The Passing of a Revolutionary Soul

Press Statement by the Dean of Cape Town, The Very Reverend Michael Weeder 

Rolihlahla Nelson Dalibhunga Madiba Mandela, in the late hours of Thursday, 5 December, passed on from this place.

In life Madiba, though flawed and marked by the traits of human frailty, through his practice of humble servant-hood, his consistent acts of forgiveness and kindness was a celebration of the call of the Prophet of Galilee, Jesus Christ, of living life wonderfully and in full and glorious abundance.

We offer our condolences and the assurance of our love and prayers to: 

• Mrs Graca Machel and her family; to the children of the late Madiba, to his grandchildren to whom he was their much-loved uBawomkhulu
• The elders and leaders and all the baThembu people
• To the African National Congress
• To our fellow South Africans. We give thanks with you that we have lived in the time of this man, Nelson Mandela. We call upon you, my sisters and brothers, to be mindful of the best that Madiba represented of us - a commonwealth of communities - and the qualities he espoused.

We are reminded of this in a letter to Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in 1973 during one of her periods in detention: “You may find that the cell is an ideal place to know yourself…In judging our progress as individuals we tend to focus on external factors…but internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one’s development as a human being: honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, purity, generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve your fellow men – qualities within reach of every soul…the foundations of one’s spiritual life… Never forget that a saint is a sinner that keeps on trying.”

Mr Mandela, exemplary as he was in the public domain, often reflected on the importance of doing right by your immediate family and loved ones. So while he would express regret that he was unable to be present at key moments such as at the death of his loved ones or the significant rites of passage of his children, he did not wallow in self-pity or guilt.

The rigorous demands of high office, the ever-demanding needs of a nation being born out of the hopelessness of the past led him to embrace all the children of our land, black and white, as his own. Celebrated as the perfect example of how an individual can make a difference he nonetheless demonstrated the servant aspect of leadership and would accede to the wisdom of the collective. His life was a gift to humanity.

 May his reflection on the place of death comfort and encourage us: “When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort…”

Nelson Mandela brought, we believe, much joy to the heart of God who on this day welcomes him to the immensity and transformative heaven of freedom.