S Africa hails Mandela on anniversary of release

South Africans heaped praise on Mandela two decades after his release cemented the fall of white minority rule.

CAPE TOWN (AFP) – South Africa on Thursday hailed Nelson Mandela's legacy of a non-racial, unified post-apartheid nation as the country celebrated the 20th anniversary of his historic release from jail.

Lawmakers cheered and sang "Nelson Mandela, there is none like you" as the delighted 91-year-old former president made a rare public appearance in parliament, accompanied by his wife Graca Machel.

Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu exhorted South Africans to use the day to remember the long road the country had travelled since February 11, 1990.

"The day Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison our collective spirit soared. It was a day that promised the beginning of the end of indignity," he said.

Speaking in parliament, President Jacob Zuma added: "As we celebrate Madiba's (Mandela's) release today, let us commit ourselves to building a better future for all South Africans, black and white."

South Africans heaped praise on Mandela two decades after his release cemented the fall of white minority rule.

Key figures of the anti-apartheid struggle paid tribute at the former Victor Verster Prison from which Mandela was released after nearly 30 years.

And hundreds of people re-enacted the historic moment when Mandela, hand in hand with his then-wife Winnie, walked proudly out of the prison with his fist raised high as the world watched.

With Mandela sitting nearby, Zuma spoke in parliament of the social challenges that have stymied the government's progress on promises to improve education, health, crime and housing.

South Africa's economy was again creating work after shedding 900,000 jobs in its first post-apartheid recession last year, he said.

"Economic indicators suggest that we are now turning the corner. Economic activity is rising in South Africa, and we expect growth going forward. It is too soon, though, to be certain of the pace of recovery," he said.

"Now is the time to lay the groundwork for stronger growth going forward... The hosting of the FIFA World Cup makes 2010 truly a year of action," he said.

Leader of the main opposition party Hellen Zille, criticised Zuma's speech as lacking substance.

"I thinks his address was short on substance and detail. He did not come up with workable solutions to ease poverty and unemployment," said Zille.

Inkatha Freedom Party leader, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, however, said he was not surprised by the president's speech.

"I expected more unpacking of issue, but I am not surprised because his previous speeches have lacked details,"said Buthelezi.

Leading labour union body, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it was concerned that little recognition was paid to the extent of the massive crisis of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Related article: Cashing in on Mandela

"There is no evidence yet that we are on track to create new jobs on the scale required and bring down the world-record levels of inequality," said the union in a statement.

Former Zambian's president Kenneth Kaunda was among the foreign dignitaries who attended the colourful ceremony.

Also present was apartheid's last president FW de Klerk, who shared the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela.

Mandela spent the bulk of his 27 year imprisonment on the notorious Robben Island prison served a four year term as president from 1994-1999.

He retired from public life in June 2004.