Head girl looks back on Madiba’s life

THE year 2018 is when Nelson Mandela, the first leader of a truly democratic South Africa, would have turned 100 years old.

Although Mandela died five years ago, his entire life and what he fought for still stands, and will continue to stand, as a testament to the power of the human voice.

Confronted by the challenges of apartheid, physical imprisonment, and doubt, Mandela nonetheless dedicated his whole life to improve the lives of millions of his fellow men and women, as an activist, leader and ultimately, one of the world’s greatest-ever humanitarians.

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Not only did Mandela liberate an entire country from the grips of the racist apartheid system, but he continued the fight for the world’s people in need until the very end of his life.

Mandela fought for what others were too ashamed to even speak about.

He was a passionate campaigner for HIV/AIDS awareness. In 2003, Mandela’s foundation launched the 46664 initiative – a concert series that brought AIDS to the forefront of the global conversation that was broadcast to two million viewers to raise awareness, understanding and money to treat those suffering from the disease.

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Two years later, Mandela announced that his son had died of AIDS, which was said to have normalised the illness in the eyes of many.

This was one of the main things that I admire Mandela for; he was able to relate to the general public but was, at the same time, viewed as their biggest hero.

Mandela helped set the country on a path toward equality from the very beginning of his career as president and our country would be in ruins without his many acts of courage.

His legacy is timeless, he captured the heart of the nation and will be forever etched in the history records as one of the greatest men of all time.

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