Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – Madiba passed away

The Nelson Mandela Foundation, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and The Mandela Rhodes Foundation send a sad message into the world:

It is with the deepest regret that we have learned of the passing of our founder, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – Madiba. The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa will shortly make further official announcements.

We want to express our sadness at this time. No words can adequately describe this enormous loss to our nation and to the world.

We give thanks for his life, his leadership, his devotion to humanity and humanitarian causes. We salute our friend, colleague and comrade and thank him for his sacrifices for our freedom. The three charitable organisations that he created dedicate ourselves to continue promoting his extraordinary legacy.

Hamba Kahle Madiba

South African President Jacob Zuma slowly said, with a few interruptions of grieve that their father Madiba (how Nelson Mandela was called) had passed away and that the:

“the nation has lost its greatest son”

For the last six months the black ANC leader and anti-apartheid icon had been critically ill. Mandela’s death comes months afer his 95th birthday on July 18, which his foundation, various charities and businesses vowed to celebrate with a nationwide day of service that includes painting schools, handing out food and books, and running a 41-mile relay marathon in the spirit of Mandela’s 67 years of activism and public work.

“His tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world. His humility, passion and humanity, earned him their love.”

Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on 13 May 1998 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As solicitor he took an office just over the courthouse, in a ‘derelict place’ but without thinking of his own person started to defend the black people in that beautiful country of the southern continent near the south Pole.

Cold and hot it was for this man who first thought he could follow the peace bringer Ghandi. But after some time he did not see another solution than to take to the weapons. At first he took care that no person could have been wounded by the bombings, but the neo-nazis took care that the blacks started fighting against each other and that the country had to take up arms against those fighters. On both sides terrible things where done.

Zindzi and Zenani Mandela, Mr Mandela’s daughters, were informed of his death as the premiere of a film about their father’s life got under way in London. They are understood to have been told just as the film started – but insisted that the screening continued. Speaking on the red carpet, Zindzi Mandela had earlier told reporters her father was “fine” and that “we are hoping to see more of him”.

Others inside the Leicester Square premiere were left stunned as the film’s producer announced Mr Mandela’s death as the closing credits rolled. A moment of silence was held.

Prince William, who was also at the premiere of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, paid tribute from the lobby of the cinema.

“It was extremely sad and tragic news,” he said.

“We were just reminded of what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family right now.”

Crowds gathered outside Mr Mandela’s Johannesburg home after his death, singing songs in celebration of his achievements.

The anti-apartheid leader and Nobel laureate was a beloved figure around the world, a symbol of reconciliation from a country with a brutal history of racism. but the brutality against his race and against him did not get him down into the ground nor did it make him a man of hate. Instead he became stronger and started with the prisoners at Robbeneiland a ‘university’ to have the prisoners able to understand the men in charge.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. ”

Mandela said.

After nearly 30 years for plotting to overthrow South Africa’s apartheid government, having spend 27 years in prison, he continued to speak and hope for the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons no matter which colour or race could live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.

“It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

he said in 1964, but had to be patient until 1985, President P.W. Botha offered Mandela his freedom on condition that he unconditionally reject violence as a political weapon. But Mandela rejected the proposal. He made his sentiment known through a letter he released via his daughter.

“What freedom am I being offered while the organization of the people remains banned? Only free men can negotiate. A prisoner cannot enter into contracts,” he wrote. In 1988, Mandela was moved to Victor Verster Prison and would remain there until his release.

Throughout his imprisonment, pressure mounted on the South African government to release him. Many callers for a peaceful world, from different nations started to boycot economically South Africa. The did hurt the white apartheid lovers in their pocket. They could no longer ignore the world-wide slogan “Free Nelson Mandela”.

It still took until 1990 before Mandela was released and could continue his life’s work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. In 1991, the first national conference of the ANC was held inside South Africa since the organization had been banned in 1960.

Mandela was elected president of the ANC, while his friend Oliver Tambo became the organization’s national chairperson. Mandela’s leadership and his work, as well as his relationship with then President F.W. de Klerk, were recognized when they were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.He later also received the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush.

South Africa’s first multiracial elections, held on April 27, 1994, saw the ANC storm in with a majority of 62 percent of the votes, and Mandela was inaugurated in May 1994 as the country’s first black president.

As president from May 1994 until June 1999, Mandela presided over the transition from minority rule and apartheid, winning international respect for his advocacy of national and international reconciliation.

For me his bravest step was to introduce ‘The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’ to help deal with what happened under apartheid. Giving all sides, yes also the white torturers to have their say about the times they where tortured by the blacks.

The conflict during the period of apartheid resulted in violence and human rights abuses from all sides. No section of society escaped these abuses. therefore the government of the New South Africa wanted to reconcile all parties and have them regret for what they had done, willing to give them grace when they wanted to say ‘sorry’.

Witnesses at TRC hearings were able to give testimony in their home language. Translators and transcribers, who used three different word processing packages to produce these transcriptions, worked in most of South Africa’s 11 official languages plus Polish. The TRC was seen by many as a crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa. Despite some flaws, it is generally (although not universally) thought to have been successful.

Many people, blacks and whites worked alongside him, both publicly and in the shadows—and his death will force us to face up to what the changes and gains of the past two decades mean to the average South African. Over a few years we shall be able to judge how the grown-up children shall have learned their lesson from their father Madiba, a clan name used as a sign of respect and affection.

Madiba is a name Mandela was born into, and would be used in “an intimate context”.

Madiba was the name of a chief who ruled in the 18th century, according to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

His fellow campaigner against apartheid and fellow South African Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu said he was not only an amazing gift to humankind,

he made South Africans and Africans feel good about being who we are. He made us walk tall. God be praised.”

“Like a most precious diamond honed deep beneath the surface of the earth, the Madiba who emerged from prison in January 1990 was virtually flawless.”

Tutu added on Friday that Madiba’s legacy would live on in South Africa.

Peter Alegi, a professor at Michigan State University specializing in South African history said:

“Using the Madiba name is to reclaim his African-ness and to downplay the Nelson part, which is a colonial legacy that unfortunately shackled much of the African continent for a long, long time,”

It was on his inauguration day in 1994 that the concept of ‘Madiba Magic’ was born – the winning influence that Nelson Mandela engendered whenever he went to watch a South African sports team. The power of the magic was no better exemplified than one year later at the same venue when South Africa beat New Zealand with a iconic extra-time drop goal to win the Rugby World Cup.

Rugby in the older times was considered to be the sport of the apartheid minded, but Mandela, wearing a Springboks shirt, paid them honour at the Rugby World Cup 1995.

Mandela’s arrival on the field in a Springbok jersey before the match stunned the crowd, mostly made up of whites, some of whom still antagonistically waving the flag of the old Apartheid regime from the stands.
Within minutes his name was being chanted by a crowd seduced by the symbolism of a black president in the controversial colours of a team previously reserved for whites only.

When he congratulated and handed over the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar this player rightly said Mandela was the one to be honoured.
After his death the Springboks paid a moving video tribute to Mandela, recalling a defining moment in the country’s history.

South African Rugby Union President Oregan Hoskins said:

“All of our lives are poorer today at the extinguishing of the great beacon of light and hope that led the way for our country through the transition to democracy. ‘Madiba’ was a great man of vision, determination and integrity who performed a miracle that amazed the world as much as it amazed his fellow countrymen.”

Brazil soccer great Pele: “Let us all continue his legacy with purpose and passion.”

Nelson Mandela holding the soccer World cup beside Capetown Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Photo: AFP

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said: “It is in deep mourning that I pay my respects to an extraordinary person, probably one of the greatest humanists of our time and a dear friend of mine: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. When he was honoured and cheered by the crowd at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium on 11 July 2010, it was as a man of the people, a man of their hearts, and it was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced.”

Former England striker Gary Lineker said: “The greatest man on the planet has died. RIP Nelson Mandela.”

Many join the South Africans in this profound sense of loss and sadness on the death of their beloved Founder, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

President Obama said:

“Never discount the difference that one person can make”

South Africans united in mourning for Nelson Mandela on Friday, but while some celebrated his remarkable life with dance and song, others fretted that the anti-apartheid hero’s death would make the nation vulnerable again to racial and social tensions.

Mandela stayed strong in the terrible times and kept going for the ideal of a peaceful nation where all sorts of people could live together feeling united.
That the world may learn the lessons from that period of apartheid and will get enough inspiration from his words and work to continue his work which is not finished yet.

We sincerely hope the legacy of this man who did not let him be put down to become a man of hatred, will continue to inspire future world leaders.

That his family may have the strength to pass this time of grieve and could find solace in the works of this great man in whom they can be proud.

Let us remember him who said:

“I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days.”

“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.”

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” — Nelson Mandela

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Crowds outside Mr Mandela’s home have been singing songs in his praise

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Please do find:

1. Nelson Mandela Foundation
2. The official Truth and Reconciliation Commission Website
3. Nelson Mandela: The Madiba magic
4. Nelson Mandela Dead: Former South African President Dies At 95
5. Mourning the death of Nelson Mandela: Newspaper, magazine front pages from around the world
6. Nelson Mandela’s Death and South Africa’s Next Great Struggle
7. Nelson Mandela: South Africa’s Hero Dies
8. Nelson Mandela, revered statesman and anti-apartheid leader, dies at 95
9. South Africa mourns Mandela, will bury him on December 15
10. Live Updates: Nelson Mandela Dies
11. Nelson Mandela Dies: Obituary Of An Icon
12. Mandela: World Leaders Begin Paying Tribute

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