Sagar mediabrief

Friday 6 December 2013

Nelson Mandela dies at 95

6122013

Updated on : 06-12-2013 09:48 AM

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first elected black president and a global anti-apartheid icon died early Friday, at his home in the suburb of Houghton in Johannesburg, following a lengthy illness. He was 95.

The elder statesman was receiving medical care from a leading team since September after spending three months in a Pretoria hospital for a recurrent lung ailment.

“Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation, has departed,” Zuma said in a nationally televised address.

He passed away peacefully at 20:50 (local time), 5th December, Zuma said.

“He is now resting. He is now at peace…Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father,” he said.

Zuma announced that there would be a state funeral for the departed world leader. Details of the funeral have not been announced yet, but all flags will fly at half-mast until the funeral.

Zuma said Mandela’s tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world, “His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love.”

“Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.

Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause, Zuma said.

“Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another. Let us commit ourselves to strive together sparing neither strength nor courage to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa,” he said.

Hundreds of South Africans all over the country huddled in groups from the early hours of this morning to mourn the death of founding father of the democratic nation.

The government has also set up a special tribute website at http://www.mandela.gov.za.

Mandela spent 27 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island, after being convicted in the Rivonia trial with several others 50 years ago.

He stepped down after serving one term as President following the first democratic elections in 1994.

Mandela had been in and out of hospital for the past two years with a range of medical problems.

Tributes and condolences from many world leaders have been pouring in from all corners of the world after the tragic news.

President Pranab Mukherjee said, “President Mandela was a statesman, world leader and icon of inspiration of humanity.He was a great friend of India and his contribution for strengthening the close ties between our two countries will be always remembered”.

Mandela was awarded the Bharat Ratna in honour of his contribution to the friendship between our two countries, he said.

“I convey heartfelt condolences on behalf of the people and the Government of India as well as my personal behalf to the family members of Late President Mandela and the people and the Government of South Africa,” Mukherjee said on Friday.

Describing Mandela as the “greatest personalities of our times”, Vice President Hamid Ansari said he represented the best of human spirit and values.

While his courage, determination and sacrifice inspired millions of people during the anti-apartheid movement, his message of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation thereafter, united them and led the rainbow nation on the path to peace and progress, he said.

“In his death, South Africans have lost the father of their nation and the world a statesman, whose life and message of courage and goodness would continue to inspire and guide all of us around the world in the years ahead,” the Vice President said.

Condoling his death, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, “A giant among men has passed away. This is as much India’s loss as South Africa’s. He was a true Gandhian. His life and work will remain a source of eternal inspiration for generations to come. I join all those who are praying for his soul”.