Lakefield resident reflects on his encounter with Nelson Mandela

As we celebrate Mandela Day on July 18, Lakefield resident José Barbosa recalls the moment he met Nelson Mandela on October 4, 2001.

He described the moment as a dream come true

“Millions wished to have a glimpse of him, never mind meeting him in person, having a conversation, and taking photos. On top of it, I was also fortunate to meet his wife Graça Machel, an amazing woman who I had the pleasure to meet again two more times,” said Barbosa.

Mandela Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on July 18, Mandela’s birthday.

The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first United Nations Mandela Day held in 2010.

The 56-year-old met the former president at Olivedale Clinic in Randburg, when he was the technical manager for Siemens magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography departments.

Barbosa recalled how he met Madiba: “It was the morning of Octeber 4, 2001. We received news that Mandela would be at the clinic for a CT scan and that I was requested to ensure that a field service engineer would be present during the examination so technical assistance would be available in case of system glitches.

“As it happens, I had no engineer available, so I had to go myself. I quickly asked some of my colleagues in the office if someone had a camera and by luck, I manage to get hold of a digital one,” said Barbosa.

“Once I arrived, I immediately asked the radiographer to simulate a scan just to make sure all was in working order. Not long afterwards Mandela and his wife Graça Machel arrived with their bodyguards. The staff greeted him and to my amazement, Mandela greeted everyone by by their first name.”

Barbosa said he later found out that he had visited the department before and he never forgot the names of the people he met.

“I stayed by the radiographer side while Mandela was directed and placed in the CT scanner table. As Murphy has it, the scanner started giving problems so the procedure could not be initiated.

“I took over from the radiographer who was shaking like a leaf in a windstorm and proceeded to see how fast I can restore the system functionality. It took me about a minute or so and everything was back to normal.

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“During the scan, Graça Machel was seated in the control room not far from me and at one point she asked me why the scan was taking so long. I responded to her in Portuguese, which raised curiosity and prompt her to invite me to sit next to her.

“We conversed mostly in Portuguese and when the scan was finished, she called out, ‘Madiba, please come here, I want to introduce you to my friend José’.

“I was introduced and I asked him if I can take a picture with him, he agreed to it but only after he got rid of the hospital gown. He changed back to his clothes. He also picked the spots where we took the pictures,” he said.

“I asked one of the bodyguards to take the photos who asked me to deselect the camera flash due to Mandela’s sensitive eyes. I was so nervous, and I was not able to figure out how to do it on the borrowed camera, so my chances of taking the pictures were diminishing by the second until I resorted to asking the bodyguard to cover the flash with his finger.

“It resulted somehow in poor quality pictures (light exposure). During all this time Mandela and his wife Graça Machel were so friendly and humble beyond belief. After taking the photos, we shook hands and they left.”
He described Mandela as a very friendly giant.

“He was tall, but I am referring more to his persona, his relevance, and enormous status in the world.”
Barbosa said Mandela and his wife asked him so many questions, about his family, interests and view of the future.

“On one occasion while standing next to Mandela taking one of the photos, I was noticeably very nervous and he asked me, ‘Why are you so nervous?’ to which I responded, ‘I am next to you Nelson Mandela’. With a smile, he said to me, ‘José, I am a man just like you, no need to be nervous’. I get goosebumps still today just thinking about that moment.”

Barbosa arrived in South Africa from Portugal in 1984. He said his knowledge of Mandela, the ANC and the apartheid regime was very much influenced by the media.

“Looking back, I think the tactics used by Mandela and other freedom fighters were unfortunately necessary. It’s very seldom that one can force the hand of such oppressive governments just by sitting around the table.

“Even today, 25 years later with a democratically elected government, certain sectors of our society need to resort to some sort of violent, destructive protests to have their voices heard. That’s one aspect that seems to be very predominant with us humans, we don’t learn from history,” he said.

He said from this experience he learned that no matter how important you are, your true value will always be reflected in the way you treat others.

“Mandela is and always will be the benchmark for any global leader.

“I feel very honoured and privileged to have met him. There were many who fought in his name that never had the chance and would be more deserving than me,” said Barbosa.

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