It is with great sadness that I have watched the slow demise of Nelson Mandela, the Gandhi of my generation. A man who is so very clearly loved and admired by the world at large. This is evident in the incredible list of people who attended his memorial in South Africa last night. I am proud to have lived in his time, for being a part of his history when at age 18, the very first vote I was able to cast was for his freedom. I have shared his love of Africa and her people.
It was a very sad day when he stepped down as President and slowly crime stepped up to the point that I felt I had to leave my motherland to protect my children and give them a brighter future. I feared that South Africa would end up like Zimbabwe and I think I lost all hope in her people.
My heart became very heavy when his death was announced a few days ago. First I was afraid, thinking that this would be the end of peace and forgiveness in South Africa. Then I was relieved, instead of making things worse it appears to have made things better again for our rainbow nation.
His legacy will endure in history for all time. Madiba will walk the halls of immortality with the likes of Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi. Nelson Mandela is the quintessential example of everything Africa's people should be. There is no way to escape the past but Madiba did not dwell on this, he forgave and moved forward. There is no way to undo the past, but we have learned an invaluable lesson. He is our greatest teacher. His humility and grace inspired me. What a man, what a light to the world.
It is both heart-warming and wonderful for me to see my beloved homeland stand together and unite in a celebration of the life of our "father" of the new South Africa. The loss of this legend feels personal to me and I am ripped and torn with desire to return to my home and grieve/celebrate with my nation.
My only prayer for South Africa now is that his example can brighten the future and that Africa's people will remember his example and emulate his wisdom and honour. I pray that all South Africans will show the world that all is not lost. Stop the crime, poverty and corruption, unite and stand proud, together as he would have hoped. Give Madiba a legacy that shows the cynics (like me) that Africa can still be a success story.
Goodbye grandfather, your have earned your rest God Bless Africa, ngiyabonga inkosi kakhulu.
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