A legend departs

December 06, 2013 07:17 am | Updated December 04, 2021 11:27 pm IST - Johannesburg

Nelson Mandela, the towering figure of Africa’s struggle for freedom and a hero to millions around the world, has died at the age of 95.

South Africa’s first democratically elected President was in the midst of his family at home in Johannesburg, after years of declining health that had caused him to withdraw from public life.

The news was announced by President Jacob Zuma. In a sombre televised address he said Mr. Mandela “departed” at 8.50 p.m. local time and was at peace. “This is the moment of our deepest sorrow,” Mr. Zuma said. “Our nation has lost its greatest son... What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.”

United States President Barack Obama led >tributes from world leaders, referring to Mr. Mandela by his clan name — Madiba. “Through his fierce dignity and unbending will to sacrifice his own freedom for the freedom of others, Madiba transformed South Africa — and moved all of us.”

Mr. Mandela’s death sent South Africa deep into mourning and self-reflection, nearly 20 years after he led the country from racial apartheid to inclusive democracy.

But his passing will also be keenly felt by people around the world who revered Mr. Mandela as one of history’s last great statesmen and a moral paragon comparable with Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

It was a transcendent act of forgiveness after spending 27 years in prison, 18 of them on Robben Island, that will assure his place in history. With South Africa facing possible civil war, Mr. Mandela sought reconciliation with the white minority to build a new democracy.

He led the African National Congress to victory in the country’s first multiracial election in 1994. Mr. Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2013

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.