Mandela relatives mourn loss of the 'pillar of the family'

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/07/mandela-family-cameron-queen-tribute

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The family of Nelson Mandela have said they've "lost a great man, a son of the soil", in their first statement since the death of the former South African president.

"The pillar of the royal Mandela family is no more with us physically, but his spirit is still with us," said the statement, read to journalists on Saturday in Johannesburg by Mandela family spokesman Lieutenant General Temba Templeton Matanzima.

The statement continued: "The pillar of the family is gone, just as he was away during that 27 painful years of imprisonment, but in our hearts and souls he will always be with us, his spirit endures. As a family we commit ourselves to uphold and be guided by the values he lived for and was prepared to die for. As a family we learned from him to appreciate the values that made him the leader that was recognised by all. Chief among these is the lesson that a life lived for others is a life well-lived."

Earlier, David Cameron, the British prime minister, released the text of a letter he had sent to South Africa's president Jacob Zuma and Mandela's widow Graca Machel to express his condolences.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The PM paid tribute to Mandela's extraordinary grace and dignity and the example that he set not just to South Africa but to the world on his release from Robben Island, saying 'he gave the world new hope that the deepest wounds can be healed and that freedom and reconciliation can triumph over division and hate'.

"The PM concluded: 'He will forever have a distinguished place in history. It falls to all of us and future generations to learn from him and try to realise his extraordinary legacy'."

Elsewhere, tributes were paid to Mandela at football matches across Britain as fans staged minutes of applause in his honour.

Clapping and cheers rang out at the start of the first Premier league game of the day, Manchester United's home defeat to Newcastle United, for "a man who overcame the injustice and bigotry of being jailed in his own country for the colour of his skin".

The Scottish Professional Football League and the Football League also encouraged similar tributes.

The Queen led the tributes to South Africa's first black president after visiting a plaque commemorating Mandela's 1996 visit to Parliament.

"The Queen was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nelson Mandela last night," a statement from Buckingham Palace read.

"He worked tirelessly for the good of his country, and his legacy is the peaceful South Africa we see today."

The Prince of Wales described the Nobel peace prize winner as "the embodiment of courage and reconciliation".

Westminster Abbey will hold a national service of thanksgiving for the life of Mandela after the state funeral in South Africa on December 15, and parliament will hold a special ceremony to commemorate his life.

A book of condolence has been opened in St Margaret's Church at the abbey.

In Trafalgar Square last night crowds chanted "viva Madiba" and sang Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika, the anthem of the African National Congress which became South Africa's national song in 1994.

Former members of the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM) spoke of their grief at his death and their relief that he was at peace after a long illness.

Jerry Dammers, the founder of The Specials and writer of Free Nelson Mandela, urged people to honour Mandela's legacy by doing the work he started.

He said: "'The best way we can remember him and politicians can remember him - the best tribute they could pay to him - would be to listen to what he said and act on what he said."

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