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Nelson Mandela: Walking to freedom

When Mr Mandela was sentenced in the early sixties,I was far to young to understand,I was struggling myself to survive,though I am white, being poor was then and perhaps even now considered a disease.

At that time 21 was the age you were considered an adult,but at 18 you were considered old enough to fight for your country and die for your country,but you could not vote,quite sick really.B

ack in those days I remember friends of our family of three,but specifically our mother telling her to vote PFP as we (my sibling and I ) were way too young.

I eventually got my chance to vote in the seventies, I really can't remember what year, by then I had finished my 12 yrs of schooling and as one of my Grade 12 subjects was History I came to realise the injustice being practised by the then Government,the Groot Krokodil was by then not wanted in his own party the rest is History.

In the last election before all changed we had the referendum for the release of Mr Mandela I know for a fact the majority of whites voted yes he must be released, so it came to pass that this great man became a free citizen.

The first time I set eyes on Madiba as we now all call him was on the day he walked to FREEDOM with his then wife Winnie,I remember tears streaming down my face,then 1995 he wore the No 10 Bok jersey,I choked all over again.

For awhile we were content just to know he was there,then he married Graca,oh what a lady,She gave him the happiness he so dearly deserved.

Then more than a year ago he was getting ill on a regular basis we all knew the end was near,but his family saw it fit to keep him alive via machines,I wonder if they asked him if he was okay with this,I certainly would not like a machine doing all the necessary,I feel sure he would have preferred to pass on with dignity.

Thus a sad/happy life came to an end a year ago,many mourned Madiba they still do now,I doubt any president after Madiba will be missed so sorely as our Madiba.



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