As Public Protector Team, we woke up, like the rest of the nation and indeed the world, to devastating news of the passing of our iconic former President, Nelson Mandela. Although we had, for a long time, been alive to the fact that President Mandela was not going to be with us forever, and had somewhat anticipated this eventuality, his departure is a difficult reality to live with.
We join the nation and the rest of the world in expressing our deepest condolences to President Mandela’s family, comrades, South Africans at large and indeed the global community for the loss we have all suffered.
To people of all colour and creed; from all walks of life, across the globe; President Mandela was truly a gift to humanity. He was an embodiment of the best of humanity; a living expression of reconciliation, forgiveness, peace, inclusiveness, wisdom and represented the ultimate example of steward leadership.
A lawyer by profession, who was passionate about human rights, President Mandela’s respect for fairness, social justice and rule of law was evident prior to, during and after his five-year term of office as South Africa’s first democratically elected President.
Having been vocal against unjust laws during apartheid South Africa, resulting in incarceration for the greater part of his active adult years, he stepped up as President, serving as a leader whose actions spoke louder than his words.
We will always admire him for gladly submitting his administration to the scrutiny of checks and balances such as the courts and institutions supporting democracy when its actions came into question. He did this without treating such important accountability mechanisms as an irritation.
In his own words, President Mandela saw such accountability as “a source of comfort” and he “drew reassurance that the ordinary citizens of our country would be protected against abuse, no matter from which quarters it would emanate.”
We will always be inspired by the lessons of selfless service to humanity communicated primarily through deeds rather than words; his love for humanity and his persistent message of peace, equality, human solidarity and the pursuit of a just and inclusive world.
In celebrating his remarkable life and in line with his call for us to dedicate our time on earth to serving humanity, the best tribute we can pay to him is to preserve and deepen the impact of his legacy of steward leadership and dedication to the betterment of the human condition, human dignity and social justice.
It is our duty to ensure that the world where children are not malnourished, play freely and are given the opportunity to fulfil their human potential is realised. That is a world where colour is an issue of beauty rather than a divisive factor, where women and men enjoy equal rights and respect, the old, frail and disabled enjoy equal significance and each person is judged by the content of their character. That is the best send-off we could ever give Tata Madiba.
May his soul rest in eternal peace!
Hamba kahle Madiba!
A life well lived!
For more information:
Kgalalelo Masibi
Spokesperson: Public Protector South Africa
Cell: 079 507 0399
Tel: 012 366 7006
Email: kgalalelom@pprotect.org
