Friday, December 6, 2013

Nelson Mandela dies at 95

I woke up to the sad news of Nelson Mandela's passing this morning. Even though it's been expected for a while now, it is still quite sad.

Nelson Mandela has died at his home in Johannesburg, South Africa aged 95. The anti-apartheid icon died at 12:50pm EST surrounded by close family. Mandela's death came nearly five months after he was admitted to hospital with a lung infection. Despite being allowed to return home three months ago, South Africa's first black president has not been able to move from a bedroom described as being a 'virtual 24 hour intensive care unit' and has needed a ventilator to breath.

South Africa's president Jacob Zuma announced the long-expected death in a special television broadcast last night. Mr Zuma said: 'Our nation has lost its greatest son.' 'What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves'.

May his soul rest in peace.