Zuma praises Mandela for being a leader, fighting apartheid, forgiving those who imprisoned him. Here is his abridged eulogy 

Today marks the end of an extra-ordinary journey that began 95 years ago.

It is the end of the glorious years of a freedom fighter, a dedicated and humble servant of the people of South Africa, a fountain of wisdom, a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope to all those fighting for a just and equitable world order.

We asked ourselves: what is it about this man that elicits this outpouring of sincere emotion?

The answer is that when people see goodness in a person, they respond by reflecting goodness back at that person, and on their fellow men and women.

Thank you for being everything we wanted and needed in a leader during a difficult period in our lives.

Whilst your long walk to freedom has ended in the physical sense, our own journey continues. We have to continue building the type of society you worked tirelessly to construct.

We will always remember you as a man of integrity who embodied the values and principles that your organisation, the ANC promotes. These are unity, selflessness, sacrifice, collective leadership, humility, honesty, discipline, hard work and mutual respect.

WHITE DOMINATION

You summarised them in your timeless statement in court in 1964.

You said: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination.”

“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.

You actively promoted the achievement of a united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous South Africa.

In your first court statement in October 1962, where you objected to being a black man in a white man’s court; being tried by a white court which was enforcing laws you had no hand in making, you also spoke out strongly against racism.

You said: “I hate racial discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all my life. I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days.”

We pledge today to continue promoting non-racialism and tolerance in our country and to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all.

We also cherish the lessons you taught us of the importance of reconciliation, forgiveness and compassion.

You forgave those who had taken away most of your adult life and who had dehumanised the majority of your compatriots.

We learned from you, that to build a new South Africa from the ashes of apartheid colonialism, we needed to rise above anger and the human desire for retribution.

You did not only believe in gender equality, you practised it.

Gender equality gained prominence and seriousness under your presidency, leading to an increase in the numbers of women in public office, especially in parliament and cabinet.

Your abiding revolutionary spirit will prevail on us to not rest, until the poor and the working class have truly benefited from the material fruits of freedom and democracy which you fought for.

We commit to work more intensively to deal a decisive blow against the persistent poverty, unemployment and inequality.

We pledge to take your vision forward for good schools and hospitals, quality housing and utilities, decent jobs and working conditions as well as efficient and accountable public services.

Learning from you, we will continue to use education as a weapon to improve the quality of life.

You loved children dearly.

In your memory, South African children must grow up in a country that is not only politically free, but which is also free and safe from violence, crime, poverty, ignorance, disease and indignity.

We acknowledge the suffering of your own children, who had an absent father and a father who was called a dangerous man and a terrorist by the apartheid regime and its surrogates.

We thank your late former wife, Mama Evelyn Mase who raised your children under difficult conditions while you spent time in prison.

We acknowledge Comrade Winnie Madikizela-Mandela who kept your name alive when the ANC was banned, she refused to be silenced and carried on the struggle with amazing bravery. We thank your dear wife, Mama Graca Machel, who has been at your side providing love, strength and companionship.

COUNTLESS HEROES

We extend our deep-felt condolences to your organisation, the ANC as well as Cosatu, the SA Communist Party and the SA National Civics Organisation for whom your departure is a monumental loss.

Our thoughts are with the Eastern Cape Province and the community of Qunu and surroundings who have lost their famous son.

When bidding you farewell, we also remember how fortunate we have been for our country to have produced leaders of your calibre.

Through you, we salute Oliver Regionald Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Elias Motsoaledi, Raymond Mhlaba, Moses Kotane, Steven Dlamini, Helen Joseph, Lillian Ngoyi, Dorothy Nyembe and countless others.

We owe it to them and to countless South Africans and foreign nationals who died in pursuit of our freedom, to take your vision of a better life for all forward.