A year later, sombre feelings are still rife after the loss of Madiba

 

“Fellow South Africans, our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, founding President of our democratic nation has departed.

“He passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20:50.

“He is now resting, he is now at peace.”

These were the words uttered by President Jacob Zuma.

Those words echoed throughout the democratic nation, Africa and the rest of the world bringing many together in mourning. His death was anticipated by many, the eventuality of it scared most.

Mbali Zwane, a resident from Soweto associated the death of Mandela to that of her mother and aunt. “Having lost my mother and aunt a month apart two months before, I was numb. “I hadn’t come to terms with loss so to suffer another loss was inexplicable for those few moments of silence,” said Zwane who prepared herself for his death. After seeing him on television during his birthday celebration, Zwane said she was assured that the victor deserved to rest in peace. “There was a time when my mother was extremely sick some years ago, to see her suffer like that tore me.

“It was at that time that I realised that sometimes death is acceptable because it can end one’s misery, so I didn’t know when it would happen but I had prepared myself for it,” Zwane said about Mandela’s passing.

Zwane was on holiday and decided, with her friends, that they would cut themselves from the city life by leaving their phones off. She heard the news of the passing of Mandela a few hours after it was announced.

Millicent Becket was coincidentally reading his book documenting his life at the time of his death. “When my daughter told me Mandela had passed away, I was emotionally numb. “I was reading Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom at that time and I felt connected to him,” Becket said. It was almost as if the connection was cut. She said she suspected that something was wrong that evening. “Just before the end of the news, the anchor broke news that Mandela’s condition worsened and family flew to Johannesburg,” Becket said.

Through his book, Becket felt like she had gotten to know Mandela and would’ve wanted to meet with him. She recalls seeing Mandela in town when he met with executives of a bank. “He walked out of the boardroom and everybody was silent, it’s like his presence demanded that,” Becket said.

Zwane would’ve liked to meet Mandela and talk about jazz music and being black and brave. Becket says she didn’t go to any of the memorials or viewings for citizens because she felt as if she knew him, through his book. A year later Becket says it still feels like yesterday.

“All those feelings come back, sometimes I go back to be reminded of what Mandela stood for,” Becket said.

The world continues to mourn his loss. “The pain of loss never really heal, you just learn to live with it,” said Zwane.

Words by Maxine Becket. See more of her work on her blog and follow her on Twitter @MaxineBecket.

Artwork by Patrice Murciano.