As I write this the presidency continues to report that although critical former president Nelson Mandela is stable. Whether it is still the case when you read this the Lord alone knows.
The country has been through a roller-coaster of emotions as reports on Madiba’s health have fluctuated from “serious but stable”, “doing very well”, “expect discharge”, “critical”, “life support” and then back to “critical, but stable” since he was first admitted almost a month ago on 8 June.
As the world holds its breath expecting to soon have to bid a remarkable man goodbye many have taken to social media networks sending messages of love and well wishes. The quotes by Madiba being tweeted are a reminder of one man’s extraordinary capacity to take the high road and forgive where few others could. While in no way a saint the father of the rainbow nation has however managed to be something more than just a man and led by example.
Images of people dropping off letters, drawings and flowers outside both the hospital where he lies and his home in Houghton are humbling. That one person can have that kind of impact on the world is praiseworthy.
I consider myself blessed to have lived at the same time as Madiba and witnessed the changes he brought to our beautiful country. Although terribly sad, his passing will undeniably unite the country and I believe he’ll proudly be looking down on us as the walls of race, age, gender and other barriers crumble in our joint mourning and remembrance of him – even if just for a little while.
Nelson Mandela on death: “Shakespeare put it very well: ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear; seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come.’ When you believe that, you disappear under a cloud of glory. Your name lives beyond the grave – and that is my approach.”
