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Farewell, with thanks

This morning I arrived at the office and found this -

My colleagues, huddled around the pc, laughing with teary eyes and lumps in their throats as they watched Johnny Clegg sing Asimbonanga to a jiving Nelson Mandela on stage in 1999.

 

We'd woken up to the news that Madiba had passed away.

When I had spoken to Kim earlier, she noted that this was by far the hardest news report she'd ever had to deliver. However hard though, she added that it was an honour for her to be apart of what I called "possibly one of the most influential news reports of modern times".

P-J and I spoke about how we would remember Madiba, and the things we would share with our children;
What he had done for South Africa during a tumultuous period in world history
How he had conducted himself as a Statesman in the public eye and -
The things he had said, that would be remembered and could be applied both now and in the future.

When I saw the guys in the office this morning, I had to smile when I thought about how that picture epitomised what Nelson Mandela had fought to achieve - Men with many differences, standing beside each other, being kind to one another - to the point where they could mourn together.


 

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