During extended visits to South Africa in each of the past four years, every person I met — no matter race or ethnicity — spoke reverentially of Nelson Mandela as the father of a new, better South Africa.
Thandwefika Radebe, a student at the University of Cape Town, described Mandela as a "servant leader" who put his country and people ahead of everything.
"Mandela taught me that you didn't have to be black or previously oppressed. You were South African by virtue of family roots that preceded apartheid and wanting the country to succeed," said Radebe, 20.
Upon his release from prison in 1990, Mandela was eloquent in calling for unity of white and black South Africans and forgiveness for the regime that segregated the two in the racist system known as apartheid.
But it was his actions more than his words that convinced South Africans that the man they call Madiba (a nickname from his Xhosa tribe) believed in what he said.
Thandwefika Radebe, a student at the University of Cape Town, described Mandela as a "servant leader" who put his country and people ahead of everything.
"Mandela taught me that you didn't have to be black or previously oppressed. You were South African by virtue of family roots that preceded apartheid and wanting the country to succeed," said Radebe, 20.
Upon his release from prison in 1990, Mandela was eloquent in calling for unity of white and black South Africans and forgiveness for the regime that segregated the two in the racist system known as apartheid.
But it was his actions more than his words that convinced South Africans that the man they call Madiba (a nickname from his Xhosa tribe) believed in what he said.
