Friday, December 6, 2013 @TheMercurySA

R6.50 incl. VAT

R5.36 for
subscribers
SEE PAGE 28
THE MERCURY
Dbn 17/23
Pmb13/22
WITH BUSINESSREPORT SINCE 1852
GET A HEAD START
SANTAS
STEALS!
R19.90
EACH
NEED A
PROPERTY
SOLUTION?
www.jtross.co.za
All the results of Sundays
Sharks Trail Adventure in
Shongweni will be
published in The Mercury
on Monday.
T
RIBUTES poured in last
night from around the
world and around the
country for Nelson Man-
dela, who diedyesterday.
Once the worlds most famous
political prisoner, Mandela emer-
ged from a 27-year jail term in 1990
to leadSouthAfrica fromapartheid
to democracy.
His charisma, generosity of
spirit and an unwavering commit-
ment to the well-being of his fellow
humans, earned him love and ac-
claimacross the globe.
It also earned him the Nobel
Peace Prize in1993.
Evenafter he steppeddownfrom
the presidency in 1999, he contin-
ued as an elder statesman to cham-
pion the cause of reconciliation,
peace and human rights, speaking
out strongly on issues including
Aids andarmedconflict.
Last night President Jacob
Zuma said: FellowSouthAfricans,
our belovedNelsonRolihlahlaMan-
dela, the founding president of our
democratic nation, has departed.
Our people have lost a father.
Although we knew this day was
going to come, nothing can dimin-
ish our sense of a profound and en-
during loss. His tireless struggle for
freedom earned him the respect of
the world. His humility, passionand
humanity, earned him their love,
he added.
Example
Mandela would receive a full
state funeral, Zuma said, ordering
flags to be flown at half mast until
after the state funeral. A national
memorial service would be held at
the FNB stadium within the next
sevendays.
US President Barack Obama
summed up the feelings of millions
when he said he could not fully
imagine his ownlife without the ex-
ample Mandela set.
Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded
Mandela in 1999, said his death sig-
nalledthe endof a historic era.
His passing signals the endof a
historic era represented by the
heroic deeds of his generation,
Mbeki said.
The ANC said South Africa had
lost a colossus, an epitome of hu-
mility, equality, justice, peace and
hope of millions.
British Prime Minister David
Cameron said a great light had
gone out.
Nelson Mandela was a hero of
our time. Ive asked for the flag at
No 10 Downing Street to be flown
at half mast.
Nelson Rolihlahla Dalibungha
Mandela was born in the Transkei
on July 18, 1918, and trained as a
lawyer. He became a key figure in
the ANC and its decision in 1955 to
embark on organised resistance to
the newly elected National Party in
the formof the Defiance Campaign.
Going underground after the
ANCwas bannedin1960, he was ar-
rested and sentenced in 1964 to life
imprisonment for plotting the over-
throwal of the government.
He served the bulk of his time
onRobbenIsland, where he became
a symbol of apartheidinjustice.
At his Rivonia Trial, his state-
ment from the dock was his politi-
cal testimony. Duringmylifetime I
have dedicated myself to this strug-
gle of the African people. I have
fought against white domination,
and I have fought against black
domination.
I have cherished the ideal of a
democratic and free society in
which all persons live together in
harmony and with equal opportu-
nities. It is an ideal which I hope to
live for and to achieve. But if needs
be, it is an ideal for which I am pre-
paredto die.
Freed by FWde Klerkin1990, he
was elected president of the ANC
the following year.
In May 1994 he was inaugurated
president of South Africa by a new
non-racial Parliament.
He formally retired from public
life in June 2004, just short of his
86th birthday, and only weeks after
playing a major role in helping se-
cure the 2010 soccer World Cup for
SouthAfrica.
However, he continued to lend
support to causes such as the 46664
anti-Aids campaign, and to speak
out against poverty.
On his 80th birthday in 1998 he
married Graca Machel, widow of
former Mozambican president
Samora Machel.
In his later years Mandela was
increasingly frail. He made his last
public appearance at the closing
ceremonyof the WorldCup.
In early 2011, fears for his health
grewwhen he battled a serious res-
piratory infection that would recur
incomingyears. Whenhe turned93
a fewmonths later, he retired to his
home inQunuthe EasternCape.
InDecember 2012 he was treated
again for a lung infection in hospi-
tal then was admitted on March 27,
2013 to be treated for pneumonia.
He was later allowed to go to his
home in Sandton, where he re-
maineduntil his death.
Mandelahadsixchildrenbytwo
previous marriages, including two
daughters withWinnie Madikizela-
Mandela. Sapa
Nelson Mandela, accompanied by his then wife, Winnie, walks out of the Victor Verster prison, near Cape
Town, after spending 27 years in apartheid jails in this February 11, 1990 file photo. PICTURE: REUTERS
Nelson Mandela gives his usual warm smile as he chats with Britains then prime minister Gordon Brown (unseen) during a meeting at his hotel in central London, in this 2008 file photo. Mandela died last night at the
age of 95. PICTURE: REUTERS
Madiba is dead
Special prayer
CAPE Town Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
has released a prayer for Nelson
Mandela, the Anglican Church of
Southern Africa said.
Go forth, revolutionary and loving
soul, on your journey out of this
world, in the name of God, who created
you, suffered with you and liberated
you.
Go home Madiba, you have selflessly
done all that is good, noble and
honourable for Gods people.
We will continue where you have left
off, the Lord being our helper
Makgobas prayer read.
President Jacob Zuma announced his
death on the public broadcaster just
before midnight.
He passed on peacefully in the
company of his familyHe is now
resting, he is now at peace. Our nation
has lost its greatest son.
Fellow South Africans, Nelson
Mandela brought us together and
it is together that we bid him farewell.
Sapa
Your Mercury
Some copies of todays Mercury
may not have the Motoring and
Goodlife supplements and Eating
Out Guide, for which we
apologise.
If you would like a copy of these
supplements, please call the
Circulation Department at
Independent News on
031 308 2911.