Remembering Madiba, 12 years after his death
Some figures, like Madiba, leave a mark that time cannot fade.
An endearing image of Nelson Mandela embracing Zelda La Grange appeared on my Facebook page recently, along with Zelda’s tribute to Madiba.
“Thank you for teaching me to look at people without a lens. Thank you for teaching me that
love has no limitations and that there is no singular format for it. Thank you for showing me
what real compassion and empathy look like. Thank you for teaching me courage and
showing me what boundaries are. I honour you Khulu and think of you every day. Thank you
for loving me. RIP,” she wrote
To me, these are heartfelt words – and a reminder of the depth of his influence. Even after all
these years, Madiba, “The Beloved One”, still shapes us as a nation.
On 5 December 2025, as we marked 12 years since his passing in 2013, I remembered him.
Nelson Mandela embodied reconciliation and forgiveness. After 27 years in prison, he chose
healing over bitterness, helping to mend a divided nation and proving that peace can grow
from deep pain.
His leadership was humble and deeply human. He listened, showed respect, and treated
people with dignity. In simple ways, through empathy and compassion, he drew South
Africans together.
For Madiba, freedom meant more than being unshackled. It meant justice, equal opportunity,
and the dignity of every person. That belief helped forge the democratic South Africa we
know today.
He faced hardship with courage, refusing to let fear silence him. And he never stopped
imagining a future where South Africa was united, fair and inclusive – the rainbow nation he
believed was possible.
Above everything, there was kindness. Mandela recognised humanity in everyone, even
those who once denied his own. That spirit is part of why he remains so deeply loved.
Madiba, we miss you. We honour you. And we carry your example forward.
May we live with compassion, choose courage over fear, and keep working towards the
South Africa he dreamed of.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela