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Life and times of Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Mandela, one of the great figures of the 20th century, has died at the age of 95.

South African president Jacob Zuma announced the death of Mr Mandela this morning, who has been credited with preventing his country from descending into civil war in the post-apartheid era.

“Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father,” Mr Zuma said.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner served just one term as president before taking up a new role as a leading AIDS campaigner, before finally retiring from public life in 2004.

South African president Jacob Zuma earlier announced that Mr Mandela passed away peacefully at his Johannesburg home.

“He highlighted Mr Mandela’s “tireless struggle for freedom”, saying his humility and compassion had earned him the respect of the world.
 
Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss. 
 
This is the moment of our deepest sorrow. Yet what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. And in him, we saw so much of ourselves. 
 
This is indeed the moment of our deepest sorrow. Yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination. A determination to live as Madiba has lived and to not rest until we have realised his vision of a truly united South Africa.”