Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela left a lasting legacy through his work for children, Save the Children SA said on Friday.
“Save the Children SA pays tribute to the man who devoted his life to a better future so that our children will benefit for generations to come,” it said in a statement.
The peace icon had observed that there was no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treated its children.
Mandela had demonstrated his commitment to children by donating his Nobel Peace prize money to children’s charities in 1993, and by giving a third of his presidential salary to establish the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in 1995.
“His fundamental respect for humanity and his love for children will continue to inspire both South Africans and people of other nations alike to know that a better future is always possible,” said Save the Children SA chairman Neven Hendricks.
Just before midnight on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma announced that Mandela, 95, had died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg. - Sapa