HIS warmth, enjoyment of life and ability to inspire all. This was how Rivonia trialist Denis Goldberg remembered former president Nelson Mandela on the third anniversary of the icon’s death yesterday.
The 83-year-old said Mandela and former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who passed away on November 25, were both larger than life characters, leading from the front with tremendous courage.
“He (Mandela) always had a picture of what was important. The greatness of Mandela is that he could analyse situations, formulate tactics. He could mobilise. That is what brought us freedom. He spoke for us all in the dock that day when he said he was prepared to die for the struggle,” Goldberg said.
“He was part of a generation of leaders for whom freedom was more important than their lives. Their families came second. That is the lesson of their generation. It is about being selfless. We need to have selfless leaders.”
With a 15-year age gap between them, Mandela had affectionately called him “boy” and he referred to the older man as “Nel”. Thirty years after their time in prison, the two met again. Mandela greeted him, saying: “Hello, boy, it has been a long time.”
Goldberg said he would remember Mandela’s ability to enjoy life. “The greatness of him as a leader was his ability to inspire people. We have to learn from that.”
Zaakirah Vadi of the Kathrada Foundation, who spoke on behalf of struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, said he would remember Mandela as a selfless man who would even wash out the toilet buckets of sick prisoners.
“He (Mandela) always related to people on an ordinary level,” she said. Living up to Mandela’s legacy would be achieved through not resting until every child of school-going age has access to quality education, food in their stomach and a safe community, Vadi said.