In a recorded message he asked the people of the country to remember the less fortunate.

In his special birthday message, Mandela said he knows that people would be expressing their best wishes for a retired old man, but he wants people to remember his three legacy organisations — Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Mandela-Rhodes Foundation   — that are continuing his work.

Mandela, who is celebrating his birthday with family and friends at his ancestral village of Qunu in the Eastern Cape province of the country, recorded the message in the backdrop of the messages of goodwill continuously pouring in from all over the world and South Africa.

President Thabo Mbeki in his message expressed gratitude to Mandela for steering the nation through its most turbulent times to a stable, free and a non-racial society. The president called on the nation to uphold moral values and discipline as demonstrated by Nelson Mandela throughout his struggle for South Africa’s liberation.
ANC president, Jacob Zuma  described Mandela as an astute leader and the most charismatic President that their party has ever had. He is a kind of man, who is not afraid to debate and very powerful to persuade, who loved the ANC in a manner that we have never seen before.

F W de Klerk, last white president of South Africa, in his special message said that it was a great pleasure for me to congratulate Nelson Mandela on his 90th birthday. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest figures of 20th century and he was born to be a leader.