"Born into the Thembu royal family and adopted by the king after his father died, young Rolihlahla Mandela herded cattle and watched his father slaughter goats."
South Africa's liberator The Economist, December 10th 1994.
"Next year’s election will not be fought over the monarchy so much as over the colour problem. And it looks as if it will be a straight fight between the nationalists and General Smut’s United party”
“… at least half a dozen of the top leaders, including Mr Nelson Mandela, chief organiser of the strike, had managed to evade the police by sleeping in different beds every night.”
The one sane country The Economist, May 27th 1961.
"South Africans who do not believe in apartheid who are convinced that violence and sabotage can achieve nothing good, are now wondering what effect the imprisonment of Mr Mandela and the other leaders will have on African politics."
“On Feb 11th the myth stepped outside his prison gate and walked a few steps before ducking into a car to escape the shouts of the world press. ... The first result of Mr. Mandela's freedom has been uncontrollable crowds… liberation has shown that the country's white government was open to reform.”
The man who came back The Economist, February 17th 1990.
“It was an event many South Africans had thought they would never live to see… voters of all races alike went to the polls to bury apartheid for good and elect their first democratic government.”
"Steve Tshwete, President Nelson Mandela's (black) minister for sport, recalls how he and his fellow prisoners on Robben Island used to taunt their jailers by cheering for the opposition, whoever it was, each time the Springboks played."
“More tricky still, some people whose relations were murdered, “slipped in the shower”, or simply disappeared argue that even truth – if that is what they get – will not be enough.”
Tell all, maybe The Economist, February 17th 1996.
"It is hard to think of anyone else in the world in recent times with whom every single person, in every corner of the Earth, can somehow identify. He was, quite simply, a wonderful man"
