Barack Obama 'speech at Nelson Mandela's memorial service
Tuesday, December 10, 2013

To Graça Machel and the Mandela family; to President Zuma and members of the government; to heads of state and government, past and present; distinguished guests - it is a singular honour to be with you today, to celebrate a life unlike any other. To the people of South Africa – people of every race and walk of life – the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us. His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy.
Particular trepidations lie with the seemingly embedded nature of embellishing tender sums, in most cases without the barest minimum of authority. The worrying thing is that the inflated amounts run into millions of pula across the government ministries and departments. The Auditor General’s report of March ending 2022, which we cover extensively in this edition, paints a gloomy picture on management of the government coffers. It depicts the...