Nelson Mandela, the iconic figure of South Africa’s freedom struggle and the country’s first black president, has had his ex-wife Winnie Mandela, and one of his former jailers over for dinner.
The dinner was held in celebration of Mandela’s 20th year of freedom.
Madiba, as he is called in South Africa, was incarcerated by the Apartheid regime for 27 years, and was released on the 11th of February 1990.
During his time in prison his then-wife Winnie Mandela became one of the most important figureheads of the freedom struggle, but ultimately became embroiled in controversy when she was accused of involvement in the murder of a young boy, Stompie Moeketsi.
Moeketsi was alleged to have turned traitor and was accused of being a police informer. One of Winnie Mandela’s bodyguards was convicted of his murder, and he testified that Winnie ordered him to do it.
Her involvement was never categorically proven, but by 1994 she had become so controversial, following further revelations that she’d been unfaithful to Mandela, that the then-President Mandela felt it in the best interests of himself and the nation to go through with a divorce.
While he was in prison, Mandela also formed a close bond with his jailer, Christo Brand, whose common humanity become an inspiration to the embattled leader of South Africa’s freedom struggle.
“It reinforced my belief in the essential humanity of even those who had kept me behind bars,” Mandela said of his friendship with his jail warden.
Zindzi, Nelson Mandela’s daughter, and a number of anti-apartheid activists who led the struggle, and were there when Mandela walked free, were also invited to the dinner.
Cyril Ramaphosa, a prominent South African politician and anti-apartheid activist toasted the former president as “tata” (father) and called him an inspiration.
“You are still an inspiration,” he said. “We are indebted to you, for the leadership and inspiration you provided. We are happy you are a free man, because as you became free, you made us free.”
Nelson Mandela, who keeps to the same routine that was forced upon him in prison, said that even at 91 he still does some exercise. “I do feel like I am getting old,” he added. “Time is flying. I am not worried.”
