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South Africa: Nation readies to bid Nelson Mandela farewell
“But I think that this is something long gone frankly.” With Mandela having made his last political speech in 2009, South Africa’s political arena has shifted radically since he ushered in the heady leap into multi-race democracy.
“The point needs to be made that society and politics have changed in South Africa since the Mandela era,” said the same analyst. “I just don’t think that Nelson Mandela’s passing is going to have any dramatic effect on domestic politics in South Africa,” he added.
Increasing acceptance of his mortality, with increasing hospital stays, has also seen the once-taboo topic of death broached as South Africa contemplates itself as a post-Mandela society.
His hospitalization has triggered an outpouring of wishes for his recovery.
This is often motivated by a genuine love for the man and his role in shaping the country.
Viewed as his greatest gift to South Africa, Mandela paved the way for peaceful reconciliation, which he selflessly strived for despite being incarcerated by the extremely brutal apartheid government for 27 years, and which saw the fragile nation sidestep civil war.
“We live in a generation where we’re incredibly grateful for what he did, especially my parents are also,” said school pupil Thingo Mthombeni, 18, in Soweto.
