SA has lost its greatest son

FORMER South African president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela died peacefully at his Johannesburg home on Thursday evening after a prolonged lung infection. He was 95.

In a live televised address to the nation, President Jacob Zuma said although South Africans knew that this day would come, nothing could diminish the sense of profound and enduring loss.

Zuma said the nation’s thoughts were with Madiba’s wife Graca Machel, his former wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his children, his grandchildren, his great grand-children and the entire family as well as his friends, comrades and colleagues.

“Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood. Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause,” said the President.

He said that Madiba had brought us together, and it is together that we will bid him farewell.

“Let us express, each in our own way, the deep gratitude we feel for a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity. This is indeed the moment of our deepest sorrow. Yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination,” said Zuma.

All flags in the country will fly at half-mast tomorrow and remain so until after Mandela’s funeral.

Mandela was hospitalised on June 8 with a recurring lung infection. Initial reports suggested Mandela was stable, although his condition was serious. But on June 23, the Presidency announced that Mandela’s condition had detriorated.

Mandela spent almost three months in hospital. He was discharged in September and was receiving home-based medical care.