Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela was a global icon who sacrificed and dedicated his life to the good of the South African people, the NUM said on Friday.
“The NUM learnt with sadness the sudden passing of its honorary president and former president of the republic Nelson Mandela,” National Union of Mineworkers spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.
Mandela would be sorely missed as an icon, peacemaker and freedom fighter of note.
“As an honorary president of the NUM, he has been an inspiration through and through, and has on many occasions motivated mineworkers to take education seriously,” Seshoka said.
“He believed that it is through it that their children will head mines.”
General secretary Frans Baleni said that as the union dipped its banners and celebrated the life and times of Mandela, it was time that South Africans reflected on his legacy and the future they had to craft for generations to come.
He said mine, energy and construction workers passed their sincerest words of condolences to the country and to all who cared about its welfare.
Mandela died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, on Thursday night, at the age of 95. - Sapa