Madiba Ponders a Question During an Interview

© Dr Peter Magubane
Madiba ponders a question during an interview.

Madiba was South Africa’s most beloved and respected figure. He was internationally loved and adored by many for his ability to defuse racial tensions in a country on the brink of civil war. He was a dignified, mild-mannered man who successfully transitioned South Africa from apartheid to democracy.

After his release from prison, Madiba gave various interviews where he chose his words carefully and remained calm and collected throughout. He said that when you had the moral high ground, it is better to sit down and talk to people and persuade them of the correctness of your cause.

Although Mandela was a kind-hearted, refined man, he was a fearless leader and ushered South Africa into a dawn of freedom, hope and prosperity.

One of his most famous quotes were: "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

“The death of a human being, whatever may be his station in life, is always a sad and painful affair.” ~ Nelson Mandela

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