Johannesburg, Dec 6 – The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday mourned the death of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Xinhua news agency reported.
“With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss, the African National Congress received the sad news of Mandela’s death,” the party said.
President Jacob Zuma announced Mandela, 95, passed away peacefully in the company of his family at around 20:50 p.m. local time (1850 GMT) in Houghton, Johannesburg before midnight on Thursday.
“Our nation has lost a colossus, an epitome of humility, equality, justice, peace and the hope of millions here and abroad,” the ANC said in a statement.
“His life gives us the courage to push forward for development and progress towards ending hunger and poverty. We have you, Madiba (Mandela), as our nearest and brightest star to guide us on our way. We will not get lost,” it said.
Mandela was born in the village of Qunu, Eastern Cape Province and joined the African National Congress in 1942.
In his lifetime of struggle through the ANC, he assumed and was assigned various leadership positions.
“Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation has departed. Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father,” Zuma said after Mandela’s death.
“Yet, what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another,” the president said.
Zuma also announced a state funeral for Mandela and ordered all national flags to be lowered to half-mast beginning Dec 6 until after the funeral.
Mandela, who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, had battled health problems in recent months, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalisations.
He was released from hospital in early September following an 85-day stay for a recurring lung infection, the result of his longtime imprisonment during the apartheid times.
– Bernama
