Former president Nelson “Madiba” Mandela died last night at his Houghton home at the age of 95.
Known globally as the father of democracy in South Africa, Mandela was at the forefront of the anti-apartheid struggle. In 1962 he was arrested by the nationalist government for treason, and sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island.
International pressure resulted in his early release in 1990, and, following a dismantling of apartheid structures, he was elected president of South Africa in 1994.
He and FW De Klerk were jointly awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for their work to end apartheid.
Mandela served a single term as president, and from 1999 to 2004 he continued his activism and philanthropy. He retired from public life in 2004 after his health deteriorated.
Mandela was a well-known champion of children’s rights, and founded the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in 1994, shortly after becoming president.
He was also involved in HIV/AIDS activism, and bestowed his prison number – 46664 – on a series of concerts held in the name of charity.
He was a firm believer in the power of education, having said “education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world” at an address at Wits University in 2003. Wits bestowed an Honorary Doctorate on Mandela in 1991 to acknowledge his commitment to justice.
In an address to the nation last night, President Jacob Zuma said, “This is the moment of our deepest sorrow. Our nation has lost its greatest son. Yet, what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. And in him we saw so much of ourselves.”
He called on South Africans to conduct themselves with dignity and respect in the coming days as the country mourns the loss of the former leader.
Statesmen from around the world have marked Mandela’s passing. US president Barack Obama described him as a man who “took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice”.
South African businesses have paid tribute to the former president. Cell C released a statement saying, “We will all remember him for his courage, unwavering strength, his ability to look past people’s faults, and his kindness and generosity.”
Telkom has expressed sorrow at the loss, and has opened its Web site as a public platform for honouring Mandela.
“We pray that his family is blessed with the fortitude they will need to face these enormously difficult times,” says group CEO, Sipho Maseko.
The academic community has also honoured the former president. As a mark of respect, the University of Cape Town (UCT) has announced that flags will be flown at half mast today.
The staff at IT-Online extends its sympathies to the family and friends of Nelson Mandela.
