News of the death of the former President Nelson Mandela hit South Africa last night (5 December) in what many describes as an inevitable but sad day not only for Africa but for the world as a whole.
Mandela lost his battle to a reccuring lung infection which saw him hospitalized for a few months prior to his death.
News of his death was announced by President Jacob Zuma at the Union Building in Pretoria, who said that Mandela had succumbed to his illness at 8.50pm.
He asked for South Africans to be strong during this difficult time and recall the values that Madiba fought for.
Mandela will be remembered for his noble character and his fighting spirit.
News of his death shook many and came with different reactions from people across the country.
So much so that after hearing of the news, people still in pyjamas in the early hours of the morning stood outside his Houghton home and placed flowers to pay their last respects.
Twitter also went abuzz with people pouring their hearts out stating what the father of the nation meant to them.
Meanwhile, the Herald spoke to local leaders from different political parties to hear their take on the statesman’s death.
According to Randfontein’s first citizen executive mayor Sylvia Thebenare, this is a tough time for everyone in this country regardless of colour, race and ethnicity.
“I would like to express our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Mandela family on the passing of the global icon Tata Mandela.
“We remain devastated with the news and as a country and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are all in mourning.
“We will remember Tata for his humility and the strong values of Ubuntu that he stood for and instilled in us.
“He touched our lives in special ways and his character inspired us to strive to make a difference in the lives of the ordinary people of Randfontein,” says Thebenare.
Meawhile, Local Cope Leader Solly May says that he too and his party salutes Mandela for his spirits and will dearly miss him.
“That man lived to see his vision of a non-racial South Africa fulfilled and we have him to thank for that.
“He was a man with intergrity, love, wisdom and peace.
“He commited himself to nation building and it is through his resilience that we are we are today,” says May.
West Rand District Municipality Executive Mayor Mpho Nawa has called on residents not to cry for the passing of Madiba but to celebrate his life.
“As we continue with our daily lives without him being around, let us take the baton and continue where he left off.
“We are where we are now because of his immense contribution to the struggle to free our country from the shackles of oppression.
“He taught us to forgive and to live in freedom and was a true inspiration to many people of many creeds,”
“We will always remember his reverberating words at the Rivonia treason trial when he said; “I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination…”
“These words will forever remind us that this country belongs to all of us who live in it,” says Nawa.
In his famous words, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela
Indeed he will be missed.
Lala ngoxolo Tata welizwe.
Background
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Mandela clan in Mvezo, Transkei on 18 July 1918 and died at the age of 95.
He fought tirelessly against oppression and apartheid for most of his life and spent 27 years in prison for this cause.
He was released in 1990 and became the first black president of the democratic country in 1994 after the first ever all-race elections in South Africa.
