• June 19, 2008

46664 Communications and PR Manager Chantal Cuddumbey

CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation Achmat Dangor

Executive Manager of Marketing at Vodacom Enzo Scarcella

Singer and 46664 ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Achmat Dangor, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Enzo Scarcella together at the launch of the SMS campaign

46664 ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka sends her birthday SMS to Madiba

Do you have a 90th birthday message for Madiba?

Here’s your chance to wish the father of our democracy!

46664 launched the South African leg of its “Text Your Birthday Wishes” campaign today at Mandela House in Houghton, Johannesburg.

A global campaign was launched in several other countries across the world on June 16, 2008.

South Africans can send Madiba an SMS with their name and birthday message to the number 46664.  The SMS costs R20.

Profits from the birthday messages will go to the Nelson Mandela charities; the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and 46664.

Vodacom is the official sponsor of the campaign, and will also be sponsoring the advertising of this initiative.

Once a person has sent the message, they will receive a notification that it has been received, along with a unique code. The code will allow the person to see their message displayed on http://www.happybirthdaymandela.com.

The website also shows the number of messages sent globally, records messages sent by 46664 ambassadors and randomly displays messages received from the public.

Singer, 46664 ambassador and Unicef goodwill ambassador Yvonne Chaka Chaka attended the launch in Johannesburg, and spoke about what it had meant for her to be involved with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and with 46664.

She joked, in a near-perfect Madiba accent, about being asked to be a 46664 ambassador by Mr Mandela, who still calls her from time to time to chide her for not phoning often enough.

“It’s so humbling that a leader, a man I call a Man of the World, can give a call to a nobody like me. He’s a great man, and I want to say to Tata, ‘On your 90th birthday, you’re still as handsome as a 24-year-old, and you’ve got the brain of a 20-year-old!’”

Chaka Chaka took the opportunity of the launch to send her message to Madiba, making her the first South African to send a birthday wish. It read: “As a 46664 ambassador I would like to say: ‘Madiba, no words can describe how the whole world respects and loves you for all that you have done. Now, on your 90th birthday, all I want to say is that you are the Man of the World, Warrior of our salvation. As people you have given us back our dignity. Yem Yem Madiba.’”

The CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Achmat Dangor, spoke at the launch on behalf of Mr Mandela’s charities. He said that the primary purpose of the campaign was to give people all over the world a chance to wish Mr Mandela a happy birthday.

Dangor explained that funds from the campaign would be devoted to the different projects run by Mr Mandela’s charities.

Enzo Scarcella, executive manager of marketing at Vodacom, said that the company had been privileged to be involved with 46664 and the Foundation since the launch of the pre-paid 46664 cellphone starter pack in 2005.

He said the company’s involvement in the Birthday Wishes campaign was only a small role, but that Vodacom was extremely happy to play its part. “It will be to our detriment, both socially and commercially, if South Africans and South African businesses do not get involved in initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS. It’s very short-sighted for anyone not to play their role.”

The campaign was launched in London on June 16, 46 664 minutes before Madiba’s birthday on July 18. As part of the London launch, birthday messages were sent to Madiba by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown; the owner of the Virgin brand, Sir Richard Branson; Sharon Osbourne, wife of musician Ozzy Osbourne; British MP David Lammy; country singer Sheryl Crow and classical singer Josh Groban.

Branson’s message was: “Madiba, many, many happy returns, I hope to be there in South Africa.  Happy birthday, big kiss.”

Brown wrote: “Nelson Mandela is a leader no prison cell, no intimidation, no threat could silence.  A man whose belief in the future was so powerful that not even 27 years behind bars and barbed wire could destroy his dream that millions could be free.  So today as we follow that dream, we fight to create a new age of Mandela, a new age of global justice.  Happy birthday Madiba.”

Birthday messages were also sent to Madiba today from South African 46664 ambassadors Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) and Leanne Manas; TV presenter, Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu and Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Executive Director of the 46664-affiliated project, the African Women’s Development Fund.

HHP: “What would Africa be without Madiba? The walk to freedom is certainly long, but you walked it ... Your courage gave birth to the nation’s uhuru. Happy 90th birthday Tlou e Kgolo! Pula”

Leanne Manas: “Happy birthday to the greatest man I know! You changed the face of a nation, thereby changing millions of people’s lives for the better. Every line on your face represents a legacy that you have left in every South African’s heart through your 90 years that God has allowed us to enjoy you. Cheers to many more healthy, happy years. All my love, Leanne.”

Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu: “I so wish there were a million more people like you. Tata, happy birthday, enjoy your special day.”

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi:

“The Executive board and staff of AWDF wish to congratulate Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Nelson Mandela’s legacy of promoting social justice is one which we at AWDF value highly. We are especially grateful for the support that the Nelson Mandela Foundation (46664) has given to AWDF’s special HIV/AIDS fund ’13 Campaign’ which mobilizes resources for African women’s groups working in the area of HIV/AIDS.

Through your support, the 13 Campaign has chalked several achievements including economically empowering women by providing capital for a revolving credit scheme amongst members of an HIV/AIDS support group in Ghana, promoted voluntary HIV testing through grantee partners in Burkina Faso and Nigeria as well as training commercial sex workers in alternative trades of their choice including hairdressing and confectionery-making.

Thank you to Nelson Mandela and all our colleagues at 46664 for your support, friendship and solidarity. Happy Birthday Madiba. Here’s wishing you many more years of good health and inspirational leadership.”