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RIP Nelson Mandela


Lighthouse

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Long predicted, but still a shock. Certainly the most significant African figure of his generation (and several others).

 

While others he will inevitably be bracketed with - Gandhi and Mother Teresa spring to mind - I hope his very real achievements and significance live after him and continue to be recognised as such.

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sadly I was wondering this but I haven't the heart to go on it and find out. rip mandela

 

There is literally nothing else on there at the moment. Whole front page is Mandela jokes, and the forum is getting blitzed too.

 

Somebody must have seen this coming?

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I still find it ironic that a great many of the racist white leaders who he (attention those calling him a terrorist) initially peacefully protested against...not until the Sharpesville massacres and the like happened did he start a violent campaign against were (I digress) descended from an African lady called Eva (or Krotua in her native language).

 

I also find it brilliant that Nelson's real name, Rolihlahla, means "troublemaker" in Xhosa.

 

RIP Nelson, why couldn't they have taken Robert Mugabe instead?

Edited by Hockey_saint
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Hmmmm I wonder ??? I read this a couple of days ago elsewhere.

 

Team ALARM has been of the opinion that Nelson Mandela, for all practical purposes, died quite a while ago. For months not one person came forward to say that they saw him. We do however have reason to suspect that he is kept alive by machines, but that for all practical reasons he became brain dead several months ago. There are a several indications that his death might officially be announced very soon.

 

The funeral of this very popular statesman will attract dignitaries from each and every country in the world. Up to now, the home town of Nelson Mandela, near Mtahata, could not have handled a state funeral of this magnitude. In 2009 Mthata was declared a “Rapid High Impact Presidential Intervention Node” and a serious effort was started to improve the transport, roads, electricity articulation and water provision in the greater Mthata area. The new extended runway at Mthata airport was taken into service at the end of May 2013 and the upgraded roads and electricity infrastructure was completed a month ago.

 

Everywhere that important people and tourists might drive or move has been upgraded and repaired. Even some of the gravel roads have been extensively repaired and re-topped. Together with the new roads, bridges and electricity, there are also new petrol stations, hotels, and the Nelson Mandela museum that all looks so shiny and new and very stylish.

 

The Government is of course denying that any of this has anything to do with the potential funeral of Nelson Mandela. The Government insists that it is all part and parcel of the normal infrastructure and development project run by the benevolent ANC government, to the benefit of the people of South Africa. We have to admit that the effort to improve the Mthata airport has been a long running effort that has bungled along since 2008 but has failed to materialise any tangible results, due to the normal combination of corruption and ineptitude. That all changed rather drastically in 2012 when the improvement of the Mthata airport became a rapid development project.

 

The project's “Environmental Management Plan” (EMP) states the following very plainly in its introduction: “This is a special circumstances project and it is understood that this project is being undertaken for the provision of infrastructure for the landing of aircraft at Mthatha Airport for a special circumstance which is of national importance and is related to the former president.”

 

Point 2.2 on page 8 of the EMP under the heading “Motivation for use of the proposed borrowpits” the following statement is made:

“The Eastern Cape Department of Transport proposes to undertake the construction of a new runway at the Mthatha Airport in the Eastern Cape. This is a special circumstances project and it is understood that this project is being undertaken for the provision of infrastructure for the landing of aircraft at Mthatha Airport for a special circumstance which is of national importance and is related to the former president.”

 

On 22 November, Zuma went to inspect the improvements and repairs in the greater Mthata area and tried to gain as much political mileage as possible from it. Basically all the political elite went to see if the place looked good, and they were apparently quite impressed with the way it displayed.

 

Not all readers may realize that Mthata is only 31.3km from Qunu, the Eastern Cape home village of Nelson Mandela and the place where his funeral will take place. All the developments in the greater Mthata area also included Qunu and it is only a 30 minute drive on the lovely new roads to get to Qunu from Mthata.

 

Then on Wednesday 27 November the SAAF command cancelled the bi-annual Wheels and Wings show at the AFB Ysterplaat unilaterally and without any good and valid reason. Many people are seriously hacked off because a lot of time, effort and money has already been sunk into the event that was due to take place on 7&8 December. The unexplained cancellation of the show is busy creating a lot of PR fallout.

 

On Thursday 28 November the head of the SANDF cancelled all leave of all military personnel for the December period. No reason has been given.

 

Team ALARM also became aware of large military convoys that will be moving from Pretoria and Bloemfontein to the Qunu area shortly. We have however not been able to verify this information yet.

 

Should it happen that Mandela's death is announced officially, the timing could not have been more perfect for the ANC. Mandela's funeral would attract more interest than the soccer world cup, and everybody from Obama to the Pope would probably attend his funeral. Such a spectacle would go a long way in getting pressure off the ANC generated by the Nkandla scandal and the pending split of COSATU.

 

Additionally it would be very, very beneficial to hold his funeral on 16 December that is already known as “Day of Reconciliation” which happens to be on a Monday this year. That means there is a very handy reconciliation long weekend appearing on the calendar in 16 days that can be used to absolute maximum benefit.

 

The fact that Nelson Mandela the movie also appeared this last week, handily provides the cherry for the cake. The opportunity is just too good to pass up and we wonder if the Government will really let it slide by without making use of it?

 

Will we see an official announcement of Nelson Mandela's death in the next few days? It certainly looks like we are heading that way. We will only be sure when we hear the official announcement, but will not be surprised at all when we do.

 

FROM: Team ALARM

Edited by Saint in Paradise
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As someone who faces discrimination every day i.e at supermarkets where the best parking places are reserved for other classes, i was v.sad to hear of this. Although he has not been v.active in some time (he has been more half Nelson than full Nelson in recent years), he was still imperative in keeping the whites SA's in line. I hope we do not see a white uprising now he is gone.

 

For all those talking bout terrorism - get a life! Can you honestly say that if you disagreed with one of our laws you wouldn't set a series of bombs in public places? Very naive if you think anything ever gets changed by peaceful protest.

 

RIP

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From what I hear the army and air force all had their leave cancelled last week so this is obviously a controlled death, timed to lead into Day of reconciliation here (public holiday) on the 16th dec.

 

Am liking the stance they are taking as we'll for priority for the funeral, South Africans, africans and then everyone else, if Dave Cameron needs a place to crash I can shout him a room, a pool and a world class golf course as it's gonna be packed around here in gangsters paradise.

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He probably had as much impact on racial equality and integration as anyone and his long struggle against apartheid has placed him as an icon for millions if not billions.

 

That said I can clearly remember even only 25-30 years ago, when him and his cronies were planting bombs in shopping centres and killing innocent civilians. He was considered a dangerous terrorist when we were South Africa's biggest trading partner in the early '80s. Thatcher made the mistake of economically supporting the apartheid regime whilst Reagan denounced him for fighting alongside the communists.

 

In some ways I have incredible admiration for what he ultimately believed in, but he also has a very murky past.

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As someone who faces discrimination every day i.e at supermarkets where the best parking places are reserved for other classes, i was v.sad to hear of this. Although he has not been v.active in some time (he has been more half Nelson than full Nelson in recent years), he was still imperative in keeping the whites SA's in line. I hope we do not see a white uprising now he is gone.

 

For all those talking bout terrorism - get a life! Can you honestly say that if you disagreed with one of our laws you wouldn't set a series of bombs in public places? Very naive if you think anything ever gets changed by peaceful protest.

 

RIP

 

I reckon that you just got away with that Bear.

 

How does it feel to have marked the passing of someone on TSW without being infracted?

 

Mandela was central to repealing a set of unfair and pernicious laws, and also in changing the way of thinking for a generation of South Africans that were so out of step with the majority of humanity.

 

Having never been oppressed in the way black South Africans were, it's easy for me to be of the view that violence should never be used to bring about change. But if ever there was a situation where violence against the state came close to being justified, it came during that shameful period. Apartheid, which segregated people based on the colour of their skin, was only abolished in 1990. That's a shamefully short time ago for a major country to still be practising some pretty ****ty repression. Credit to de Klerk for starting the process, but a controlled repositioning of power needed a figurehead that could keep a lid on the obvious tensions that existed. Mandela played that role. Without him, it would have been carnage.

 

I may well be guilty of romanticising the situation from a distance, but one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen a governmental or quasi-governmental institution implement was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. These involved people sharing with the committee and the "other side" their negative experiences at the hands of the "other side". They were presided over by reformists of both hues, and often granted amnesty for horrific human rights violations. The idea being that recriminations would serve little purpose in uniting South Africa, but that unless people felt able to air their grievances they would harbour dangerous resentment.

 

They weren't perfect, but they played a big role in allowing South Africa to move on.

 

Mandela's legacy is enormous and reaches worldwide. Not bad for someone who spent 25+ years in prison.

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Why would anyone on here get wound up by those comments?

 

People that are trying to be cool by being upset by his death, that's who. The grief junkies need someone to show they are such a lovely, caring person over now everyone has forgotten about the driver from Fast and Furious no one has ever heard of.

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Towering figure.

 

Don't really have much time for UB40 these days, but became aware of Mandela's plight through this song as a young teenager.

 

Recorded at the Free Nelson Mandela concert in 1988.

 

 

A mere 25 years ago. Mandela's achievements should be held up as proof that huge change is possible.

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People that are trying to be cool by being upset by his death, that's who. The grief junkies need someone to show they are such a lovely, caring person over now everyone has forgotten about the driver from Fast and Furious no one has ever heard of.

 

Well you have not forgotten the driver who has inspired you so much that made you the man you are today.

 

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

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you are a racist ****ing *****, quite obvious why you are glad to see Mandela dead I guess.

 

A typical over the top reaction of faux grief. It's never good when someone dies but are you saying that you are genuinely surprised and upset about it? I keep reading he was an inspiration, what did he inspire you to do? Tell us what things Madela did that made a difference to your life and how he impacted you. Tell us about your plans to fly to South Africa to attend the funeral.

 

It does make me laugh how some on here are outraged by a couple of comments on here about a 95 year old bloke who has been ill for years and most people have never even been in the same country has dying, yet when some on here was claiming they were delighted when Thatcher died and celebrating the news no one batted an eyelid.

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Still trolling sunny boy trying to ruin another thread as per usual for your fix.

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

You're the one ruining the thread pal. I'm giving my opinion and asking valid questions. Why dont you answer them or are you too busy wiping tears from your eyes and holding your candle in the air morning hi death?

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