Nelson Mandela's wife, Graca Machel remembers him today, see what she said about Madiba

Machel who spoke about Mandela’s passing for the first time at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, held to mark the first anniversary of the icon’s death said,

 

“On the day of Nelson Mandela's passing I was not able to think. I was numb. But now looking back I can imagine him tall and proud, walking and beaming with his contagious smile,” said the late former president’s wife.  

“The body gave in but Madiba’s spirit never changed. He was always the same to the very end,” said Machel.

“Even today, I know Madiba is happy because he is amongst family. He is with Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Lilian Ngoyi, Ruth First, Joe Slovo, Yusuf Dadoo, Ma Sisulu – many of his brothers and sisters who had been with him on his journey all through his adult life.

 

 

“Knowing that Madiba is in good company and happy amongst his own is what has sustained me this year.”

 

Machel said she was eternally grateful that Madiba chose her to be “the shoulder he would lean on in the sunset of his life.”

 

“We would look into the eyes of each other with love and joy. We would walk hand in hand… we supported each other and gave energy to each other… we dedicated ourselves to the causes we have chosen and it is not by chance that Madiba always paid special attention to children,”

 

Machel said Mandela’s final years were characterised as normal, with a warm family life and surrounded by those closest to him.

 

She called on South Africans to take on Mandela’s gift of tolerance and learn to accept each other and overcome racial, ethnic, gender and religious differences.

 

“While today we honour his life, it is up to us… it is in your hands. It is up to each one of us to close the divisions within us so that every South African could have life in dignity, food on the table, shelter, security – all those things we build in our everyday life.”