Nelson Mandela

Grannyknot - you are so right. Do you remember the emotion of that first election? I remember a pregnant women being interviewed in one of those endless queues outside the polling stations - she said I am voting twice today - once for me and once for my unborn child. And I remember Tutu coming out after voting for the first time ever and saying Yippee! I know it's sad how it hasn't worked out as we would have hoped but without Mandela it would have been worse . There are lots of things I'll never forgive Thatcher for but her attitude towards Mandela and apartheid is top of my list.

Madiba (the affectionate term used for him which means ^Father of the Nation^) is beyond an icon to South African people. Only someone who actually experienced the turbulent years and the nation's collective efforts to rebuild its self-esteem after the first democratic elections will ever understand what Nelson Mandela means to every South African. Almost singlehandedly, his pragmatic leadership, capacity for forgiveness, genuine love for his country and statesmanship averted a civil war. I'd go so far as to say he is worshipped.

As for the "the country mustn't panic" - South Africans are straight talkers, with the added benefit of a bit of soul. So that's what that's all about.

Oh Bags. Have a heart. Can't you imagine what he means to the people of South Africa?