Johannesburg - Former president Nelson Mandela's conciliatory attitude was a determining factor for South Africa's young democracy and nation building, Agri SA said on Friday.
“He will be remembered as South Africa's 'Madiba' who fulfilled his task as head of state with vision and compassion,” the farmers' organisation’s president, Johannes Möller, said in a statement.
“His zeal for a free society and equal opportunities for all made him a highly respected leader world-wide.”
Möller said Mandela regularly reminded South Africans that freedom came with responsibilities.
“In his own words: 'After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom, come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended',” Möller said, quoting from Mandela's autobiography Long Walk To Freedom.
Mandela died on Thursday night at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, at the age of 95. - Sapa