Former president Nelson Mandela was happy and smiling wherever he was, his widow Graca Machel said on Friday.
“I know he is smiling and happy among the family he chose to build,” she said at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during the commemoration of the statesman’s death. “The family he chose to build with Walter Sisulu, OR Tambo, Lilian Ngoyi and so on.”
Mandela died at the age of 95 at his Houghton home in Johannesburg a year ago.
“On the day of his passing I was not able to think, I was numb... but looking back I can imagine him tall and proud, walking, and all of them rising to welcome him... I know Madiba is in good hands.”
She said Mandela was at peace and surrounded by family when he died.
“I stand here today as a mother of two families. He was surrounded by family when he passed... his face had tranquillity and peace. When he left he said ‘I leave you in peace and I want you to live in peace’.”
Machel said Mandela’s legacy could not be claimed by one institution or country.
“It is up to everyone in the world to take a stake from his legacy of goodness and forgiveness.
“Madiba gave us the gift of acceptance of one another. We need to learn to love and accept one another. We still have a long way (to go) to overcome racial, ethnic, religious and gender divisions. Today as we honour him, it’s up to each of us, as he said on his 90th birthday, to close the divisions between us. Madiba would also like us to close the gap between the rich and poor,” Machel said.
She thanked South Africans for their support.
“We cannot thank you enough for your support... and deep love.”
Also at the function were Mandela’s grandson, Mandla, granddaughter, Ndileka and struggle veterans and Mandela’s friends, George Bizos and Ahmed Kathrada.
Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, struggle veteran Sophie de Bruyn, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Ngakula were also present.
At 10am, a moment of silence was observed by most South Africans, others having spent the morning posting Mandela’s pictures on social media platforms or reflecting on their memories of him.
But in Orlando West, Soweto, there was little to indicate any commemorations. Outside the Mandela House Museum in Vilakazi Street, there was a lone video camera, three newspaper photographers and the sound of sweeping brooms on the pavement.
The house, now a museum, housed Mandela from 1946 when he moved in with his first wife, Evelyn Mase.
From 1958, he lived there with his second wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Unlike last year, when mourners arrived in their droves to show support for the family, on Friday morning there was a marked absence of activity outside the house.
Kgotso Motikoe, who lives across the road, said he had expected visitors.
“It seems people here may have forgotten madala (the old man). I woke up thinking there’d be some kind of vibe like last year, but, nothing.”
Two tourists stopped to take pictures, but they said they weren’t aware of the significance of the day and were merely in transit.
Last year this time, the corner of 4th Street and 12th Avenue in Houghton was home to a shrine of candles and flowers while neighbours and the public came out to mourn Madiba.
On Friday the corner was quiet, only a few people stopping to take pictures.
The DA held a wreath-laying ceremony outside the home and sang the national anthem.