Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first democratically elected president and a symbol of reconciliation to many around the world, has died. The country's president Jacob Zuma said tonight the 'Father of the Nation' of South Africa passed away aged 95. In a televised address, Mr Zuma said: 'Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.'What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.' Mr Zuma said 'the nation has lost it's greatest son', adding 'he is now resting. He is now at peace.' Mr Mandela will accorded a state funeral and national flags will be lowered to half mast.
Prime Minister paid tribute to Mr Mandela, saying on Twitter: 'A great light has gone out in the world. Nelson Mandela was a hero of our time. I've asked for the flag at No10 to be flown at half mast.' In April state broadcaster aired a clip of the thin and frail statesman being visited by President Jacob Zuma and top officials from the African National Congress.As South Africa's first black president, the ex-boxer, lawyer and prisoner No. 46664 paved the way to racial reconciliation with well-chosen gestures of forgiveness. He lunched with the prosecutor who sent him to jail, sang the apartheid-era Afrikaans anthem at his inauguration, and traveled hundreds of miles to have tea with the widow of Hendrik Verwoerd, the prime minister at the time he was imprisoned.
His most memorable gesture came when he strode onto the field before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg. When he came on the field in South African colors to congratulate the victorious South African team, he brought the overwhelmingly white crowd of 63,000 to its feet, chanting 'Nelson! Nelson! Nelson!'
His imprisonment included 18 years on the notorious Robben Island penal colony, when he and other prisoners were forced to work in a limestone quarry and he first suffered the lung infections that were to dog him for years.
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