06/12/2013 World News Today

This is a special edition of rock Mac with me backing the life of

Nelson Mandela, the lawyer, freedom fighter, activist, president and

global icon who goes down as one of the tolling figures of the 20th

century. He leaves a nation in mourning. His friends Archbishop

Desmond Tutu pays his respects. We are relieved that his suffering

is over. But our relief is drowned in our grief.

In the township of Soweto, news of Nelson Mandela's death provokes

sadness and an outpouring of emotion. The man who taught South

Africa to overcome hatred, the words of President Zuma, as he announces

the funeral in nine days' time. Hello and welcome. The death of

Nelson Mandela, frail in health and advanced in years, may not have come

as is a prize, but nevertheless it marks the end of an era and his

grief brought tributes from home and abroad. The man who had impressed

many with his humility and dignity and above all Magnum in 80.

We are here in Vilakazi Street, the roads were the old home of Nelson

Mandela was. It has become the most extraordinary focal point. Lots of

South Africans went to bed last night before they got news of the

passing, but once they got here, passing, but once they got here

many people have made their way to this place which has become a real

special point of attention. We have lots of people in the streets

earlier and they have gone past in waves, chanting, dancing and singing

in the most joyful way. When you ask people why there are so many

smiles, they say they are celebrating Madiba's life, as they

know him affectionately. It has been, bizarrely, a day of

celebration. They come from all walks of life and

from all communities. To pay their respects outside the home of Nelson

Mandela. The sense of bereavement is palpable. For some, almost private,

personal. But this is also a coming together, a nation united in

mourning but also in celebration of the life of the man they call

Madiba. People are celebrating the life of

Nelson Mandela. I think that what he would have wanted was for people to

celebrate his life. As South Africa prepares for a state

funeral of unprecedented proportions, does turn to what kind

of nation Nelson Mandela leaves behind.

We will always love Madiba for teaching us that it is possible to

overcome hatred and anger. In order to build a new nation and a new

society. For decades, the struggle against

apartheid looked like it might be crushed a brutal regime. A system

that applied violence and racist ideology in equal measure to oppress

South Africa's black majority. But Nelson Mandela's achievement and

mated to more than the victory of the oppressed of the oppressors

I think his greatest legacy to the world is the emphasis which he has

always puts on the need for reconciliation.

Nelson Mandela went to present an angry young man. A fighter committed

to defeating his enemies with violence if necessary.

27 years later, he emerged reaching reconciliation but he never give up

the struggle. I have no doubts that each and every

one of you can see with authority and confidence that I have travelled

this long road to freedom. I trust I did not falter. I made missteps

along the way but I have discovered that after crossing a great Hill,

one only finds that there are many more hills to cross.

His message has been an inspiration to millions, at home, in Africa and

beyond. He achieved more than could be

expected of any man. Today he has gone home and we have lost one of

the most influential, courageous and profoundly good human beings that

any of us will ever share time went on this earth.

It would be a hard heart indeed that wasn't moved by the spectacle, these

flowers and these messages, many written by children born in a

post-apartheid South Africa, messages that all boil down to one

thing, Madiba, thank you for freeing our country.

In death as in life, Nelson Mandela's unique ability to bring

people together and to lift their spirits means and end.

-- and didn't -- undimmed. In a few seconds ago, a white card

drove past and the owner has graffitied rest in peace my

president all over it. The ordinary people of South Africa and the world

have been reacting but there has been a huge reaction when someone of

this magnitude dies from world leaders. Our diplomatic

correspondent takes us through some of that reaction.

Intra- Wagner Square in London this morning, the flag on South Africa

House was at half-mast -- in Trafalgar Square. Tributes were

beginning to pile up. Among the mourners who came to sign the book

of condolence, David Cameron. The abiding memory I have is just

seeing him in Johannesburg and him talking about the people who had

imprisoned him and the suffering he had undergone and yet his complete

forgiveness, his total lack of malice towards those who had done

this to him. Across the Atlantic, the American

flag was also raised to half-mast on the White House and President Obama

made a heartfelt tribute which was deeply personal.

I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson

Mandela's life. My very first political action, the first thing I

ever did, it involved an issue - ever did, it involved an issue --

that involved an issue or politics, was campaign against apartheid.

He was mourned not just in time Square but at the United Nations

where diplomats paused in silence -- Times Square.

China's president recalled his friendship, India's president

lamented the passing of a giant Russia called him an outstanding

politician and Brazil said he was one of the greatest figures of the

20th century. Tributes also came from African leaders.

We will all miss most cherished of Africa's sons and a true hero.

President Nelson Mandela lived an extraordinary life in a very

ordinary way. The Queen said she member at her

meetings with Mandela with great warmth and was deeply saddened.

Prince Charles, who took camera and Brixton, recalled his humour and

courage. He seemed to have touched everyone who met him. Former US

President Bill Clinton said he had lost a true friend. Tony Blair has

said he was a great man who made racism not just a moral but stupid.

South African actress Charlize Theron said his impact would live

for ever. By chance last night was the London

premiere of the new film of his life. The Duke and Duchess of

Cambridge were in attendance and visibly shocked when it was

announced. My thoughts and prayers are with him

and his family right now. More members of the Royal family

were at South Africa House this morning. For a towering figure his

impact on the world has surely been monumental.

The people continue to come past year, people just arriving down the

street to look at what is going on and pay tribute. I have managed to

talk to a couple of people here tonight. You were born and have

grown up in this very area. Yes, I was born here in Soweto, so I

remember very well when Mandela was released. It was a Monday and the

weather was like this. It was a bit cloudy and training. We were so

excited. I didn't know much about Mandela but I was excited and very

happy. We were told he would deliver a speech so we went there and were

very happy. But now the wheels have turned and Mandela is gone but we

don't regret because he did a very good job for us.

You are 13 years old, I believe What does Nelson Mandela mean to

your generation? He fought for freedom some most

people are glad he came out of jail. But now we are very cranked up

because he passed away. We have to learn about him more because our

future leaders must be like him. You have grown up not knowing about

the struggle of apartheid but what he did before you were even in this

world is very important. I was confused as to who Mandela was

so now I know all about him because I have read a lot.

How do celebrations combine with the sorrow?

I think we don't need to cry although it is sad. We need to

celebrate our black Jesus, Mr Madiba. He has done a lot for us. We

love him, we love him so much. It is sad that we need to celebrate his

life. He is happy wherever he is. Now that he has passed away, do you

have fears that South Africa will lose the path it is on?

Not at all. Not with Mandela's spirit around us. Nothing will

change. I you confident that Nelson

Mandela's legacy will carry on? Very confident because there is no

chance of us doing anything else. People might say South Africa still

has many challenges. With Nelson Mandela be satisfied with South

Africa today? I would say yes and no. I would say

yes and no. These last 24 hours have been sad

but very special for you. Some of the things he was going to

be proud of them but some things he wouldn't be happy with.

Thanks so March. We wish you all the best. It was a very amazing evening

to be here cause it is just such an incredible atmosphere. More people

are coming into the street. We expect the strange celebratory but

also sorrowful mood to continue. That was my colleague they are in

the township of service through. Nelson Mandela is not only the

father of the modern South African nation, greatly loved by his

people, he was also a giant on the African stage and a global icon. We

African stage and a global icon We have heard much of his legacy since

his death but there are different aspects to this. We will be

assessing his impact at home in a moment but first let us focus on

Africa. Listen to those young South Africans they are talking about him.

It is extraordinary how this elderly man brought up by parents from an

18th-century is still relevant. Yes I was speaking to a 15-year-old and

a 23-year-old and they said for them, I didn't expect to have a Cem

of he brought them liberation, but they did. I said to the 15-year-old,

what does liberation mean to you, because you didn't live under

apartheid. He said, we sea the scars of it in the country. They also hear

about the scars of apartheid as you did from your own paurnts - parents.

Do you think when you have a generation of South Africans, who

don't hear the stories of the oppression and discrimination, that

they might perhaps start seeing a different South Africa and not

remember Nelson Mandela in the same way? Well the one thing is it is

taught in schools and they learn about his contribution to the

country. So there has been an effort to make sure that is not forgotten.

Your parents were act Vis in the -- activists in the ANC and had to flee

to the UK. When they went back and relocated to South Africa, were they

grateful to Nelson Mandela? It is hard to put into words. When they

left South Africa, they weren't people in their country. And to go

back being able to and to able to take part in the process that led to

us being a democratic country and to... I remember them talking about

queueing and queueing just to vote. This opportunity to have a say in

the country you were born in. I remember my aunt telling me how they

were not a I aI o' - allowed to own property or land in their own

country. It is just unbelievable the sort of just how huge it was. So it

is, it had changed and it has changed for them now. Somebody like

you, who has lived in multicultural and multiracial Britain, where

people can mix and can we talk about South Africa even today in the same

way that it is multiracial and that if you have a mixed marriage, people

won't turn over their shoulders and have a look? I think it is a work in

progress. I know people in mixed marriages. Members of my family are

in mixed marriages and friends are in mixed marriages. That is common

in South Africa? It is obviously, there are obviously still... Scars

that still have to heal. One thing you notice when you go back to South

Africa is the way race is talked about is different from how it is

here. But it is a progress of work, a work in progress and something

South Africans are open about and it is a discussion they're having. I

won't embarrass you by saying how old you are on air, but you're

relatively young and having been brought up in Europe you have got

friends from all different races and so on. This a the same case poor

people your aning in South Africa -- age in South Africa or younger

still. Is there a true meeting of the races? I think it depends on

your pack grounds. -- background. Many people my age wept to mixed --

went to mixed schools. People younger than me are used to having

friendships across the colour divide. Maybe for people older than

me it may be more difficult. But the country is a work in progress. So

the rainbow coalition what is we have been talking about. Thank you.

Nelson Mandela's contribution to South Africa is almost immeasurable

for averting a descent possibly into civil war during the difficult path

to democracy. To look at his legacy in more detail, I am joined by

William Gumede, author of several highly acclaimed books and also

wrote the foreword to the collection of Nelson Mandela's writings and

speeches. Would you say the overriding achievement of Nelson

Mandela is he is often quoted almost single-handedly from preventing

South Africa descending into civil war's exactly. Exactly. The

constitutional democracy that we have here now I'll also he set a

gold standard for Democratic leadership, South Africans will

always be able to compare ourselves to what should be equality. There

are those who say that Nelson went too far in stretching his hand out

to the Afrikaners and not doing enough to dismantle the economic

supremacy of the white South Africa. In the early 90s, the big

thing for Mandela and the focus of all Hobbit his energy was -- all of

his energy, bringing South Africans like and whites together. His focus

was not an the economy. If you go back to South Africa in around 994,

it was a period of time where we were taught the prospects and it was

chance for him to hitting piece -- for him to get peace. He will hand

over to his successors rather than focusing on the economic side of it.

There has been lots of progress economic league in South Africa but

still a great deal to do. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction that

there is not the advancement that lots of people would like. Do people

feel they would have liked Nelson Mandela to have used his authority

and integrity to better lay the foundations for that kind of

progress? Really, if we look back at the Democratic negotiations in the

90s, what Nelson Mandela could have done better, they could have focused

more robustly on economic negotiations. There was a naivete

from the ANC negotiators but it was a time when activists and those who

were journalists and researchers said we did not press the point to

focus on the economy much more strongly. There was the naive belief

that all one needs to do is just to take elliptical power and once you

have that power, it will be easy to push forward and economic

transformation project. The reality is not so easy. What about the

Mandela name? We know he has a rather large family and some wayward

members who have not perhaps been brought under control. What do you

think will happen to be name of Mandela now that he is no longer

here? The Mandela name is a global brand. He was even bigger than the

ANC and there is right now a battle for the Mandela name and it is

associated -- and what it is associated with. We ask people to

respect the democratic values and the caring values he stood for. His

political life, his integrity. To focus on that rather than to demean

the Mandela brand and name. Thank you, William Gumede. Let's take a

shot rake away from those events in South Africa and bring you a summary

of some of the other main stories today. Hundreds of people here in

the UK have been mopping up flooded homes after hurricane force winds

kicked up tidal surges across northern Europe. Rising waters

prompted thousands of evacuations on the eastern English coast. In one

town, houses fell into the sea as waves eroding cliffs. Police in

Egypt have views tear gas to end clashes. Today's competition began

when pro-Muslim Brotherhood supporters came face to face with

opposing crowds. Supporters have held regular protests.

That's reminding of our main story, the South African President Jacob

Zuma has been leading the tributes to Nelson Mandela who died on

Thursday night at the age of 95 Mr Zuma said the outpouring of love was

unprecedented. He said Nelson Mandela had taught South Africans it

was possible to overcome hatred and to build a new nation. We leave you

with some reaction to his death. Goodbye.

The founding president of our democratic nation has departed.

# When I get older, I will be stronger,

# Born to a throne... He achieved more than can be

expected of any man. Today he has gone home. His legacy is so

powerful, he will live for generations. For an African to stand

out and not to fear everything, to feel confident, that is what he

taught us. He is celebrated because when he went to prison, lots of

people have gone to prison and have gone back. He forgave.

# When I get older, I will be stronger, they will be freedom.

Good evening. The storm which battered as yesterday has been

causing all sorts of problems in Europe and the last 24 hours, racing

across Denmark, Scandinavia, battering the north coast of Poland,

blizzards here and ending up nudging into Belarus and western Russia. For

into Belarus and western Russia For us, it has become more quiet. But

there is a bit of snow on the way tonight. Light and patchy rain for

most of us but across parts of Scotland and into northern England,

some snow and an ice risk for the morning. Lots of cloudy skies across

northern England tomorrow and East Anglia looking, a bit calmer. Some

rain but a bit damp for most of us towards the south of