A towering figure has fallen. A legend of our times has departed. The spear of the nation has fallen. The nation and the entire people’s of the globe are in a state of shock. The large African Boabab, who loved Africa as much as he loved South Africa, has fallen. Its trunk and seeds will nourish the earth for decades to come. We are mourning. We are a nation in tears.
Our founding President of the democratic new South Africa, International icon and Nobel Prize Laureate, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has passed on age 95.
Madiba was until his last breath a disciplined cadre of the people’s movement the African National Congress (ANC). During his time as a member of the ANC, he taught us respect, patience, negotiation skills, leadership, but above all he taught us humility. He was self- effacing and unassuming.
Madiba was a revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century.
The news broke last night in a televised address by the President of the Republic Jacob Zuma.
Born in July 1918 in the south-eastern Transkei region, Mandela carved out a career as a lawyer in Johannesburg in parallel with his political activism.
He became commander-in-chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the armed wing of the by now-banned ANC, in 1961, and the following year underwent military training in Algeria and Ethiopia.
While underground back home in South Africa, Mandela was captured by police in 1962 and sentenced to five years in prison.
He was then charged with sabotage and sentenced in 1964 to life in prison at the Rivonia trial, named after a Johannesburg suburb where a number of ANC leaders were arrested.
He used the court hearing to deliver a speech that was to become the manifesto of the anti-apartheid movement.
"During my lifetime, I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society.
"It is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."
We shall not weep for uTata. He would not expect us to or approve of us doing so. We do, though, deeply mourn his death. A part of us is gone with his passing.
The spear of the nation has fallen, as the militant youth of our country once sang during funerals. Let us pick up the spear, now to build a country after the example that Madiba has set for us.
In its tribute the ANC’s Secretary General announced that with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, the ANC received the sad news of the passing of our Isithwalandwe and former President, Comrade Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
He said our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions; here and abroad.
In conclusion, Madiba was joked that when he dies, the first thing he will do in heaven is to find and join the branch of the ANC. Indeed, he joins a list of eminent anti-apartheid heroes in OR Tambo, Joe Slovo, Walter Sisulu, Bram Fischer, Lillian Ngoyi, MaTambo, Dr. AB Xuma, Dr. GM Naicker, Dr. YM Dadoo and many others.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to all South Africans, the ANC membership, but especially to his close family, friends and the children of South Africa of which he dedicated much of his time to make their lot bearable in life.
Rest in peace Tata. You fought a good fight.
