Linda Twala reminisces about Madiba
ALEXANDRA - Fond memories of the late former President nelson Mandela are being shared by Alexandra's foremost citizen, Linda Twala.
Alexandra philanthropist, Linda Twala has many tales to tell about the late Nelson Mandela.
But one of his fondest memories was when Mandela first came to the township in the early 1940s. “When he first got here we showed him some shacks and he went straight into a dilapidated shack and there was a child in there,” Twala recalled. “He went straight to the child who was sitting a bed and gave him a hug. That is when I knew that we have a great icon in our midst.”
He said Mandela’s passing was very sad and that the country and the world had lost a true hero. “There is no man who can replace him. What I see happening in the country today is not what we fought for.”
Although the icon is gone, Twala said he will carry the many lessons he learnt from him. “Through him I have learnt to forgive. My house was burned down by the police in the 1980s and because of Mandela I have forgiven them. There is no future without forgiveness.”
Chairman of the Alexandra ANC Zone 13 branch, Mpho Moerane described Mandela as an influential leader and said he will be missed. “Alex is the home of the ANC and has produced many great leaders,” he said.
