‘I remember that day so clearly, as if it was yesterday’

Although having taking a brief break from journalism with the birth of my beautiful baby daughter at the time I recall the moment I found out about the passing of Nelson Mandela. Growing up at the end of the apartheid era my memories of Tata Madiba would be of an icon, a freedom fighter and of coarse his relationship with the 1995 Springbok rugby team for some reason.

To me it was beautiful how Madiba understood the importance of rugby to the nation and how it could draw a country together.

Don’t get me wrong, a big rugby supporter I am certainly not. However, as a journalist I understand the role that sport and events can play in drawing a nation together.

After feeding my three-week-old baby just after 2am on 5 December 2013, I waited as usual after laying her down just to make sure she was fast asleep. That was when I logged on to facebook where I read the tragic news of his passing.

What I remember most about that moment was that I wanted to break the news to someone or anyone so badly. But because it was 3am one would assume everyone was far away in dreamland.

Instead I headed back to bed to get some rest.

Waking up a few hours later I was overwhelmed by all the social media messages and news bulletins about the sad news. May you rest in peace, my freedom fighter.