Arguably the most famous South African who has ever lived, Nelson Mandela stands as a symbol of forgiveness and leadership, and as a beacon of hope, not just to South Africans, but to people all around the world.
On a hill in my home town there stands this 8m tall statue of the man, fist in the air as he was known. An inscription reeds:
"I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter;
I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come.
But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.
From Long Walk to Freedom, 1994
