Statement on the passing of Nelson Mandela

The staff of the Community Law Centre mourns the loss of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and extends its deepest sympathies to his wife and his family.

Despite the grief that we all experience, we are ever so fortunate in being able to recognise the everlasting impact President Mandela has made. At the Community Law Centre, we are reminded of the many intersections between our work and the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

Our founding director, Adv Dullah Omar was appointed by President Mandela as Minister of Justice. Many other CLC staff members and associates were appointed by President Mandela into government and the judiciary and were thus called upon by him to redouble their efforts towards realising human rights and building our young democracy. At the Centre, we are duty bound to persevere in that work to keep alive the dreams that Mandela made untold sacrifices for.

Mandela was a lawyer by training. He became a freedom fighter, a peace builder, an international statesman and a philanthropist. The best tribute the Community Law Centre can make to his life and legacy is to work, with ever greater determination, towards peace, democracy and the realisation of human rights in Africa.

Uphume gqatsu kugqatso ebelibaleka, ugqatso ulufezile, umzam'omhle uwenzile, ulindelwe kukuwongwa ngesithsaba sobom. Lala ngoxolo Madiba, Yem Yem, Sopitsho, Ngqolomsila, Vela bembhentsele, fafa ndini olumadolo dolo, faf’olude lokurhintyel’amavelithi, thol’elimakhandakhanda lukaNtanto, luka Ndaba, luka Ngubengcuka, luka Mandela. Vayvay ndini ka nkonka.

Prof Jaap de Visser
Director: Community Law Centre