“Tonight, one of the brightest light of our word has gone out” those were the words of British Prime Minister David Cameron as he gave his condolence, not just to South Africa but to Africa as a whole on the death of one of the greatest son NELSON MANDELA (Madiba) who passed away on the 5th of december at about 20:50 local time at the age of 95
The former South African president had been suffering from lung infection and has been receiving medical attention, Zuma announced his death in a televised address to the nation, telling mourners that Mandela, often affectionately referred to by his Xhosa clan name “Madiba,” had passed away and would be given a proper state burial.
Madela is seen all over the world as a true hero, his selflessness is reflected in his many humanitarian legacy, notable was his stand against the apartheid government in South Africa and eventually his willingness to sacrifice his life for the course of bringing freedom to the oppressed black people of his nation.
After spending 27 years in a 8 feet by 7 feet concrete cell with only a straw mat to sleep with, Mandela was released February 2nd 1990 through the intervention of President F. W. de Klerk. Mandela became president of the Africa National Congress (ANC) in 1991, and was elected president of South Africa in May 1994, and was able to serve his father land for 5 years.
Nelson Mandela was the first black president and the founding president of the democratic South Africa. It is not surprising that his praise has been sung all over, he was able to transform the nation from its Apartheid system into a land. He turn his prison number and year 46664 into a tool of social change and activism.
in the words of president Zuma 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.”