The ANCYL takes the opportunity to extend birthday wishes to the former President of the ANCYL, former President of the ANC and the former President of the Republic of South Africa Tata Nelson Mandela. It is truly and honour that Tata Mandela continues to inspire South Africans and those all around the globe.

We appreciate the efforts and sacrifice made by Tata Mandela in bringing us Freedom and Peace in His Lifetime, fighting the brutal apartheid system and remaining Volunteer in Chief of the ANC always ready to respond to a revolutionary mandate. Tata Mandela has always remained a committed, loyal and disciplined member of the ANCYL and the ANC and honouring his commitment to South Africans by bringing political liberation to South Africa.

Tata Mandela has played an extremely positively role in mobilising the people of South Africa behind the implementation of the Freedom Charter, a social contract with the people which resonates the high values of the ANC in ensuring that the people benefit from the wealth of the land.

The ANCYL encourages the young people of South Africa to follow in the impeccable example of Tata Mandela in their devotion to their country demonstrating the kind of discipline and humanity displayed by Madiba his political commitment to South Africa for sixty seven years of his life and his continued commitment to the world.

As Tata Mandela continues to inspire the world extending his support to reconciliation, development of the poor and vulnerable, always protecting the rights of children and advocating gender equality, we should never forget his massive contributions as a young revolutionary and activist of the ANC Youth League. The young revolutionary in Tata Mandela remains as he continues to contribute to peace and global democracy. Such was his contribution when he brought the 2010 FIFA World Cup to the soil of South Africa. Madiba remains a giant humanitarian and activist as we watched the world celebrate unity during the World Cup.

In November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of Tata Mandela's contribution to Peace and Freedom. It is our revolutionary duty as young people to dedicate the 18 July 2010 towards building and strengthening our communities by volunteering ourselves to the development of our people as Madiba volunteered sixty seven years of his life.