Nelson Mandela has died

[PacificDogwood]

RIP

He was the first proper hero of mine

josh, that is lovely, thank you.

'Invictus' (the poem) is so fitting

My heart genuinely aches. I have loved and respected him from a very young age. He also resembles my Dad. May he rest in perfect peace.The long walk to freedom has finished. Madiba, may your legacy live on.

May he rest in peace.

Revel in paradise beautiful soul x

That is beautiful joshandjamie

God I remember attending the Nelson Mandela Freedom concert at Wembley in 1990, it was amazing. Seeing him on that big stage, looking so tiny.
Inspirational man RIP and thank you.

27 years of those years in jail, and yet he forgave his oppressors, My life would have been very different if Mandela and his counterparts had not fought againsT oppression and racism they way he did. He paid a high price so that Black South Africans could be FREE

RIP :(

Sleep well, great man x

RIP

Inspirational.

I think that tomorrow I'm going to try and do something a bit better - like bringing a teeny pebble to something grand on a mountain - just as a practical remembrance.

Definitely a life worth giving thanks for.

I was at the Free Nelson Mandela concert at Wembley, heavily pregnant, in 1988.

We knew at the time that he had suffered unspeakable injustice.

We had no way of knowing how unbelievably generous, magnanimous and dignified he would be, having been granted his freedom.

A shining example of humanity at its best.

RIP great man

I met Nelson Mandela in South Africa in 1994.

He was the kindof man that sucked the air out of the room when he entered it. His charisma was breathtaking.

I am honoured to have shared the air with such a great man and I wish him peace in death, as he tried to find peace and compassion in life.

It's in our hands

I cried when I heard.

RIP, and thank you for the gifts you gave us.

RIP Madiba

Tribute and biography in song by the fabulous late Brenda Fassie:

RIP to a very special man. Nelson Mandela a true hero. He will be missed but he deserve to rest peacefully now.

I remember very clearly the BBC reporting on the first post-apartheid elections in SA. It was early morning and they interviewed an ancient man in the huge queue, able to vote for the very first time. His words: 'Today, we break our chains'.

I can't begin to imagine how that must feel. RIP Mandela.

Thank you Mr Mandela for your great inspiration.

'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 opportunities. 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 prepared to die’.
– Nelson Mandela

I live in South Africa (but I am not South African). This morning, the whole country is at a standstill and people are crying everywhere. This is a sad day for our country and the world. One of the greatest men has left us.

May you always rest in peace.

RIP Madiba.
Am here also. Nowhere near Joburg or Pretoria though where it all seems to be happening.
Life seems as normal outside my window so far. Its a long waiting time till funeral- wonder if will be times to coincide with public holiday on 16th?

I live in SA - grew up here, left and then returned post-apartheid. Here in SA, we all owe him a massive debt. He steered us through a period which could have been very different. A real leader. I'm glad he is at peace. Hamba kahle Madiba - we will all miss you.