Nelson Mandela has died

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25249520

South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has died, South Africa's president says.

Mr Mandela, 95, led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.

He had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three months in hospital.

In a statement on South African national TV, Mr Zuma said Mr Mandela had "departed" and was at peace.

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Nelson Mandela
1918 Born in the Eastern Cape

1943 Joined African National Congress

1956 Charged with high treason, but charges dropped after a four-year trial

1962 Arrested, convicted of incitement and leaving country without a passport, sentenced to five years in prison

1964 Charged with sabotage, sentenced to life

1990 Freed from prison

1993 Wins Nobel Peace Prize

1994 Elected first black president

1999 Steps down as leader

2001 Diagnosed with prostate cancer

2004 Retires from public life

2005 Announces his son has died of an HIV/Aids-related illness

"Our nation has lost its greatest son," Mr Zuma said.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was one of the world's most revered statesmen after preaching reconciliation despite being imprisoned for 27 years.

He had rarely been seen in public since officially retiring in 2004.

"What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves," Mr Zuma said.

"Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together and it is together that we will bid him farewell."

Earlier, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge, outside Mr Mandela's home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton, said there appeared to have been an unusually large family gathering.

Among those attending was family elder Bantu Holomisa,

A number of government vehicles were there during the evening as well, our correspondent says.

Since he was released from hospital, the South African presidency repeatedly described Mr Mandela's condition as critical but stable.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was elected South Africa's first black president in 1994. He stepped down after five years in office.

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Lots of lovely photos on Facebook. Some beautiful ones posted by my cousin's daughter Amanda.

One of my (very few) heroes.
RIP

WHAT A SHOCK,HE IS THE ONLY HONOURABLE STATESMAN IN ALL OF AFRICA

http://news.sky.com/

Leaders from around the World have praised Mandela , including the Queen and Prince Charles.

Badboy wrote:WHAT A SHOCK,HE IS THE ONLY HONOURABLE STATESMAN IN ALL OF AFRICA

You are absolutely right there badboy, what will happen now he is gone? I dread to think.

RIP Nelson Mandela

Very appropriate that Tony (no mates) Bliar had to sit all on his own whilst the others took little souvenir snaps of each other.

I dont suppose it helped the hard of hearing to have a dyslexic,schizophrenic signer !

http://news.sky.com/story/1180724/mandela-memorial-deaf-signer-was-fake

Here he is in action. I find sign language - the real thing of course - fascinating to watch.

I know its not really funny but I did titter when I heard he'd signed words like Donkey   

Nelson Mandela Family Finally Gives Up Charade and Admits Mandela Dead

Added by Rebecca Savastio on December 5, 2013.
Saved under Rebecca Savastio, World
Tags: nelson mandela, top

The Nelson Mandela family has finally given up their charade and admitted that Nelson Mandela is dead by announcing today that the former leader of South Africa is no longer with us. The charade began in June of 2013, and Guardian Express has maintained Mandela has been deceased since we were informed of his passing in June via one of our reporters embedded in South Africa. That reporter had received a text message from her close friend who works for the South African News which stated that Mandela had died the night prior. Since June, The Guardian Express has come under attack; first from a “denial of service” attack which shut the site down on and off for three days right after we published the news that Mandela had died. That denial of service attack was traced back to South Africa.

The Guardian Express was also attacked by people denying that the Nelson Mandela family was carrying on a charade. However, we stood by and continue to stand by our account that Mandela was declared permanently brain dead with total organ failure in June of 2013. Now, today, the family has finally decided to give up their charade.

We sent an additional reporter to South Africa who returned with an audio recording of two top government officials confirming the fact that Mandela was totally brain dead and was declared so on June 11. However, his family refused to turn off the life support machines hooked up to his body. Thus, the family could keep him artificially “alive.” Their motive? To settle a huge lawsuit against Mandela’s estate.

It was revealed that Mandela’s family was suing him for control of his estate and since it is impossible to sue a dead person, it seems Mandela had to be kept “alive” with machines until a resolution could be found for the lawsuit. Thus far, there is no word on whether that lawsuit had been settled, but there are already many speculations in the press that this announcement today will begin the battles over the Mandela estate afresh.

The Mandela daughters and granddaughters have shown a good deal of greed when it comes to Mandela’s legacy. It has been reported that their fighting over his money got so bad that Mandela “lost faith” in his daughters and worried that their concern over money was overshadowing their concern for family harmony.

The Mandela funeral was planned a year in advance, according to reports. The funeral date is set for December 14 and there is a comprehensive schedule of events leading up to that date. Stay tuned to Guardian Express for complete funeral coverage. The Mandela family has finally given up their charade which they have been carrying on since June and have admitted the great former South African leader is dead. As we have wished him since June, may he rest in peace.

An Editorial By: Rebecca Savastio

http://guardianlv.com/2013/12/nelson-mandela-family-finally-gives-up-charade-and-admits-mandela-dead/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2524652/Mandela-sign-language-fake-stood-President-Obama-group-burned-men-death-stealing-TV.html

Possibly being a fake signer is the very least of this person's crimes.....