NELSON MANDELA

It's hard to think of anything original to say about Nelson Mandela, so I'll confine myself to two thoughts.

First, if you have been locked up by a racist regime for 27 years, then it would be difficult not to feel at least a twinge of bitterness against that regime, even if events showed that you had won the argument. Mr. Mandela's lack of bitterness was extraordinary, and was without doubt one of the key factors behind the peaceful transition in South Africa from apartheid to black majority rule.

Secondly, I loved his gesture at the rugby World Cup final in 1995, when as President, he met the two teams, South Africa and New Zealand, on the pitch before the game wearing a Springbok rugby jersey. Not many politicians, particularly one of his age, would have the nerve or the verve to wear sports clothes in any situation. But in choosing to meet the white population on their own terms (rugby being for them somewhat akin to a religion) he showed that he meant it when he said that he would be a President for all South Africans.

South Africa has not turned out the way he had hoped, and troubles lie ahead for it, in my view. But nobody could have done more.

Walter Blotscher