Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela
Madiba - A Nations Leader - A World Icon
On Sunday I evening, while watching the evenings news, I was moved to tears as the footage of the Sixty Seven Minutes was being shown from around the world.
Madiba, has again proved that statement "One Man can make a difference." Indeed he has made a tremendous difference, not only to South Africans, but to the entire World as well.
Madiba - An Example of Humility and Humanity
My closest encounter with the great Madiba.
It was Summer, late 2001 or early 2002. I was at my usual seat an outside table cafe' at Carlos a coffee bar in Grant avenue Norwood, my first cup of filtered coffee with hot milk in front of me, a cigarette in hand.
Two Policemen on motor bikes escorting a large Black Limo, pulled up and stopped in front of the shop next door to where I was sitting.One of the escorts pulled his motorbike onto its stand, then marched smartly over and opened up the back nearside passenger door The occupant slowly emerged then stood up and straightened to his full height, there he stood, Madiba himself.
Madiba,went into the Pharmacy that was located on the corner, after about what felt like 10 minutes he exited the pharmacy and climbed back into the Limo which then drove off, no flashing blue lights, no sirens deafening all and sundry.
I had had my camera ready once I saw who he was, I was paused to take a photograph as he emerged from the chemist, he emerged, however I did not capture that moment, as it would to me when he emerged, have been an invasion of his privacy, he was real and there, doing his own private thing, not at a function, not posed or wearing a public face, just our great Madiba, being a private person.
What however did occur to me was the humanness of such a great man, that without pomp and splender, he could walk into his local chemist, yes his home address was not very far away, to have his script filled out.
Not to have the chemist delivered, nor to have sent one of he outriders in, or his secretary, but did it himself, as any other citizen of the World would.
A great man with so many important messages to us all, whether we be South Africans of all colours and Religions, Africans or the World,these lessons in life, practiced by him in his daily life, even at the age of 92.
