NELSPRUIT – The country is in mourning following the death of former president Nelson Mandela. Even more so, are his personal friends, those who were at the forefront of the struggle with him to rid the country of apartheid.
Lowveld Media spoke to one of them, Dr Mathews Phosa, treasurer-general of the ANC. “His death is a great loss. He played his role as a nation builder very well and we should be grateful to God for that. He was more than a father, more then a comrade. We were all very close.”
He continued by saying that Madiba inspired them to rise above all odds. “He taught us that you could be great although you were small. He made you feel important, even if you weren’t – whether you were black or white, young or old.”
He remembers Mandela as someone who didn’t have any personal or political grudges. “He created a new slate for the future. Even in death, he enlightens us. It is up to us to carry that legacy of love and reconciliation into the future. We mustn’t drop the ball. He made every South African feel good about being a South African and we should honour him by continuing that legacy.”
