WINDHOEK – The death of former South African President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has drawn unprecedented world attention and emotion with an outpouring of condolences from every corner of the world to bid farewell to a political giant.
The late Mandela (95) is remembered as an anti-apartheid icon, who sacrificed much of his life behind prison doors to free his people from apartheid colonial oppression. He became the first democratically elected president of South Africa upon his release from a 27-year prison term in 1994 and served his country with grace and humility up to 1999 before he retired from active politics.
He was sentenced to 27 years in jail of which 18 years were served on the notorious Robben Island and later Pollsmoor and Victor Vester prisons. Mandela, who was born on July 18, 1918, died last week Thursday at the age of 95 after a long battle with pneumonia and lung cancer.
“The government and people of Namibia join the government and the fraternal people of South Africa and indeed the international community at large in posing and observing the passing on of Comrade Nelson Mandela on Thursday, 5 December 2013.
An icon of the anti-apartheid struggle has gone to rest,” read a message from State House. Mandela is remembered as an extra-ordinary person.
“A towering giant who dedicated his full life to the freedom and justice of the people of South Africa who were subjected to apartheid oppression,” the statement from State House read. State House said because of Madiba’s commitment to the universal principles of freedom and justice, he was incarcerated on Robben Island for many years together with fellow comrades, including Comrade Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.
Ya Toivo was also incarcerated on Robben Island for 16 years under South Africa’s anti-terrorism laws and other Namibians who served time at the notorious penal colony include Gerson Veii, Petrus Ilonga and Ben Ulenga.
“He was indeed a true liberation icon, a statesman whose exemplary life and work inspired many, not only in South Africa and in our region, but equally so globally. Comrade Nelson Mandela will be missed not only by those who knew him, and the nation that he served so proudly and loved so deeply, but by millions of people around the world.”
President Hifikepunye Pohamba made this remark as he signed a book of condolences opened at the South African High Commission in Windhoek Friday morning. He said to Namibians, Mandela would remain a hero whose legacy would be treasured by millions. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) described Mandela as a “servant leader, inspirational leader, transactional leader and transformational leader.”
“He inspired many around the world because of his charm, which has left a profound effect on people across all generations. He was transactional, because he withstood what could have turned out to be a tumultuous period in South Africa,” the statement read. The OPM said although economic transformation did not take place during his rule, Nelson Mandela managed to reconcile a nation in which people had become accustomed to hatred and separation due to the policies of the then ruling National Party. Government Chief Whip Professor Peter Katjavivi said what made Mandela stand out amongst many world leaders was his boldness, steadfastness and unwavering demand for justice, as well as his ability to reach out to his contemporaries. “This is what made Mandela a global symbol of perseverance, freedom, justice, peace and hope. Because of these rare achievements, many of us, including Mandela’s former adversaries would have loved to see him live longer,” Katjavivi said.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Theo-Ben Gurirab said world leaders must measure themselves against the standards of a great statesman, Mandela, who was a unique and simple man.
Gurirab got to know Mandela during the 1960s at a time when the latter was mobilizing people against white dominance in South Africa. Swapo Party secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba, remembered Mandela as a decisive person who could pronounce himself on issues. Mbumba recalled during the time of negotiations for the reintegration of Walvis Bay in 1994, that Mandela went to all political parties including the African National Congress (ANC), Pan African Congress (PAC) and Inkatha Freedom Party to get consensus that Walvis Bay was ready to be reintegrated into Namibia. “It was important to have a leader like Mandela,” added Mbumba, who was then Secretary to Cabinet, saying it was then agreed Walvis Bay did not economically benefit South Africa and that it was too costly to maintain the harbour. The wife of Ya Toivo, Vicky Ya Toivo, recalled meeting Mandela with her husband, who was a personal friend of Mandela, saying it was a very personable and memorable experience. She said she remembers Mandela as a very straightforward person. “Everybody in the world wanted to meet him. He was the centre of great attention,” she said, adding jokingly that she had to force herself to open her mouth when she talked to him for the first time since she was very nervous.
Vicky was a labour lawyer in New York and a member of the Organisation of Progressive Lawyers and the Free South Africa Movement in the 1980s that campaigned for Mandela’s release, the unbanning of ANC and Swapo and the independence of Namibia. She said Mandela once made a remark in jest to her husband saying he could not believe Ya Toivo had married a white woman, because during their incarceration Mandela remembered Ya Toivo as a person who was non-cooperative and defiant of all white authority.
South African High Commissioner to Namibia, Yvette Lillian Mavivi Myakayaka described Mandela as a great conciliator who sacrificed his entire life for the struggle against apartheid and shared all he had, including skills with South Africans during the dark days of the struggle and after the demise of apartheid. “This is the moment of our deepest sorrow, our nation has lost its greatest son,” said South African President Jacob Zuma about Mandela’s passing. Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu said “because of him we amazed the world, a world that thought we should live in eternal devastation cause by apartheid.”
United States President Barack Obama described Mandela as a personal hero and political idol from whose life he drew great inspiration. South African producer of the film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” Anant Singh said “there has never been anyone quite like him and there will never be.”
“We have lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly great human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth,” Obama was quoted saying on CNN. Chinese President Xi Jinping described Mandela as world’s statesman and would always remember his extraordinary contributions to the development of the China-South Africa ties and the cause of human progress. Mandela will be laid to rest at his ancestral village Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Sunday. Tomorrow, a memorial service will be held at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium. Mandela is survived by his wife Graca Machel, his daughter Makaziwe by his first marriage to Evelyn Mase, and daughters Zindzi and Zenani by his second marriage to Winnie Mandela.
(Additional reporting by CNN and Nampa)
By Magreth Nunuhe