Nelson Mandela has died

[PacificDogwood]

RIP

He was the first proper hero of mine

I remember when I was 9 falling out with my SA pen friend (she had been at my school and then returned to SA so we stayed in touch). I remember writing that I thought it was wrong that black and white SAfricans were treated differently. We eventually lost touch until we were in our 20s and Mandela was released.

She had trained as teacher and her school was featured on the BBC as one of the first integrated primary schools. Her attitude had of course changed completely and she said that growing up she really didn't think there was anything wrong.

Unfortunately I see little hope for the future South Africa when you have Zuma in charge and his professional and personal corruption.

I can't remember Nelson Mandela being released and was shocked to hear it was 1990. I remember Terry Waite being released and people crying in the post office.

I have found myself in tears several times whenever I have thought about Mandela's death without really understanding why I am so upset. I never knew much about him but I can understand he must have been incredibly amazing to have so much respect from everyone around the world, and he always seemed just so lovely.

When he was ill a while ago certain members of his family acted in a horribly unseemly way and I truly hope all that crap does not happen again.

RIP your great, amazing man.

I will never forget him saying, 'Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person will die'.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was the greatest, most courageous and generous act of forgiveness ever undertaken by any nation, anywhere.

On a personal level, so many of my friends were granted new lives and new freedoms by Mandela and the thousands of freedom fighters and supporters. As one single example - interracial marriages that would have been illegal under the apartheid regime.

Mandela, Madiba, Tata. We will keep trying to follow the bright path you lit for us.

I remember thinking, when he was released, it was due to his age; that because he was in the autumn of his life, he could have no real impact in public life. Maybe those who sanctioned it thought the same. If so, I'm glad we were both entirely wrong.

I could not have predicted what was to follow; how much good he still had to do and actually did. It is an inspiration to know that someone with the same worldview as most of us could withstand, with dignity, the oppression against him personally, and against him generically by dint of his ethnic background. But not just to withstand with dignity - to still have the strength and the will to change not only his entire country, but the world as a whole.

I am delighted that he lived to see the result of his efforts, that he left the world a far better place than he found it, and that the annals of history are tipped - for once - in the right direction by the addition of an exemplar. When I think of what humanity should be, and what it is when it is at its best, the image in my mind looks very much like Nelson Mandela.

I think if you want to know what SA would have been like without Nelson Mandela you only have to look at Zimbawe. SA is not perfect but much better than Mugabe's dictatorship. I think the word awesome is overused these days but its applicable to NM. He's work will be studied by students in the same way William Wilberforce is. Truly someone who left the world a better place than he found it.

RIP

Reported

FFS

Apartheid is alive and well in SA, but it is now the whites who live in compounds, guarded by dogs, who fear for their lives.

Yes, it's only white South Africans who live in fear of violence.

What a great loss not only to South Africans but the world... A man who sacrificed 27 years of his life and fought for his country. When he stepped out of that prison cell at Robben Island he immediately forgave the people who put him there. His greatness is not only in what he achieved but his humility along the way.. I hope that his legacy lives on... I remember watching the Rugby World Cup game in 1995, Mandela wore the SA rugby T-shirt, this shocked the Nation because it meant that he never harboured any hatred, i remember the first black player Chester Williams. It wasn't just the victory, but the game had united South Africans of all colours, shapes, sizes..I remember tears flowing down my face (and i'm not even a big rugby fan)... I also remember in 1991, the first year the so called "White" schools had opened for pupils of all colours. That's the year i started Grade 1. I never understood much at the age of 6, but it's so ironic that my little girl will be going to the same all-girl school as i did in 2015... One day i will tell her the story of the great Nelson Mandela, may he rest in peace...

Far more black on black violence here than black on white.
But true about how whites live - dogs, armed response, alarm, beams standard. I know black people who live like this too- becoming haves versus have-nots gradually rather than purely on racial terms.

I am a South African, I'm not white, every person i know including myself have been victims of crimes in South Africa. It's not only "whites". It's strange though the first thing i felt when i moved to the UK is the lack of tolerance and ignorance especially with regard to religion, culture etc. Yet, the UK is populated with foreigners, people of different cultures and religions, ethnicity... Despite the shortcomings, i still feel South Africa has a better sense of community.

Agree its much warmer, more direct than UK.

My DC have both spent a couple of months at school in South Africa, and loved the experience. DD particularly made great friends of all colours, and returned to meet up with friends again the following year. They both loved the warmth of the area they were in (East London) and we have made friends with some wonderful people.

Where are MNHQ tonight? The above spamming posts were reported hours ago.

Apartheid is alive and well in SA, but it is now the whites who live in compounds, guarded by dogs, who fear for their lives.

Well, 'apartheid' if you take it to mean living apart is alive in well in many countries which consider themselves v democratic and even the 'cradle democracy': gated communities in the States, rich enclaves in the south of France, certain population groups living apart from each other segregated by their social status and income.
Everybody can sit on everybody's park benches FFS. Or marry each other. Or have access to any job/training.

Yes, racism is alive and well too. Sadly. But not as a political system.

FWIW, I have never been to SA, my experience is restricted to Uganda, Zambia and Simbabwe (and a boyfriend from Malawi - does that count? ), so I am just extrapolating.

And of course there is fear - I wonder what people in white enclaves or armed compounds in SA feel is possibly making other SAs so angry and potentially violent??

I hope the singing and dancing and remembering NM will continue and that President Zuma will see the light too. Or at least that the next election will oust him

I've just reported again, Toffee

Glad those posts have gone now.

I had an email at 20.26 saying the posts has been deleted.

Ah I remember Chester Williams. What a player :)

And the symbolism of Mandela appearing it that shirt. It was fantastic.

LaGuardia, white people in South Africa were living in enclaves surrounded by fences and dogs and afraid for their lives during apartheid. Created by apartheid.

What do you think the Group Areas Act was for?

And the more the white govt cracked down, the greater the violence became, and the more afraid the whites became - so the more the govt cracked down.

That's why Mandela seemed like a miracle. He cut the Gordian knot and allowed the country to step off the railroad to a seemingly unavoidable bloodbath.

But I agree it seems a lot worse now for the haves, in terms of haves vs have nots.

Conspiracy theory is rife in SA about the timing and announcement of his death ...

Still doesn't detract from his legacy and heroism