandela but also for the people of South Africa as a whole.”
Mandela's release was a milestone for the resistance movement across the continent and the world, he said.
“February 11 marked a decisive advance towards the achievement of our noble goals to create a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society based on fundamental human rights and the restoration of dignity for all.
“It is a reminder to all of us of our innate capacity as South Africans to overcome even the most daunting challenges and ensure the triumph of good over evil.”
To honour Mandela's memory, efforts towards a society living in harmony and with equal opportunities should be redoubled, Zuma said.
Sapa