Former President Thabo Mbeki 80th birthday speech

Former President Thabo Mbeki is celebrating his 80th birthday today.
Mbeki served as the second president of a new and democratic South Africa from 14 June 1999 to September 2008.
For more on event's planned to mark the occasion we cross live to Sophie Mokoena Sabc's International News Editor - she's at the Sandton International Convention Centre.
For more news, visit sabcnews.com and also #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

[@no_prisoners6474]

He doesn't move like he's 80 at all. That melanin 🤲🏾🤲🏾 Ive had a crush on him for years and he's 50 years my senior. He just has that thing. Happy birthday to an MCM ❤️❤️

[@charlesmojela8442]

Love TM. You are our role model. We will follow your example. True African

[@kgaugeloelphy6730]

Indeed 👏👏👏is by God's grace

[@nwillyiizy8405]

Desciplined Man...We love you Mr President!

[@lebotsehle5272]

A man of integrity

[@zoejeza2804]

Can we have you as a President again Sir. I love you. My granny loves you. ❤

[@gloriatshabalala3619]

We need people like him🇿🇦

[@nonqelemapane7847]

Viva our president, no scandals during your leadership. We appreciate you,may the Lord be with till the end

[@mduduzimbonxa2135]

Arms deal is Mbeki creation,lest we forget many hundreds of thousands of Black people died because he denied them ARV saying HIV do not AIDS,this a murderer that should be brought to the ICC for crimes against humanity to say the least.

[@kevinjabavufushai225]

Wawwwww

[@kevinjabavufushai225]

Ww

[@blaquenguni9249]

I guess Arms Deal wasn't a scandal

[@jacksonbonginkosikhohli7085]

@@blaquenguni9249 Arms deal happened during Mandela's time not Thabo Mbeki.

[@noloyisonopanjwa883]

Happy Birthday Dlamini, Jama kaSjadu Ngximnaboya , Zizi I'm still very proud of you. If you were not jealously removed South Africa would be a first world country by now. Viva Thabo Mbeki Viva. Long live my President Long Live. 😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💭You touch me a lot . I wish you can see Queenstown under ANC ,a town that was soooo beautiful.

[@joeyamukongo3066]

He is the best president SA ever had outside Mandela

[@sbudaklipgat369]

He is the best president we've ever had,Thabo is an intellectual and Mandela was a peace maker /smooth talker

[@mfundoshelembe2791]

Including Mandela

[@Star-hg1kt]

By what metric are you using to say he's the best President SA ever had ?

[@kingworldaffiliated2000]

This speech is so important to all black Africans ... Please read between the lines, he is trying to tell us something about the ANC and the future of a young black man who might save the country but is too young to contribute to the cause because of the ANC ... That is still the case ... Mbheki is trying to send a very strong message 🥺🤞🏿🆘

[@molatelofelix7084]

I listen to my president from start to finish all the time. Happy birthday Mr President. My president.

[@with_palo]

Your president is Cyril Ramaphosa in real life.

[@mvelobhelem365]

I wouldn't mind having him back as president 💖

[@mcdollard7469]

Me 2

[@zoejeza2804]

Me too

[@nathanielkgobe427]

Me too 😂😂

[@thestreettea]

Niyalunga 😂😂😂 joking me 2

[@dorothythoane6957]

Me too ✋ ,economy was prospering under Mr mbeki s watch ,game 2 will be OK 👍 👌

[@lorna5016]

Happy Birthday Former President Mbeki. 🇿🇦Enkosi Tata.

[@zukimagwentshu2065]

Zizi ndiyachukumiseka oko ndikumamemele. Ukhozo lombona alingcwatywa ngona liphuma likhule selandile. Bayandiva yhi language yabo le. Long live Mr President. BABEDE BANGAKUBULISI NAKWII DIGNITARIES EZIKHOYO MFIM BAPHI NGOK.

[@dorothythoane6957]

Happy birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 my president ,you served us well while you were the president, NO SCANDAL ,NO FROAD CASE ,ONLY INTELLIGENT PRESIDENT OF ALL THE TIME ,NO COURT CASE AGAINST YOU ,YOU ARE AGEING GRACEFULLY MR PRESIDENT ,WHAT IS THE SECRET.

[@highcrimeinsa4129]

stay away from booze

[@wandiledlamini2591]

Guptas

[@dorothythoane6957]

Also ,stay away from RET FACTIONS ,JUST ENJOY YOUR PENSION MY PRESIDENT ,UNLIKE THOSE WHO DON'T WANT TO GROW ,WHO WANTS THE COUNTRY S PRESIDENCY TO RUN IN THEIR FAMILIES AS IF PRESIDENCY IS INHERITED ,THEY ARE ALWAYS FIGHTING .

[@robinbehrens8733]

What is a FROAD case?

[@smanqele]

He just gave us some small highlights from his vast experience. He probably has stories for eternity.

[@mariananel3102]

I can listen for hours to stories of our past history in our country. It is so enriching

[@smanqele]

@@mariananel3102 Ain't that the truth?

[@levisonphiri2249]

Best president South Africa ever had, happy birthday Tata.

[@zisilemoyi2246]

Really

[@valentinevandaele1073]

He was the best president ever

[@jjjl8453]

True says

[@rahamankhan2895]

I concur with u

[@lolosabisa-maladinibrassbr7948]

Sit down, stop telling the truth 😊

[@lillianmogale7421]

Great respect for you My intelligent President. I used to to like listening to the President,s speech. I learned a great deal from you

[@tholoanamoeketsi1886]

hayi no its a lie he is not 80 he looks young.....happy birthday to the young man.

[@markgreenthompson3554]

Having no stress has kept him young at heart body mind n soul ....great man he is

[@siphiweselbysithole541]

This is an intellectual who is known for telling the poem I am an African, his greatest achievement ever nothing else. Happy birthday mzizi

[@morongoematlali6841]

Ouò

[@mphondabambi232]

Problem of being stupid

[@tkasiam8322]

True that, Sphiwe...

[@Wuzmu]

BA in Economics from the University of London University (BA), and an MA in Economics from the University of Sussex, there we go!

[@Wuzmu]

When President Mbkei took office the exchange rate was sitting at around R6.94 to the US dollar. By the time he was recalled and replaced by President Motlanthe the Rand was trading at around R8.44. About a 21% depreciation during this period. The exchange rate picture would have looked better under President Mbeki if it wasn't for the financial crises in the US, which spread to the rest of the world, which ultimately meant investors and traders took their money out of "riskier" emerging markets such as South Africa and rather invested in the safe havens such as the US. Leading to massive declines in the exchange rate during this period. now we R16 to the dollar! there we go!

[@khomotsomaesela9263]

Happy birthday Tata, we learnt a lot from your leadership

[@subz7352]

Best President South Africa has ever had

[@carlomikhailreid4365]

He also stole

[@TheFanta111]

Where is your proof he stole

[@carlomikhailreid4365]

@@TheFanta111 name a bkack president who hasnt

[@subz7352]

@@carlomikhailreid4365 Did he steal or he just networked and built a strong connection with major players in various industries. Mbeki only started making real money after the presidency through the network he built, which is how its done. If he did steal, clearly he didn't shove it in our face like Zuma or have terrible advisors like Cyril. If he stole he stole like a true gentleman.

[@carlomikhailreid4365]

@@subz7352 all we want is for the ANC to keep winning lol David "the cat"Mabuza is our next President im surw he will bring the change we need lol

[@billymanyifu292]

Very Emotional Speech, Happy 80th Birthday President Mbeki🙏

[@tkasiam8322]

Happy birthday Mr president....you're loved and respected by many....

[@setswekephala4707]

Real African and Servant Leader. True son of the African soil. Happy birthday my President.

[@lindzimcolzwane6761]

He Is A Born Orator. I Find it Hard Not To Listen When He Speaks.Khula uze uKhokhobe ZiZi.

[@mzwandilendzinisa1750]

True that but I think even school, tertiary to be specific improved his public speaking

[@lrinisto3052]

WMD....what signal that Gorge Bush wanted in 2003......yhoooo

[@rubyyvonne3597]

The event was so breathtaking..Happy birthday to him

[@thamik2485]

Happy birthday Zizi elimnyama..siyaziqhenya ngawe..and indeed we so happy that the Lord kept you...May you see many more years to come..

[@mzwandilendzinisa1750]

Happy birthday Mr. Mbeki, 🇸🇿 loves you

[@tsebo_mashego]

legend Thabo Mbeki 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@mburumbaappolus6728]

Happy Birthday Comrade Thabo. A life well lived. May the Ancestors continue to protect you.

[@mrtippz]

What a speech from the Chief ! I have the highest respect for President Thabo Mbeki, one of the very best we ever had in SA. Happy birthday Zizi.

[@andrewsiyomunji3643]

Can't as he comes to Zambia this week to deliver the Kenneth Kaunda Lecture-Such a Clear thinker

[@edwardsibanyoni4947]

He is still sounds fresh..Happy birthday tata

[@nnn7847]

YiLoonto Ke Tata, sometimes we just have to appreciate the living . Happy Birthday Ntanga kaMama

[@maryrosedimema2298]

He has always had the interest of the people in heart not only in Africa but world wide that is why he cared so much about the war's courses and it's prevention, he knew that we all needed each other one way or the other, he is telling us that has struggle was not for him alone to benefit from, he had in his mind keeping peace at all costs, he is mentioning the important issues of taking care of one another's burdens, he tells the other Africans country to relax because they will assist them in keeping their treasurer, the books indeed knowledge is power, Viva Mbeki you did your part and we are so proud that we experienced your leadership skills, you told the world that people are dying because of hunger not because of HIV and AIDS because you were looking at the root cause of this pandemic and you were so sudden that if people are full they will not be going around to do things that might put their health in danger just because of food and everybody attacked you for saying that, they said you did not care about the HIV and AIDS patients not realising that you were having a big picture looking beyond the sickness it's self and today it is surprising because people are now singing the same song they fought you when you were singing it, they now agree with you about hunger

[@Bonney278]

I love that he was approachable president by simple SABC camera man and he listened and acted on.Happy Birthday?

[@emmatsebe1468]

Happy Birthday Former President Thabo Mbeki

[@initwiththina]

Happy birthday to Tata, we celebrate you Sir! Thank you for all you have done and still going. Siyabulela Mr. President.

[@ahmed-ud9su]

Happy birhday to tata my favorite president tnx am from Ethiopia i love suthe Africa spas alee tosaa i was estrn cape

[@mduduzimbonxa2135]

He has done nothing hence Black people still love in poverty to say the least.

[@Bee-dp3st]

@@mduduzimbonxa2135 You need to do your research!

[@mduduzimbonxa2135]

@@Bee-dp3st No need of research ,shacks are all over the country in townships

[@ahmed-ud9su]

I traversed the length and breathe of south Africa within eight yerrs that i lived there i love the country and its people in spasalee tosaa lovely also i was oppourtnd to knw and appreciate of Thabo mbeki a pan africanist a great leader long lifetime am knwe in Australia but am tnking south africa estrn cape tnx

[@pamelaleibowitz3019]

A delightful speech. Thank you!

[@sisekotapile8696]

Doesn't look 80 at all, love the shape that i see Mr Mbeki in

[@mapitsorangaka1030]

What a MEMORY 🤔

[@maganositoe3199]

Happy 80th anniversary, President!

[@athenkosiathenkosi9373]

Happy birthday playboy...we miss u as a president

[@mapitsorangaka1030]

Happy birthday day president Mbeki.

[@dowgainksteeztv4140]

May the lord continues blessing you, we remember you every day,South African youth never suffered like this in your term. I like the fact that you never bias from day one till date.... You don't hack in skrr skrr!! ⚡ 🔥 💯 👏🏿

[@sfisomtetwa6188]

Happy birthday President.....Your speech was well uttered, if one understands correctly it simply meant don't change tunes as a comrade

[@rahamankhan2895]

Yes. Don't b a juliuass or a cope leader.

[@joekiwanula1677]

Thanks mr president for the great speech. You mentioned my home city Kampala and the great president we had ever had idi Amin of how clever he was to Africa continent. You reminded us of being one as a continent. Happy birthday MUKUBWA Asante sanna.

[@SAKHIWEMARKPIKE]

Happy Birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 My President. The Only President of South Africa 🇿🇦 I know

[@ntsikitseka3825]

Politics of this country deprived us this real leader. Buya tata Thabo for a third term Buya

[@bobbyjones6054]

Old man President Thabo Mbeki ❤️

[@cebobotile1171]

Me listening to him i found lots of wise codes prints ' you are my boss I'll resign'

[@sabakes]

Such a great story teller.. Happy birthday Mr President.

[@zukiletshiwula2957]

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU ZIZI. HAVE A LOVELY ONE AND ENJOY.

[@theophilusbondo6109]

Mr. President: Happy 80th Birthday to you this weekend in South Africa in June of 2022!

[@mariachangata5654]

Wonderful man, principled,knowledgeable andcalm. We love you Thambo

[@pelopeloagae4924]

Please come back as President

[@saidahmedsaidbacar5526]

In his speech there is a clear lesson for black south africans.

[@kudachi...477]

Happy Birthday the epitome of wisdom

[@syviennentombentshamotsau2130]

A belated happy birthday to the President!

[@amosmainganya6414]

What a beautiful story!

[@talenteshezi2319]

What a great speech.

[@tiyiselaMpuzana]

Happy birthday Mr President. Yilonto!

[@mbongindabeni1522]

YILONTO!! Deeply and fully understood only by those who know the language.

[@treeoflifewithgiborbenammi6518]

Just to sit at your feet and learn all about those stories and the wisdom lessons.... we need a Thabo Mbeki series of stories

[@rogertague8525]

We Love this Man, what a great Leader he is. South Africa nothing without your wisdom

[@mjomanajomo8721]

I am proud that Mr President mentioned my hometown Queenstown and my grandmothers place of resident #Esdikidini and Skalen Street ❤️❤️❤️🤘🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾he even mentioned iFantesi the agricultural field where Nonesi Mall is built✊🏽

[@qayiyabenya8806]

I'm just impressed on how this man doesn't wear glasses at his age

[@luciocarrozzo6738]

Mr Mbeki has to be one of my favorite South African leaders who has had no equal as the head of South Africa in his time or since

[@hoodrobin1596]

The best president Africa has ever seen

[@mbuyiseloprincemojake2266]

President Thabo Mbeki is very deep. The moral of the story is never to turn right (Jan van Riebeeck celebrations), turn left and join the Anc and be a loyal servant of the people.Enjoy many years to come my President

[@bonganidlamini4445]

What an intelligent man the country had.Wish we could have many of his calibre in future

[@lazarusmakatutambani3231]

My love for Thabo is endless,more sowith our country full of scavengers.please Thabo help us out of this mess.

[@amosloyior8319]

Very strong Africa child happy belated 80 birthday sir! May the ancestors continues protect you.

[@naniiba3388]

It’s my biggest wish to to see him face to face, he is my mentor my leader my teacher,SABC please help me to get 5 min with him

[@musacornwell7282]

The servant of the people

[@rahamankhan2895]

Yes

[@setswekephala4707]

Real African and Servant leader. True son of the African soil. Happy birthday my President.

[@caiphus619]

So idi Amin is one of the greatest of all time

[@rolandrohrs2639]

Happy Birthday President!! May you be blessed for many years, and if possibile to help get RSA back to what it was in your time.

[@mthunzindimande3241]

Is the claimed freedom not misinformation?

[@josphatkariuki4636]

Happy Birthday President Mbeki

[@danielkimuyu3044]

Happy birthday former president Thambo Mbeki of South Africa.

[@MagantheMasolo-mf4db]

Indeed he was the best president.

[@zolekasoko476]

Happy birthday to Tat'uDlamini🎉🎉😘

[@glenmalesa8902]

Not once have I ever heard Thabo Mbeki mention his younger brother Moeletsi. Never!

[@lungilesello6030]

Mr President him self. How can i not listen to you? You are a great story teller halala President halala

[@lubabalopoli294]

WE MISS YOU MR PRESIDENT....THIS COUNTRY IS IN NEED OF YOU . OUR INTELLECTUAL......EISHHHH .

[@immortalideas-fi6kj]

Amin, one of our best leaders.

[@streamsidecountry7937]

Another useless one..

[@manelisimnguni8442]

EsDikidini means (the Mindle), place is in Ezibeleni in Queenstown.

[@musacornwell7282]

Happy birthday my leader

[@SibusisoMbuli-my8ue]

Yes.

[@siphiwenhlapo835]

Happy birthday Mr president ❤

[@mphodube3619]

He is still very strong and full of energy

[@nontutuzelogxumisa6370]

Happy birthday President!

[@valentinevandaele1073]

Happy birthday

[@gisumbamavu134]

Belated Happy Birthday Highly esteemed African leader whose skills of governing encapsulates R. Mangaliso Sobukwe's maxim "True leadership self-subjugation of oneself" which YOU demonstrated when they removed you in power. Mr President Thabo Mbeki, as I follow your brilliance of story telling, I note that AFRICA played a great role in the liberation of South Africans. Yet today, children of Africans not locals are labelled "aliens" on their Birth Certificates. I, Jean Bwasa - Africa Analyst from the Kongo-Kinshasa acknowledge the role you played for ending the deadliest conflict worldwide which has caused 12 millions Congolese slaughtered; in silence we cry and in silence we die. You are an advocate of Peace promoting peace and stability, alas 20 African nations are in open or latent conflicts... Mr President, your legacy fighting poverty will survive, but the African child still goes to bed on an empty stomach, if you passed the relay baton to wrong people ...get it back and run "the African Renaissance" for a better life for all. I love the saga about the Congo and how stringent you were 'baby sitting the Congolese" and summoned them to sign within 48 hours. My elder, my father - Africa calls you to END the conflicts so that peace and stability will yield development. Your wisdom requires us to listen and apply our mind for a better Akelbulan (Africa) driven by the moral yardstick hloniping what Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe's maxim "True leadership requires self subjugation of oneself" as you close. It is overwhelming listening to such beautiful stories. You are the antithesis of Ayi Kwe Armah's "The Beautiful Ones Are not Yet Born" for your inner beauty radiates the love for others... I call that you invite all former SA who went in exile throughout AFRICA to share objectively their respective sejourn so that we put an end to this self-hatred of the other African... I am of the opinion that if Julius Nyerere, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Modibo Keita, Haile Selasie, Sankara, Lumumba and SA scholars such as Eskias Mphalele, Sol Plaatje, Chief Albert Luthuli, O.R Tambo, Ahmed Khathrada, to name just a few- were to rise up, they would cry and fill a tank with tears because they did not give their lives for such disunity and conflicts continent-wide. In a nutshell, I take my hat off for your reminding us that AFRICA is One.

[@markgreenthompson3554]

Happy 80th Birthday to you Sir ..we wish u cud b back in the presidence seat .....(colleen)

[@Abby_KayGee]

The Best President in SA Democracy. I Love you Mr Mbeki.

[@bropeace2061]

Nwele olude tat'uZizi. Umqweno wam ngewusidlalele ipiano uthi happy birthday kuwe. Ngente mini ndizakuculela. Njengokuba ungumculi. Ukhule ungakhokhobi tat'uZizi President

[@opholanyangintsimbi302]

Ngxib'inoboya! Nkonjane, Dlamini kaZizi.... The born great one 🕊️🕊️🕊️

[@mtutuzelisishuba3172]

Still my president..... We need have a leader like him

[@paulnbarros1400]

Too much wisdom baba....

[@silikay4392]

My president !! 🙏

[@baabmedia]

My fave President 🇿🇦

[@portiantseki6776]

Thabo Mbeki, my President 👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾

[@sifisodmagagula8699]

Powerful speech my President !!!

[@happymodise4676]

Happy birthday and happy fathersday

[@ntjayabophelo5223]

He's a thinker.