REACTION to the death of former South African president Nelson Mandela, 95, started streaming in via official channels, social media and broadcasters early on Friday, after President Jacob Zuma had announced Mandela’s death just before midnight on Thursday.
Here are some highlights:
• The African National Congress (ANC) said in a statement: “Our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions; here and abroad.” (Read the full ANC statement here.)
• Former president Thabo Mbeki said Mandela and his generation of freedom fighters “walked their long walk and made enormous sacrifices which eventually led to our freedom in 1994 ... His departure demands of those of us who remain, South Africans and all Africans on the rest of our continent, that we commit ourselves selflessly to address the many challenges we face.” He added: “We must ask ourselves the fundamental question: what shall we do to respond to the tasks of building a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa, a people-centred society free of hunger, poverty, disease and inequality, as well as Africa’s renaissance, to whose attainment President Nelson Mandela dedicated his whole life?”
• Mandela's former personal assistant Zelda la Grange said heroes never die. “As sad as it makes me that I will never walk into a room again and see his generous infectious smile ... I have come to terms with the fact that Madiba's legacy is not dependent on his presence,” she said. Ms la Grange said Mandela inspired people to forgive, reconcile, care, be selfless, tolerant, and to maintain dignity no matter what the circumstances.
• Former president FW de Klerk, who received the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993, told CNN: “He was a great unifier and a very, very special man.” He added that Mandela’s greatest legacy was his emphasis on reconciliation.
• US President Barack Obama mourned Mandela as a “profoundly good” man who “took history in his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice”. He added: “We will not likely see the like of Nelson Mandela again,” and said: “Today he’s gone home and we’ve lost one of the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth. He no longer belongs to us; he belongs to the ages.”
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918-2013
News and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson Mandela• British Prime Minister David Cameron said “a great light had gone out”, adding that flags would be flown at half-mast at his Downing Street office.
• Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said Mandela “set aside the bitterness of enduring 27 years in apartheid prisons — and the weight of centuries of colonial division, subjugation and repression — to personify the spirit and practice of ubuntu”.
• Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said South Africans should “lift their heads up high and face the future ... We will, as the Madiba generation taught us, be able to shape our own future”. He said “God and Madiba” had timed Mandela’s death well, on the eve of the ANC’s national executive committee meeting on, among other issues, the party’s readiness for next year’s elections.
• Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said: “The grief of a nation is palpable. The last few months have been difficult, as we awaited news about Madiba’s health and prayed for strength for the Mandela family.” He added: “So many knew and loved him.... There will surely be many tears shed in the coming days in all corners of our country, and across the world.”
• The Congress of the People said Mandela “left a vacuum that will never be filled in the continent and the world over. He reconciled the racial groups of this country under difficult times when no one ever expected it. He sets the example of a good life in which reconciliation became a legacy that no one in this country will ever emulate. He refused to be corrupted and believed that reconstruction and reconciliation are better suited to build our nation. We lost a giant, the father of our democratic order, loved by many, if not all.”
• Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder said Mandela was one of the few to whom it is given to live out their dreams in their lifetime. "The question is, what were these dreams of Mr Mandela?" he asked. “Mr Mandela's famous Rivonia Trial speech, in which he said, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.” Mr Mulder said: "The question, following the passing away of Mr Mandela, is to what extent has South Africa achieved this goal? And for the future — will these dreams become more or less true in South Africa?"
• Britain's Queen Elizabeth II said she was “deeply saddened” by the death of Mandela, adding that he had “worked tirelessly for the good of his country”.
• African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma expressed her grief on the passing of “a pan-African icon” on behalf of the AU. “Madiba ... symbolises the spirit of pan-Africanism and solidarity in the struggles of humanity against apartheid, oppression and colonialism and for self-determination, peace and reconciliation ... Mandela has fought a good fight, and bowed out with great reverence. His passing on is a great loss to his family, to our continent and indeed to humanity itself.”
• United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Mandela was “a giant for justice” whose “selfless struggle for human dignity, equality and freedom” inspired many people around the world. “No one did more in our time to advance the values and aspirations of the United Nations,” he said, adding: “When I thanked him for his life’s work, he insisted the credit belonged to others. I will never forget his selflessness and deep sense of shared purpose.”
• The Congress of South African Trade Unions said Mandela was “the greatest ever South African and most inspirational leader in our struggle for liberty and democracy”, adding: “Now he is no longer with us in person but his example shines more brightly than ever, and will continue to inspire and guide us for as long as we shall live.”
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918-2013
News and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson Mandela• Opposition Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said South Africa had “lost the father of our nation”, adding: “As a nation we are united in grief, and we mourn together as one the passing of the greatest South African that ever lived. We have to acknowledge the great debt we owe him as a nation ... We have to draw on his strength as we go forward. The best tribute we can pay to Mandela is to embrace his vision for the country.”
• National Union of Mineworkers general secretary Frans Baleni paid tribute to Mandela, who was an honorary president of the union: “As we dip our banners and celebrate the life and times of this stalwart, it is time that as South Africans we reflect on the legacy he left behind and the future we have to craft for generations to come.”
• The ANC Youth League paid tribute to its founding leader. It urged young people to honour Mandela by following in his footsteps. “Young Lions, pick up the spear of this gallant hero our struggle freedom, to realise our generational mission of economic freedom in our lifetime.”
• The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union said: “We salute one of the 20th century’s finest historical and political figures; a towering symbol of revolutionary qualities like sacrifice and internationalism. This anti-apartheid revolutionary was the very essence of compassion, dedication, integrity and a symbol of selflessness.”
• The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said it felt a profound sense of loss at the death of Mandela. “At the same time we are immensely proud that one of our own is loved and revered on every corner of the globe and stands tall among the greatest leaders of the 20th century.”
• The Helen Suzman Foundation said Nelson Mandela was a man of dignity, humility and great moral courage. “His life represents the triumph of the human spirit. His tireless struggle to achieve a united and democratic South Africa is the immense legacy he has left us. Our challenge is to honour that legacy and to build on it.”
• Mandela will be missed but his legacy will live on, family friend George Bizos said. “None of us are immortal, but he was a great friend,” he said in an interview with eNCA. “It’s very difficult to accept that he will no longer be around.”
• “His unrelenting and unshakeable pursuit of the vision of a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist society was the oil that fuelled the struggles of the people of South Africa and elsewhere ... as they knew that their freedom was intricately and inextricably linked to his,” ANC Women’s League president Angie Motshekga said.
• Trade union Solidarity’s general secretary, Flip Buys, said: “South Africans hark back to Mandela’s time as president, which was characterised by sound race relations, optimism and a belief in the country’s future and good public administration. In this way he set high standards that governments of the future will be measured against. Though there may be varying opinions about the policy directions of the ANC under Mandela’s leadership, he will be remembered for the wisdom with which he led the country.”
• South Africa is not the country that Mandela had said he hoped it would become, said Kenneth Roth, executive director at Human Rights Watch. “Inequality and poverty remain rife, the education and health sectors are inadequate, and South Africa remains divided by racial separation and deep economic inequality ... Mandela led South Africa out of darkness and brutality. The country’s next generation of leaders would do well to live up to his high standards and fervent commitment to human rights.”
• Principal and vice-chancellor of Mandela’s alma mater the University of South Africa Prof Mandla Makhanya said the university shared the “profound loss of a husband, father, grandfather, compatriot and iconic leader of the nation, who has touched the lives of many on our shores and beyond; and who in life has been the very epitome of humility, caring, true forgiveness and a real triumph of the human spirit over adversity”.
• Mandela was a “champion against injustice and a true ally” in the global fight against hunger, said the World Food Programme. “President Mandela’s concern was always for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the world, and his words and actions were a motivational force for all of us at the UN World Food Programme.”
• UN human rights chief Navi Pillay honoured Mandela for having led oppressed citizens into a post-apartheid era that was marked by reconciliation rather than revenge. “He told us to throw our spears and guns into the sea,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “He told us to set aside our desire for vengeance and work for a South Africa not just free of racism, but free of all types of discrimination,” she said.
• The Dalai Lama said in a letter sent to the Mandela family that he would miss a “dear friend” whom he hailed as “a man of courage, principle and unquestionable integrity”. In a statement on his website, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said that “the best tribute we can pay to him is to do whatever we can to contribute to honouring the oneness of humanity and working for peace and reconciliation as he did”.
• Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi paid tribute to Mandela. “I would like to express my extreme grief at the passing away of a man who stood for human rights and for equality in this world,” she said of her fellow Nobel Peace laureate. “He made us all understand that nobody should be penalised for the colour of his skin, for the circumstances into which he is born. He also made us understand that we can change the world — we can change the world by changing attitudes, by changing perceptions. For this reason I would like to pay him tribute as a great human being who raised the standard of humanity.”
• Britain’s Prince William called the death of Mandela “extremely sad and tragic”, immediately after attending the London premiere of a film celebrating Mandela’s life. “We were just reminded of what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family right now,” he said, flanked by his wife, Catherine.
• Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hailed Mandela as an example for those fighting for justice and peace. “The example of this great leader will guide all those who fight for social justice and peace in the world.”
• French President Francois Hollande said Mandela had “made history — that of South Africa and the whole world ... He showed that human will could not only break the chains of servitude but free the energy to succeed in building a common destiny. Mandela’s message will never die. It will continue to inspire freedom fighters and give confidence to people who defend just causes and universal rights.”
• Former US president Bill Clinton, who was in office when Mandela took power in South Africa, mourned the death of a “champion for human dignity and freedom”, adding: “Today the world has lost one of its most important leaders and one of its finest human beings. History will remember Nelson Mandela as a champion for human dignity and freedom, for peace and reconciliation.”
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “Even many years in prison could not break Nelson Mandela or make him bitter — his message of reconciliation ultimately led to a new, better South Africa. Mandela’s luminous example and his political legacy of non-violence and rejection of all forms of racism will remain an inspiration for people the world over for a long time still.”
• Mandela left a legacy that will inspire generations to come, University of the Witwatersrand vice-chancellor Prof Adam Habib said. “Tata Nelson Mandela changed the world as we know it,” he said. “He has left a legacy that will benefit and inspire generations to come. He set an example for the rest of the world and created history on his journey through life.”
• “The determination of Nelson Mandela to fight for what was basic logic of political emancipation is among the greatest in the history of humanity,” the Economic Freedom Fighters said. “Nelson Mandela fought tirelessly to gain political power, democracy, and freedom, and handed over the baton for those who had to fight for economic freedom.”
• United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) executive director Anthony Lake said Mandela fought passionately, with his wife, Graca Machel, and the Global Movement for Children and Unicef, to put children at the heart of the global development agenda. He said: “Madiba touched the lives of millions of children. They are a central part of his legacy.”
• European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said that each time she met Mandela, “his gentle strength and undimmed passion confirmed my conviction that democrats everywhere owe him a vast and lasting debt ... He showed people in every continent that the moral force of democracy could overcome the barren might of tyranny.”
• Christine Lagarde‚ MD of the International Monetary Fund‚ said she was “deeply saddened” by the passing of Mandela. She said he was “a courageous and visionary leader who enabled his country to confront its past and inspired its people to address an extraordinary set of challenges. He was a man who brought deep principles‚ skillful diplomacy and quiet dignity to the task of national reconciliation and nation building. His modesty in the face of greatness will always be remembered and‚ moreover‚ will continue to inspire us all.”
• “Madiba was responsible for lifting the spirits of our football nation from the talks to unite the association to victory at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations,” South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan said. “He served as the catalyst in our bid for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.”
• The South African Jewish Board of Deputies called Mandela a man of unflinching courage and unswerving principle, of boundless compassion and the profoundest humility, who epitomised the miracle of South Africa’s democratic transformation.
• Music icon Johnny Clegg said he and his family acknowledged “with deep gratitude the debt we owe to this man from Qunu, who bequeathed us this great country of promise. Today, although we grieve, we also proudly rejoice in his remarkable life, which we were privileged to share through extraordinary times”.
• Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) national chair Anele Yawa said in a week's time the TAC will mark the day, 11 years ago, when Mr Mandela pulled over his head a white t-shirt with the iconic words “HIV Positive” on it, in so doing making a powerful statement against stigma and “sending a message to the then denialist government that people living with HIV are part of this country and should be given life-saving treatment”.
• Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, quoting Winston Churchill’s “never was so much owed to so many by so few”, said while Mr Mandela's death evoked deep sadness, it also allowed South Africa to “celebrate the closure of a chapter scripted in humility, determination, compassion and love for humanity – values that you lived for and infused in your interactions with others, young and old” . Ms Peters said Mr Mandela “inspired us from behind the thick prison walls and became responsible for our budding political activism, during the turbulent 1970s and '80s, that blossomed into the leadership we are expected to discharge to your nation and the world even beyond your life. You led us with such graciousness and assertiveness when you were president of our country and we trusted in your open and frank leadership style. As members of your governing team then, you taught us to rely on the force and eloquence of our moral argument and not the strength of our numbers”.
• South African National Parks CEO David Mabunda said Mr Mandela had played a significant role in the formation of the Transfrontier Conservation Area concept and, speaking at the handover of 1,000 elephants on the border between South Africa and Mozambique in 2001, said that in a world beset by division, he knew of no philosophy or ideology that did not agree with the Peace Park concept. “It promises to bring a better life to some of the poorest citizens of southern Africa … in many ways the project is a demonstrable manifestation of the African Renaissance,” Mr Mandela stated at the time. Mr Mabunda also recalled the former president joking that the elephants were part of his “lobola” after he married Ms Graca Machel.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said Mr Mandela’s extraordinary wisdom, selflessness and compassion “not only held South Africa together following the collapse of apartheid, preventing potentially immense displacement, but made him a true global symbol for the oppressed and persecuted, and an example to all of us. For a world in which conflicts force millions from their homes every year, the death of such an outstanding champion of peace should give us all pause for thought. His passing is a profound loss”.
• Lawyers for Human Rights said Mr Mandela’s illustrious legacy was what had kept civil society’s eye so keenly focused on human rights in South Africa and across the continent and abroad. “While we can’t say we’ve accomplished everything he set out to achieve, we can certainly say that we are on the right track despite the numerous obstacles we face.”
• Pope Francis paid tribute to Mandela’s struggle to forge a just South Africa, praising the antiapartheid hero’s commitment to non-violence, reconciliation and truth. “I pray that the late president’s example will inspire generations of South Africans to put justice and the common good at the forefront of their political aspirations,” Pope Francis said in a telegram to Mr Zuma.
• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Mandela gave freedom a new meaning. “He was a unique personality, who gave a new and glorious meaning to freedom through his journey full of suffering.”
• The Norwegian Nobel committee called Mandela “one of the greatest names in the long history of the Nobel Peace Prize”. “His work presents a message also today to all those who bear responsibility for apparently unresolvable conflicts.”
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With Sue Blaine, Sapa, Reuters, Sapa-AFP, Sapa-AP
